Pet Stories - Page 10 of 29 - Mount Pleasant Pets

Michael’s Barkery Pet Spa & Boutique

When Michael’s Barkery Pet Spa & Boutique opened on Daniel Island in November 2019, the local community of pet owners embraced the new store, appreciating access to top-quality products, professional grooming services and specialty baked goods. Located in a walkable section of the island, heading to Michael’s Barkery makes a fun field trip for pets and owners alike.

Michael’s boasts three grooming stylists, ready to coif your pet to perfection. Each of the stylists is a pet parent too, and they work to ensure all furry clients are comfortable and enjoy a stress-free experience at the spa. Worried how your new pup or rescue pet will take to being handled by a groomer?

Relax – these professionals offer an introductory appointment, where they slowly introduce the pet to the tools and the environment in a manner that establishes trust.

Moving into the kitchen, the “barkery” portion of Michael’s is manned by Master Chef Kaylyn Millington, who holds a Bachelor of Science in baking and pastry from Johnson & Wales University. Having worked in the food industry for the last seven years, she is thrilled to be at Michael’s, where she is able to indulge her love for animals with her passion for baking and produce healthy, tasty treats for local pets. The bakery offers custom baked goods, as well as grab-and-go treats for any celebration. Millington and her teammates also enjoy creating custom bulk orders for pet friendly hotels, apartment complexes and real estate offices – they’ve even had a request to augment catering at a wedding reception.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the story is the original inspiration behind the business. In 2017, Michael Patrohay, a high school senior at the time, was required to complete a project relative to his career aspirations. For Michael and his beloved dog, Sunshine, the answer was simple — bake and sell wholesome dog treats. The idea was greeted with tremendous success, and, two years later, Michael’s family was able to transform a senior project into the sustainable business we now know as Michael’s Barkery. That’s enough of a tale in itself, but add to the story Michael’s intellectual disability, and it becomes a heartwarming testament to following one’s passion and overcoming obstacles.

The store’s owners, Karen and Scott Patrohay — Michael’s parents — wholeheartedly believe in giving opportunities to people with cognitive limitations, choosing to maximize their skills rather than focus on disabilities. They employ specially-abled staff members in all areas of production, for the bakery as well as the retail space. “At Michael’s Barkery, we want to give everyone the opportunity to have a purpose and allow everyone’s gifts and talents to shine,” remarked Karen Patrohay.

Currently, Michael’s Barkery consists of 16 employees across grooming, retail and management, including six specially-abled teammates. They recently added obedience training to the menu of services, offered through an associate who is also a dog trainer, with a Bachelor of Science in animal behavior, ecology and conservation. The entire staff has taken great care to build a business with enthusiastic people who love your pets as much as you do.

When asked what Michael thinks of his success, the Patrohays said: “Michael is very proud of his store and can’t wait to go to work every day. What brings the biggest smile to his face is when we bring up the store’s YouTube channel. He thinks that is pretty cool.”

To learn more, visit MichaelsBarkery.com, or head over to their storefront, at 864 Island Park Drive, Ste. 103,on Daniel Island.

By Jeanne Taylor

Veterinary Specialty Care is Open in Case of Emergency

While COVID-19 has disrupted lives and businesses across the country since March, Veterinary Specialty Care, the only locally and privately owned 24-hour emergency and specialty veterinary hospital in the Lowcountry, has remained open to help pets, strays and injured wildlife. Services include emergency care, internal medicine and surgery. For families on vacation in the area or seeking specialty and emergency services, this accessibility is an invaluable service.

According to Outreach Coordinator and Client Advocate Natalie Garber: “Because the CDC has identified veterinary care as an essential business, we have remained available for the community, including pets and pet owners, in their time of need. As always, we are open and ready to help 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When the pandemic started, we postponed elective surgeries and procedures, but we have been able to start scheduling referral cases again. Urgent, life-threatening cases have always been seen immediately.”

Both clinic locations — Mount Pleasant and Summerville — have adjusted their protocols to meet CDC guidelines. Employees now wear masks and gloves at all times. Clients are met curbside after being registered online and calling to announce their arrival. Only healthy family members are asked to transport their pets to the clinic. Families no longer enter the building, except for specific circumstances, such as euthanizing a beloved pet. While visitation with hospitalized pets is not possible, check-up phone calls are welcome and some Skype or Facetime may be available with veterinary approval. Unless injured, strays and wildlife are to be taken to appropriate shelters and rehabilitation sites. All pets are screened for COVID-19 so extra precautions can be taken, if necessary.

