1,723 adoptions took place during statewide adoption event.
Pick Me! SC was a huge success, with 51 animal rescue shelters and Petco locations around the state opening their doors for pet adoptions June 18 – 27. “As the number of animals in shelters reached crisis levels, South Carolinians once again responded to their local animal rescue shelters to make room for one more family member,” said Charleston Animal Society President and CEO Joe Elmore, CAWA. “We are thrilled that this year’s event broke all previous records by topping 1,700 adoptions; it was a milestone for South Carolina animals!”
The statewide adoption event is sponsored by Petco Love (formerly the Petco Foundation), in partnership with BOBS from Skechers. Pick Me! SC is organized by No Kill South Carolina 2024, an initiative of Charleston Animal Society. “We want to give a big thank you to Petco Love and BOBS from Skechers for their continued support and belief in this annual adoption event,” said No Kill South Carolina 2024 Chief Project Director Abigail Appleton, PMP, CAWA. “We believe this is the nation’s only annual statewide adoption event for both dogs and cats.”
ADOPTERS CAME OUT DESPITE PANDEMIC
The 2021 goal was to save 1,500 lives through adoptions and as the final adoption tally rolled in, the number of adoptions climbed to 1,723. Most shelters and adoption centers offered “no-fee”
or “low-fee” adoptions as a gesture of gratitude in this lifesaving campaign for families making room for one more.
The record-breaking adoptions came despite lingering concerns over the pandemic. Four animal rescue shelters had more than 100 adoptions:
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Greenville County Animal Care: 247
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Charleston Animal Society: 238
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Anderson County PAWS: 164
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Berkeley Animal Center: 105
699 dogs and 1,024 cats were adopted during the statewide adoption campaign. Adding to the fun? Cat adopters were surprised with an additional treat of an adoption kit from World’s Best Cat Litter.
LONG-TERM IMPACT OF PICK ME! SC
Many people who adopted at Pick Me! SC in the past shared that they had never visited their local animal rescue shelter before the Pick Me! SC events. Animal welfare leaders throughout the state hope events like this will show people the value that animal rescue shelters bring to their individual communities.
