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November 2024 by Lisa Haskell
Took black cat living on my front and back porch today. Nope , return cat as it has an owner. A senior cat, who last year was 15 and is still 15. (Though City of Charleston Animal Services Officer said cat was 18 a year and a half ago) I am not to feed or water a cat in need. So, I will bring him back when he can’t function. WHY is a senior cat outside 24/7 no matter the weather. No shelter or care. Should not a senior cat have veterinary care, special diet, flea treatment?!?!?! What’s that?!?! Oh, black cat is still on my porch with I wonder who owns the orange and white cat in photo?!?!?!? Help people who want to HELP animals. These animals can’t help themselves.November 8, 2024. Now, November 9, 2024 black cat still here. I legally can do nothing for him. I WILL pet him and tell him I love him.Sunday, November 10, 2024- 4:15 am Good Morning Little Guy. Still here by my porch. The photo is how I found him back in October 2021 living under a building, fur missing, hopping around like his skin was burning. No one calling him, feeding him or looking for him. I called for help for him as I was unable to quickly catch him. I called again for him to be transported to CAS for help as he came back first time with a tipped ear and was losing fur again. I feared he would be as bad as first time. I took him to CAS in December 2023 and they took him in. Within a month he was looking for help. I have cleaned up dead animal carcasses from the cat eating in my yard. He clearly can’t get his own food anymore. I was informed after second time looking for help for him that this is a pet.November 10, 2024.
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November 2024 by Dazia Barlei
Don't ever try to foster here. We went in trying to foster a dog they told us it'd be a couple minute wait and they'd come grab us when they were ready for us. We waited for over and hour and a half for them to tell us they didn't have any dogs that needed foster homes...The people there were very rube and condescending. Dorchester Paws was wayyyyy better and they actually care about the people coming into support the animals.
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November 2024 by L C
First, I think Charleston Animal Society as a concept is a champion for a noble cause and I grew up supporting their organization. I held this organization in high esteem. However, I think somewhere between then and now, something has gone awry.
I know when you adopt an animal, you are ultimately setting yourself up for an eventual heartbreak. However, when I adopted sweet little Sparrow (formerly Futon) in July of this year, I did not foresee that I would be saying goodbye to her in October.
I was told at adoption that Sparrow had recovered from a respiratory infection, that she was no longer sick, and no longer needed any medication beyond a specialized diet designed for cats with a sensitive stomach. I mistakenly assumed that your staff would be honest with me.
I took Sparrow to her first physical with my vet expecting to talk through caring for an animal with dietary restrictions, and learned that she was gravely ill with a disease called Feline Infectious Peritonitis, which has a 100% fatality rate without medication.
I returned to the shelter that afternoon to request more detailed medical records as they would not answer the phone. I was told by a staff member, “I’m not surprised she’s so sick. We almost named her Nebula because she was on the Nebulizer all the time.” I should also state that there was no mention of the nebulizer in her medical summary from CAS.
I emailed your veterinarian trying to get more detailed records. I was given her bloodwork, then told that no other records existed for her, which I doubt.
My vet and I tried to fight the FIP. I crowdfunded as well as received compensation for the first half of her treatment from your organization, for which I was very grateful. That’s where you earn your 1 star here.
To be blunt, I have lost all trust in your organization and its veterinary staff. My heart is shattered. At adoption, I was asked to sign a contract in which I vowed to give her "freedom from discomfort...injury, pain, or disease...[and] freedom from fear and distress" and I tried so hard to keep this promise. She was so brave. I held her in my arms when they told me that despite our best efforts, she wasn’t going to get better. I held her in my arms when she left us. In a few days’ time, I will hold her urn in my hands and mourn that all of the brightness of her life, her joy, her sweet little purrs have been reduced to ash. We were supposed to have a future together. How am I supposed to carry on after this?
It was a shocking breach of trust to discover that Charleston Animal Society did not at least give me all the necessary information to know that Sparrow wasn't being turned over to my care free of injury, pain, or disease. The magnitude of this betrayal makes it impossible for me to trust them again. It was a Charleston Animal Society veterinarian that signed off on Sparrow's adoption readiness despite the fluid pooling in her abdomen, fluid which they made several notes about in her medical summary, as well as her low blood lab results. It was Charleston Animal Society veterinary staff that provided me with a medical summary in place of detailed records and claimed no other records exist when I inquired about them. It was Charleston Animal Society veterinary staff that either knew she was seriously ill and ignored it in favor of adopting her out, or missed it entirely.
I urge anyone considering adoption from this shelter to read this review as well as the countless others that detail bringing home a pet only to discover their new family member is sick and may never recover. I think there is an issue with this animal society’s health and hygiene and the standard of care they provide, despite their best intentions. I wish I had known when I brought her home that she was a sick little kitten instead of the healthy adult cat I was promised. Reader, if you’re comfortable taking that risk when adopting from this shelter, be my guest. If you’re prepared to be hospice care within 3 months of ad
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November 2024 by Blessed
I’ve been trying to call this place for the past three days and I’ve called 13 times a day at least. And no one has answered the phone. My dogs records were lost in Helene and I’ve been trying to get them emailed or sent to me. No one has answered me in a week. Do not try to call this place they will not answer. Now I’m probably gonna have to drive three hours there when they could’ve just answered the phone
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October 2024 by Salvatore Ausonio
Went in with a dog I found crying and shaking and took to the vet for 2 visits for her first 2 vaccinations. I tried to keep the puppy but I have 12 rescue cats and she kept lunging and whining at them. They denied the puppy because they said since I took it to the vet I technically owned her. So much for care and dignity for the dog and human. What a crock
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October 2024 by tara
Very disappointed… The brunette short lady working there did not even give me and my partner a CHANCE to meet Bryson (one of the dogs there).