Pet owners often wonder if their family pets might be transmitters. At one point, it seemed that Winston, a pug who went viral in the media, tested positive for the virus. Since he slept between two people at night who had tested positive, speculations arose.

For more information on Veterinary Specialty Care, visit veterinaryspecialtycare.com, or call 843-216-7554.

By Janet E. Perrigo

Our Pets, Our Lifeline

Just like that the world came to a standstill.

The novel COVID-19 will be viewed as one of the worst pandemics in world history, having claimed over 200,000 lives worldwide as of April 25 bringing economies to their knees and creating crippling anxieties among the masses.

What we did not count on was the critical importance our pets would play at this time in our lives. Orders were issued to work from home. People feeling unwell were told to quarantine in place. This way of living was new for many, and having the added bonus of a pet at home gave homebound people emotional support during a very trying time.

There were varying reports and schools of thought on whether pets could carry the virus or whether humans could transmit it to them. These were essentially debunked as the virus was shown to be human-to-human transmittable. Per the OIE World Organisation for Animal Health, “There is no evidence that dogs play a role in the spread of this human disease or that they become sick. Further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals could be affected by COVID-19 virus.” Caution was recommended to assuage fears and it was suggested that pets be wiped down after exposure to humans.

People without pets, or those whose pets were agreeable to having furry friends, answered the calls of many shelters and rescues and they began to foster. The inventory of our local shelters decreased dramatically in a short time, allowing them to limit their staffing and the associated risks of viral spread.

It’s hard not to fall in love with a pet once it has been in your home for a while, and many of these foster pets will become permanent family members. Some will return to their shelter to be adopted by another family when the pandemic has passed; but even having a break from the shelter will have been a positive experience for them. In the Washington D.C. area, rescues began pulling animals from high-kill shelters just so they could continue to meet the demands for foster requests. The larger picture shows what many of us already knew: Clearing the shelters has always been a community effort.

While so many animals landed in foster homes, many volunteers were left feeling displaced. These volunteer programs, upon which so many shelters and rescues rely heavily, were forced to suspend all activities for the public good. Medical treatments and preventive surgeries, like spay and neuter, were pushed back by several weeks at a minimum. Groups were forced to pivot without notice, canceling fundraising events that support their operations. While the need for volunteer and fundraising support did not diminish, each group’s ability to respond took a hard hit.

Upon Governor Henry McMaster’s instructions to limit groups and congregating, the Charleston Animal Society was left with no option but to postpone its annual gala. The fundraiser provides a large portion of the annual support for Toby’s Fund, which is a program covering the medical needs of the thousands of animals that come into their care each year.

Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary canceled its annual golf tournament, which raised more than $30,000 in 2019. In its place, the sanctuary cleverly created a “Bad Pet Portraits” fundraiser, through which one of their non-artist staff or volunteers will (sometimes poorly!) draw your pet in exchange for a donation. They also hosted a “Bridge the Gap” run in homage to the postponed Cooper River Bridge Run. This clever replacement fundraiser netted over $11,000 much-needed dollars for the sanctuary.

Pet Helpers was forced to cancel or postpone several events in which they would have been named a beneficiary, and they noticed monthly donors scaling back in light of economic uncertainty. The full financial impact to their operations may not be known until later in 2020.

Smaller rescues that routinely struggle have relied on their loyal followers to share their requests for donations on social media in order to help them stay afloat.

On a positive note, veterinary hospitals, pet supply stores, doggie daycare centers and groomers were deemed essential businesses. Stores began to offer delivery and businesses instituted curbside practices and policies to limit person-to-person contact, while still ensuring our pets’ needs were met. Creative problem-solving has become the norm.

Losing the option to go to the movies or the mall, or to eat at a restaurant has caused us to tweak our recreational mindset too. Many are now out walking their dogs more than they maybe would normally, taking in fresh air and chatting with neighbors from a few feet away. With beaches, county parks and dog parks closed, we have become our dogs’ playmates. And I think we can all admit that has been a silver lining around a very dark cloud.

By Jeanne Taylor

National Therapy Animal Day

The surgery went well, your prognosis is excellent, but at the moment, recuperating in a hospital room is probably one of the last places you want to be. You’re grateful for the continuous care, yet you long to be home with your family – which for many – includes that furry four legged member as well.

The smile on your face lights up the entire hospital room when the knock on your door reveals a therapy animal coming to pay you a visit.

