Pet Stories - Page 14 of 29 - Mount Pleasant Pets

Fierce and Furry The 2018 Puppy Bowl

The National Football League’s 2018 Super Bowl was one of intense rivalry as the Philadelphia Eagles took on the almighty bowl veterans, the New England Patriots. Competition and excitement were in the air as fellow Americans chose their sides and witnessed one of the nation’s favorite pastimes. Although it was an amazing and very close game, this year’s Super Bowl was undoubtedly the second best bowl game of the year. Face it: The game lacked cuteness, personality and most importantly, fur. Neither the Eagles nor the Patriots can ever hope to be able to pull at the heartstrings quite like a bunch of puppies, especially those diminutive canines at this year’s Charleston Animal Society Puppy Bowl.

Partnered with Mount Pleasant Towne Center, the Charleston Animal Society hosted a thrilling game of adorability Feb. 3, as available puppies took the field in their very own championship game. Elena Lawson, the director of special projects and business partnerships with the Charleston Animal Society, had the idea one night while watching “Animal Planet.” After bringing her idea to fruition, the Puppy Bowl has simply grown in numbers and popularity over the past three years as people from all over the Lowcountry have traveled to Mount Pleasant to find their familial companions. This year’s game included 23 “pupletes” who fearlessly charged the field. Knowing that the stakes were high, the pups ran, kicked, chewed and played their hearts out, leaving it all on the field and enticing the crowd to cheer and adopt. The field was flooded with puppies of all mixes and sizes, donning their jerseys and monogrammed bandanas. They all competed in the 2018 Puppy Bowl, exhibiting their talent, athleticism and winning personalities. Their performance, along with their charm, enticed the crowd to gawk, cheer and give all 23 champions their forever homes.

The Charleston Animal Society partners with many businesses and organizations throughout the year to host various adoption events. However, the Puppy Bowl is always among their most successful events. The Puppy Bowl is not just for the puppies; it is also a fun family day with games and activities for all to enjoy.

The Charleston Animal Society, along with other sponsors and participants, strives each year to make the Puppy Bowl more than just an adoption event. Instead, they have created a fun, family-centered day that helps raise awareness along with money for a worthy cause. This year, the Charleston Animal Society raised $6,116 for the shelter, and all 23 puppy participants won the gift of a lifetime – their own loving furever homes. The Eagles may be going to Disney World, but these puppies get to go somewhere even more magical: home.

By Emily Paschal

All Creatures Great and Small St. Francis of Assisi Blesses our Pets

Even if you’re not a religious person, you’re probably familiar with the iconic image of St. Francis, often found gracing gardens or natural areas as a statue of a robed man with birds, deer or other animals flocking to him. St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology, has won the hearts of many, both inside and outside of the Catholic faith, and is a symbol of caring and compassion for all animals.

Francis, born in the 1100s, did not always lead a saintly lifestyle. He was born into wealth, and, even as a teenager, was known as a vain, rebellious partier and drinker. An aspiring knight with no combat experience, he fought on the losing side of a bitter war between Assisi and Perugia and was one of a few spared death, instead spending nearly a year imprisoned underground awaiting ransom money from his family. While a prisoner, he began having visions from God, and, upon his release in his early 20s, he returned a changed man. He followed God’s instructions, devoted himself to Christianity and moved to a radical life of extreme poverty at a time when the church and many of its leaders were wealthy.

He developed quite a following and was skilled in delivering sermons that appealed to commoners and even preached to animals. He viewed them as brothers and sisters, equal to humans, and he considered both humans and animals to be God’s creatures. He was known to pray often with flocks of birds or other animals along the roadsides, and even preached to a wolf who had been terrorizing a village, killing people and other animals, and who afterward lived peacefully in the village with the promise that the villagers would feed him regularly.

Today, St. Francis is remembered for the miracles God performed through him for the poor, the sick and animals.

The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi is celebrated each Oct. 4 by Catholics and people of varying religious backgrounds with a Blessing of the Animals. In Mount Pleasant, creatures great and small are brought to churches for the ceremonies, which impart God’s power of health, healing and life for the benefit of each animal.

The Blessing of the Animals reaches beyond the doors of each church and inspires many nonmembers to join in the ritual – animal lovers, pet owners, rescues, business owners and families look forward to the opportunity to support our furred, feathered and scaly friends.

Carol Linville, president and founder of Pet Helpers, participates in several Blessings of the Animals each year, both at a church and through shelter events.