We came with out with our dog of 7 years and she immediately kicked us out saying it’s a liability and the dogs can NOT MEET UNTIL YOU PAY AND ADOPT! Basically they have a protocol where your existing dogs at home can not meet the new dog you want to adopt, so if they end up not liking each other or get along, you are now STUCK with the dog. At that point people will resort to just dropping the dog off in the woods. So not only are you not giving Bryson a chance ( who is already 8 months , black male pit bull) , his chances of being saved is so low. They want you to waste your energy and time and do not care about the dogs at all.
I’ve never in my life heard of not allowing dogs to meet…. She even had the audacity to say we would have to take Bella home first to even go back to meet ANY dogs. So so sad for the dogs involved. I pray she loses her job and everyone with her mindset in that facility because she’s actively not giving any of those babies a chance :(
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August 2024 by Jaquez Carter
I love this shelter but I had to give up my dog Cassie I miss you:((((
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August 2024 by Jess Ski
This place is fantastic. My husband and I went in to see a 2 mo old German shepherd pup. Staff was very friendly and got us into a play room with him right away. The paperwork was really easy to do. We explained we had a cat at home and they gave us a few pamphlets and tips on how to introduce them and keep them calm. The tips worked great and they’re best buds already!
After a day or two, we believed the puppy to have kennel cough. I called the shelter back and they got medication filled for him and I was able to pick it up within the hour. This place was great from start to finish!
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August 2024 by Ginnie Stone
I brought my pup to get spayed & microchipped. She was in a new environment & acting wild. An employee immediately came to help. Then I realized I forgot my paperwork
Front desk people were wonderful. I came to pick her up & she was not happy. A front desk gal came out to get her in the car. She explained everything & could not have been nicer. Both gals that helped me were fantastic. Thank you
Don't listen to the one star bad reviews
They're simply not true. It was busy but they were very pleasant, kind and helpful
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July 2024 by Ryanne Irene
Please don’t listen to the negative reviews, all the members that work here truly care and love these animals. They want the best for them and are doing what they can. They are under staffed even if it doesn’t look like it. They are all very sweet. Right now is puppy and kitten season so it is very hectic for all shelters. I have done a lot of fostering and rescuing in my life time. I will personally say this place is very professional and all the options they give you and even what they give you for free with your adoption is amazing. They only want to set you and your new furry friend up for success! Please adopt from them, they are amazing and it’s supporting an amazing cause!
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July 2024 by Erin Craven
DO NOT ADOPT A DOG FROM HERE. THEY SOLD MY SISTER A SICK PUPPY AND REFUSED TO HELP COVER MEDICAL BILLS. THEY TOLD HER SHE COULD RETURN THE DOG AND HE WOULD BE EUTHANIZED EVEN THOUGH THEY CLAIM THEY ARE A NO KILL SHELTER. IF ZERO STARS WAS AN OPTION, I WOULD PICK THAT.
TODAY THE PUPPY HAD TO GO INTO EMERGENCY SURGERY (estimated to cost $4000-6000) FOR A HERNIA. UNFORTUNATELY THE POOR PUPPY DID NOT MAKE IT.
THE FACILITY HAS THREE VETS ON STAFF. THE SOCIETY HAS ALL APPROPRIATE RESOURCES AT THEIR DISPOSAL TO DETERMINE IF THE DOG IS HEALTHY AND READY FOR ADOPTION. SEE BELOW PHOTO ON THE PUPPIES X-RAYS (left) COMPARED TO HOW A NORMAL DOGS (right) SHOULD LOOK. THIS PUPPY SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN UP FOR ADOPTION IN THE FIRST PLACE.
THIS WHOLE SITUATION HAS BEEN TRAUMATIZING AND I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST TO NEVER DONATE YOUR TIME, MONEY, OR RESOURCES TO THIS SOCIETY OR ADOPT A DOG FROM HERE.
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June 2024 by Jessica B.
I'm always so impressed with CAS. It's clean, designed beautifully and has so many different areas for you to interact with animals. The fundraising they do is always fun and for a good cause! I donate a lot of blankets, sheets and towels that are just sitting in the closets unused. They're always taking donations, have an Amazon wish list and they use Amazon Smile. They provide low cost procedures to help with spay, neutering and vaccines. They offer a reading to dogs program for kids which is $5 and allows kids to sit and was with a stuffy to the dog. What a great way to get the child reading and for dogs to interact with tiny humans. I def recommend supporting them in any way you can!
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June 2024 by kristy mercer
All the ladies I dealt with were very helpful and friendly.
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June 2024 by Adam Jaco
It's never easy having to inquire about emergency fostering and housing for your loved ones for a short time or even surrendering. It's nice to be able to just get this information over the phone to find out what your options are. Oftentimes it's a challenging endeavor because it could be embarrassing and emotional. That being said, do not bother trying to contact anyone at this facility over the phone. Because you will never reach anybody the majority of the time. Yet after calling 20 times I walk into the facility and the place is buzzing with people everywhere.
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May 2024 by Krista Dunham
Everyone there is amazing. My cat almost died because other vets turned me away due to only having 50 bucks to my name at the time. They saved her life. I will be forever grateful.