Therapy Animals Are Healing Companions

If you’re an animal lover, you already know just being in the vicinity of one can alter the way you view your current state. So it’s no wonder or surprise to know a therapy animal can bring positive change to people battling health conditions such as cancer, post-traumatic stress, dementia or debilitating physical challenges after a stroke.

Since 1977 Pet Partners (a national therapy animal organization) has demonstrated and promoted the benefits of animal assisted intervention. Interacting with a pet can help both physical and mental issues. Certified therapy animals are able to reduce blood pressure, improve cardiovascular health and eradicate loneliness. Their presence has the ability to release endorphins triggering a calming effect that decreases stress and improves your overall psychological state.

Understanding the significant impact therapy animals have on so many, Pet Partners created National Therapy Animal Day celebrated every year on April 30th.

They believed it was important to recognize and highlight these exceptional pets (and their human companions) who bring such comfort to those in need.

According to Pet Partners – National Therapy Animal Day is a day to –

recognize and honor therapy animals
raise awareness and educate the public about the role therapy animals play in enhancing the health and well-being of humans
honor the thousands of dedicated handlers who volunteer their time and compassion during visits.

April 30, 2018 a few MUSC Therapy Dog teams took a group photo with the Honorable Mayor John Tecklenburg on the steps of City Hall after he honored our four legged therapists.

The Lowcountry is fortunate to have therapy animal programs in many hospitals, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, dental offices, as well as rehabilitation centers, just to name a few.

As the Therapy Dog Coordinator for the Medical University of South Carolina, I tell people all the time – this job has me “living my best life.” Our program has increased from 32 to 98 teams over the past two years. I attribute this robust growth to the –

dedicated volunteers who visit patients, family members and medical personnel each and every week.
overwhelming support from our hospital administration
innovative methods the clinicians use to incorporate animal assisted intervention in their practices.

MUSC Therapy Dogs are extremely busy both on and off the Peninsula. There are more than 40 teams alone providing tail wagging happiness in the new Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital and Pearl Tourville Women’s Pavilion as well as the Ashley River Tower Hospital.

Approx. four dozen pups prance through the halls and into units of the University (Main) Hospital.

Floppy ears and furry paws can also be sighted at –

Hollings Cancer Center
Institute of Psychiatry
various clinics such as, Physical and Occupational Rehabilitation; Special Needs Young Adult Dental; Cranial Facial and Sickle Cell Anemia.

Throughout the Charleston area dozens of teams provide canine comfort. If you enter any of our outlining clinics and facilities, like –

R. Keith Summey Medical Pavilion – West Ashley
Health East Cooper Medical Pavilion – Mount Pleasant
Children’s Health Therapy Center – North Charleston

– you no doubt have seen a therapy dog or two!

In Addition to Visitation

We now offer Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) which is a “goal-oriented form of patient care structured to help with a particular treatment plan.” These tailored roles have specific job descriptions to aid in marrying the pawfect patient and therapy dog pair. Some areas require non-shedding dogs while others are looking for dogs who retrieve objects for physical therapy sessions. Dogs able to perform tricks are often requested in areas concentrating on group activities for mental health.

We also provide specialty teams. Dog Without Orders (a play on words from the phrase “doctors without borders”) spend their two hour shifts affording medical personnel a few minutes to cuddle with the therapy dogs. These teams frequent the emergency room staff areas where clinicians study charts or the intensive care units that require specialty skillednurses to remain by a patient’s bedside. Surgical lounges allow the doctors to release and refuel sitting and petting a pup after a lengthy procedure. Radiologists, technicians, University professors and medical students enjoy their daily “fix” from a visit.

Most recently we’ve been asked by family members to participate in “Honor Walk” ceremonies. This sacred event commemorates a patient prior to organ donation. Medical personnel, and now therapy dogs line the hallway as the patient is transported (escorted by family members and surgical staff) to the operating room prior to organ procurement.

We make the therapy dogs available in the waiting room areas for family and friends before the ceremony. If asked, one team will stand bedside with the immediate family before the ceremony begins.

Having therapy dogs present for family members with dogs of their own, brings additional comfort and contributes with the acceptance of the moment.

Joining a Pet Therapy Program

Becoming a Pet Therapy Volunteer starts with knowing your dog is –

at least a year old
social with other animals
obedient
enjoys being touched and hugged by strangers
current with his/her vaccinations

Some dogs obtain additional training before pursuing their therapy dog certification. Overall this can be helpful, but not required.

There are many nationally recognized therapy animal organizations to choose from. MUSC currently accepts five. The majority of our teams are certified / registered through –

Alliance of Therapy Dogs
Pet Partners

The initial process is completed online, and then individual evaluations and observations are coordinated with you.