“Yes, I believe in St. Francis,” Linville smiled. “And St. Anthony – the patron saint of missing things – because I pray for so many animals to find their way home, and St. Jude, the patron saint of miracles, because these animals need miracles. I’m not even Catholic; I just love the saints. They are listening.”

In January, eighth graders Matthew Mutter and Simms Hoyt, students at Christ Our King, arranged a special Blessing of the Animals for a service project at Pet Helpers. Before the ceremony, the two worked for hours knotting flannel for blankets and making homemade toys for the adoption bags they gave to Pet Helpers. They also made and distributed little cards to all the homerooms at school, asking each student from kindergarten through fifth grade to write their name on the card and say the prayer for the animals’ adoptions. They gave the basket – holding more than 600 prayer cards – to Pet Helpers as well.

The boys were particularly drawn to Pet Helpers because it is a no-kill shelter, which aligns with the Church’s belief in the sanctity of life. In a small, short ceremony with a handful of students and families, Pet Helpers’ staff and a few members of the media, Christ Our King’s Deacon Bob Boackle read from the Order for the Blessing of Animals. He blessed the participants before walking through the shelter, sprinkling holy water with an aspergillum throughout the kennels and animal areas before stepping outside and making a final sign of the cross to conclude the ceremony.

“I wanted to do something with animals and for them that would show how much I appreciate all that they do for us,” said Hoyt. “They make us better people. I hope this blessing helps all the animals find a home with love.”

By Anne Toole

Funding Your Pet’s Medical Bills: From Piggy Bank to Doggy Bank

When it comes to your favorite furry friends, most would agree that the sky is the limit in regards to pet care and health. Whether it’s a brand-new pet or longtime companion, these animals quickly know how to leave an everlasting mark on our hearts. From quality food to nontoxic treats and toys, you think of everything to keep your pets happy and safe – and that doesn’t have to stop at pet insurance policies.

For pet owners, it is an easy decision to get pet insurance to ensure they’ll have financial support in the unfortunate event that their pet is injured or suffers an illness.

As one veterinarian from Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital put it, “These days we have a specialist for every part of the pet’s body – much like medicine for humans – and, as the industry advances with internists, cardiologists and more, it tends to get expensive.”

Having pet insurance helps people afford the quality care they need for their pets, including the various diagnostics that often help veterinarians determine exactly what the problem might be.

A veterinarian from Tidewater Veterinary in Mount Pleasant agreed, saying: “It makes health care more accessible, and I even have it for three of my own pets.”

Pet insurance is often overlooked when owners cannot afford the monthly payments for “possible occurrences.” Dr. David Steele with Advanced Animal Care suggested starting a pet fund as soon as you bring your pet home.

“Talk to a financial advisor as to what form of savings account works best for you,” he said. “Consider how accessible the money needs to be and what your usual monthly budget can absorb if a significant medical condition should arise. Set aside, for example, $30 to $40 per month. That amount accumulates into a nice ‘medical savings’ rather quickly.”

Over time, you will either have saved a comfortable fund for unfortunate events pertaining to your pet or be able to start paying monthly toward pet insurance, depending on your needs.

Ultimately, it’s about making the best decisions that lead to the highest quality of care for your beloved furry friends. With pet insurance, you can sleep easy knowing that if an accident happens or an unexpected illness arises, your four-legged pal will receive top-notch medical care no matter the circumstances or cost.

By Krysta Chapman

EarthWise Pet Supply: Meeting Pet Needs Naturally

Pet lovers rejoice: It’s time to welcome a brand-new pet supply and grooming store to town – and they’re focused on going all natural for your furry friends.

With its recent opening on June 10, EarthWise Pet Supply is proud to bring healthy and safe treats, toys, food and supplies with brands such as Grandma Lucy’s; Stella & Chewy’s; Primal; and more. Following its philosophy that all-natural is the best way to care for your beloved dogs and cats, EarthWise is committed to making healthier animal care easy, accessible and affordable.

With EarthWise’s self-wash stations, you now have a chance to get wet and wild with your pets, utilizing a fully prepared facility, with all of the products and tools you want – without the cleanup you don’t! Running short on time? Drop your animals off to be groomed by one of Earthwise’s experienced groomers and fellow pet lovers.

Drop by twice a month to see the adorable – and adoptable – local dogs and cats in the Charleston area. Through its work with shelters such as Eunoia Rescue; H.F. Help No-Kill Rescue; and Bullies 2 the Rescue, EarthWise is helping to bring an end to animals without homes and adding more four-legged love to your family.

