Charleston Animal Society Celebrates Their 2021 Achievements

By: Charleston Animal Society

A capacity crowd of 150 Charleston Animal Society supporters gathered on April 24th at Blackbaud International Headquarters on Daniel Island to look back at the achievements of 2021. Hundreds more joined to watch a Facebook livestream of the review.

“Lifesaving is at the core of our commitment,” said Charleston Animal Society Board Chair Laurel Greer. “Through countless challenges in 2021, we never lost sight of that.”

2021 ACHIEVEMENTS

• Saving all the healthy and treatable animals coming into Charleston Animal Society’s care for the 9th year in a row
• Since No Kill South Carolina began six years ago, animal shelters across the state have saved more than 500,000 animal lives with 30,000 fewer animals euthanized.
• Teams of volunteers and staff drove more than 21,000 miles, for 16 different disaster, emergency and transport responses. These included the Kentucky tornadoes, hurricanes in the Gulf and South Carolina animal cruelty operations.
• Operating continuously through reduced staffing and volunteers, fundraising events and other activities due to the pandemic
• Achieving an exemplary financial audit for 10 years in a row
• And, earning the top-rated nonprofit spot 9 years in a row and the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for transparency and ethics

AWARDS GIVEN TO ANIMAL ADVOCATES

The Elizabeth Bradham Humanitarian Award was presented to Jim Elliott, Executive Director and Founder of The Avian Conservation Center / Center for Birds of Prey, based in Awendaw. Elliott said he was overwhelmed by the honor.

Elliott has been a life-long student of birds. His many years of experience have been significantly effective in his quest to protect avian species and their habitats.

Early in his career, Elliott became aware of the need for a professional level of care for injured birds of prey in South Carolina, equipped to sufficiently manage the direct threats to the birds of prey population. That awareness eventually led Elliott to establish the Charleston Raptor Center in 1991.

The Elizabeth Bradham Humanitarian Award recognizes an individual whose lifetime of work has impacted and continues to impact the lives of countless animals in our local community and amplified beyond.

This year’s Community Ambassador Award went to the Shelly Leeke Law Firm. Each year, Charleston Animal Society recognizes a business, organization or agency that goes above and beyond in their support of the Animal Society’s lifesaving work by presenting this prestigious recognition.

Shelly Leeke (pictured above with board members Brantley Meier and Don Smith) has volunteered as a foster, she’s adopted homeless animals and she has donated matching gifts during Charleston Animal Society “Giving Day” events to encourage other donors to help save animals through financial gifts.

STATEWIDE IMPACTS

Since launching the No Kill South Carolina 2024 project in 2016 over half a million lives have been saved with more than 30,000 fewer euthanasias statewide. The goal is to build the first No Kill State in the southern U.S., from the Atlantic to the Pacific,

When the Animal Society started the project, only six of the 46 counties in South Carolina had a combined dog and cat euthanasia rate of less than 10%; in 2021, over 30 counties achieved this.

“The No Kill South Carolina project of Charleston Animal Society has made amazing progress and the nation’s eyes are upon us thanks in large part to its sole funder, Petco Love,” Greer said.

The No Kill South Carolina 2024 Shelter of the Year was awarded to Anderson Paws. The shelter exemplifies the lifesaving spirit of No Kill South Carolina 2024.

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