Once you and your dog have successfully completed the process, you are legally ready to start volunteering.

Every facility has its own admittance criteria. At MUSC we start with the application process, interview, orientation and then Pack Leader training. My objective is to ensure you have the necessary tools, knowledge and understanding of our policies and procedures for a phenomenal first day as a Volunteer.

For more information –

MUSC Pet Therapy Program: Cathy C. Bennett [email protected]
Alliance of Therapy Dogs
Pet Partners

Celebrate National Therapy Animal Day

To all those therapy animal pet parents, I thank you for all that you do for so many with your incredible therapy angels.

Please give them extra hugs and tasty treats so they know they are extra special for the work that they do.

As for my two Goldendoodle Therapy Doods Jaxson & Harley – we will continue our tradition by riding up to the Starbucks window for a good old cup of Puppuccino – make that two please!

Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary: A Special Shelter

A cabin at the Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary. Photos by Jeanne Taylor Photography | JTPetPics.com — A cabin at the Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary.

Hallie Hill Animal Sanctuary in Hollywood is just that: a sanctuary providing lifelong care for the animals that come into its custody. Some animals are specially-abled – blind or deaf – and others can be considered feral and may never warm to human companionship, but that doesn’t keep the staff and volunteers from trying. There are also some highly adoptable animals at this almost-40-acre property. Perhaps there was an owner who died and the family brought the pet to Hallie Hill rather than surrendering it to an overburdened shelter system and an unknown fate. An overcrowded shelter may ask Hallie Hill to take on a tough case or a geriatric pet whose chance of adoption in a shelter system is low. Hallie Hill’s mantra is simple: “While we can’t change an animal’s past, our mission is to rewrite their future.”

Bella is an adoptable lab ready to find her forever home. Photos by Jeanne Taylor Photography | JTPetPics.com — Bella is an adoptable lab ready to find her forever home.

While all shelters and rescues work tirelessly to place their adoptable animals, the thing that sets Hallie Hill apart is their vow to care for an animal for its entire life. That means a comfortable place to sleep, food, enrichment activities and veterinary care, not to mention the love and support of a small but caring staff and a corps of dedicated volunteers. They are not bound by space and budgetary constraints as some shelters are, and they never have to make decisions about an animal’s future based on funding. Even as a sanctuary, over the years, they have adopted out several hundred animals into loving homes.

Founded in 1988, Hallie Hill is a bit of a hidden gem in the Charleston area. This heavenly property, with its pastoral views, a swimming pond for the dogs, a small barn, a cozy cabin, 70 long-term and 15 temporary dog enclosures and four catteries, houses approximately 200 animals at all times. Golf carts are used by staff and volunteers to efficiently traverse the property during chores that include feeding, socializing and general upkeep of the resident animals’ living areas.

Ray, a blind hound mix, was adopted soon after his feature in Subaru’s Make a Dog’s Day campaign. Photos by Jeanne Taylor Photography | JTPetPics.com — Ray, a blind hound mix, was adopted soon after his feature in Subaru’s Make a Dog’s Day campaign.

Structurally, Hallie Hill maintains a very small staff, a roster of over 100 volunteers and operates under the guidance of a board of directors. It is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization and holds fundraising events throughout the year to offset expenses. They have formed excellent relationships with sponsors who believe in their mission and provide support through donations. Corporate partners participate in work days and donation drives, and individuals support the organization through volunteering, donations and adoptions.

Hallie Hill has strong ties to the Mount Pleasant community, including adopters and volunteers. Their animals also frequent the exceptional care facilities in Mount Pleasant, including Veterinary Specialty Care and Animal Eye Care of the Lowcountry. You may also find Hallie Hill reps visiting the studios for WCBD’s “News 2 Midday” and WCIV’s “Lowcountry Live” for their weekly pet segments.

One of Hallie Hill’s recent residents could even be considered to have had celebrity status. Ray, a blind hound mix is a senior dog who appeared in the 2019 Subaru Make a Dog’s Day campaign ad. The campaign video featuring Ray and several other special pups ran on television and across social media platforms, and within two weeks of the event date, Ray was adopted! Hallie Hill has many heartwarming success stories. It’s a special place for all who visit, whether adopters, volunteers or furry residents and guests.

“Hallie Hill is my childhood dream job. Taking care of animals is something I always wanted to do, so it never feels like work. The animals here are happy, well cared for and loved,” said Director Jennifer Middleton.

To learn more or to see how you can help in their mission, visit HallieHill.com.

By Jeanne Taylor