Located in the East Cooper Plaza off of Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, this brand-new supply and grooming center is ready to go with all of your pet care needs. Whether you are looking for the raw products your cats and dogs deserve or stocking up on the toys you know they’ll love, EarthWise is excited to deliver friendly and helpful service for animals – and their owners – throughout the Charleston area.

To learn more, visit 619 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., or call 843-388-5225.

By Krysta Chapman

Therapy Dogs Make Life Better: A Helping Paw

Walking into Realtor Ann Whalen’s office, I’m greeted by Nimitz – a 4-and-a-half-year-old English cream golden retriever with the kind of chocolate-brown eyes that make you melt like a popsicle left on a Lowcountry dock. He doesn’t bark, dart toward me or jump to make my acquaintance but rather saunters over to the door and gazes out the window to calmly take in the sight of geese congregating by a nearby pond. I can tell by his demeanor he’s enjoying the view. While other dogs may have let out a howl and doused the door with drool in an attempt to make their way out to the feathered flock, he sits and stares – perhaps daydreaming of long rides in the family golf cart.

“He didn’t pass puppy training,” recalled Whalen, his owner. “If the pack went left, he went right.”

Despite his rebel spirit – apparent from birth – Nimitz has transformed into one of the top therapy dogs in the region. On one occasion, he didn’t even flinch when faced with the weight of a walker on top of his tender tail.

“You just have a purpose when you have a dog,” said Whalen. “Nimitz is so loving. Keeping up with his schedule and working can be a lot. Some days, he seems to be busier than me.”

Whether he’s visiting folks at the senior center or leaving neighbors in a state of glee, Nimitz’s very presence seems to off er a sense of relief and tranquility. This therapy dog even provides camaraderie for a cat, Meezer, that shares his Awendaw home.

This summer, Nimitz will have the opportunity to play alongside some truly exceptional kids at Camp Rise Above – a program held at James Island County Park for those dealing with everything from brain tumors to sickle cell anemia. The camp is broken down into seven sessions of two full days, each catering to a different group of campers with a specific condition. Participants will stretch their creativity with arts and crafts and build strength in the water with paddle boarding sessions. They will also get the opportunity to meet amazing canines like the endearing Nimitz.

“We are very excited about this opportunity,” said Whalen, who spent years working with children at a similar sleep-away camp in North Carolina. “We hope to one day get him into a program at MUSC Children’s Hospital.”

He already visits hospice every week and brings a bit of cheer to patients and family members during the most stressful times of their lives.

“He goes to each room and rests his head on the patient’s bed,” said Whalen.

Recently, while visiting with an Alzheimer’s patient, Nimitz’s presence jolted his memory. A veteran, the man became lucid, carried on conversations and even commented on the fact that Nimitz’s namesake was an esteemed fleet admiral who fought in WW II.

“When I put his therapy collar on, he is a totally different dog,” said Whalen, who brings Nimitz to a refresher course at Alpha Dog Training every six months. “He knows it’s time to go to work.”

While therapy dogs bring joy to those struggling with grief, illness or emotional upset, they also are helping kids increase their own literary confidence. We all remember the early days of childhood where sounding out words and reading aloud to a group of our peers could possibly bring on anxiety. What if your reading partner had a shiny coat and a nonjudgmental stance? Therapy dogs make monthly appearances at libraries, such as Mount Pleasant Regional and Edgar Allen Poe on Sullivan’s Island, to participate in reading programs designed to help children excel.

“Dogs don’t criticize or laugh when one makes a mistake,” said Cynthia King, president of Southeastern Therapy Animal Resources. “Also, there are children who come who are afraid of dogs. It is fun to watch a shy child want to come up to pet our dogs.”

King is the proud owner of two standard poodles, Pete and Holly, that accompany her to hospitals, assisted living facilities and schools all across the Lowcountry.

“As a founding member of STAR, I’ve watched it grow from seven people sitting on a porch, deciding to start a therapy group, to around 80 members,” said King. “Just knowing how many teams we are helping in the community is satisfying.”

Think your pooch has what it takes to bring smiles to faces throughout the area? King encourages community members to reach out and get involved.

“There is no one breed or size of dog that makes a good therapy dog,” said King. “All that is needed is a trained dog – one that enjoys being petted.”

From Great Danes to basset hounds, the number of shapes a therapy dog can take is about as varied as the people and ailments they can help.

By Kalene McCort