Shuck Your Paws Off for Pet Helpers

Downtown Charleston will fill with the Lowcountry’s greatest animal lovers on March 20th at 7:00pm – and you *AND YOUR DOG* are invited!  Enjoy a Saturday evening full of all-you-can-eat Southern cuisine, set to the swingin’ sounds of the Shakin’ Martinis at the Pet Helpers 9^th Annual Oyster Roast, presented by Rosebank Farms Café, Fatboy’s Lowcountry Cooking, and Elizabeth Grace Occasions.

Thanks to the amazing outpouring of community support from the 800 guests at the 2009 Pet Helpers Oyster Roast, the event has been relocated to the Charleston Visitor Center at 375 Meeting Street in downtown Charleston. Surrounded by parking and with an endless supply of food and beverages, this year’s event is sure to be better than ever!

Indulge in all-you-can-eat oysters, Lowcountry Boil, chili, hot dogs, veggie dogs, non-alcoholic beverages and more!  Beer and wine will be available for an additional charge.  Bring your dog along and be sure to check out the silent auction while you enjoy the evening air!

Grab your tickets online at www.pethelpers.org, by phone at (843) 795-1110 x11, or at Pet Helpers, 1447 Folly Road, James Island.  Adult tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door, with a special discount for college students.  Children ages 6-12 are just $10 in advance, $15 at the door, and kids under 6 eat for free! 

For sponsorship opportunities or silent auction donations, please contact Tracey Erwin at (843)795-1110 x11.

Shuck your paws off to support Pet Helpers Adoption Center and Spay/Neuter Clinic and help to end the euthanasia of all adoptable cats and dogs in the Lowcountry.

Pet Helpers works to accomplish this goal by keeping all animals until adopted, providing low cost spay/neuter surgeries, offering humane education programs, pursuing animal cruelty prosecution, and initiating animal welfare legislation. 

Check out these photos from last year’s event.

Meet a Lowcountry Dog: Pursey

Pursey is a five-year-old Maltese that was named for when I used to sell purses. One of the best memories I have of Pursey was how we got him. I was on my way to pick up another dog from a different breeder but found out he had been sold. I called another breeder and picked up Pursey the next day. I still remember him hopping around my yard like a bunny when I got him home. We were meant to be together.

Pursey loves to play with his shih tzu girlfriend, Molly. He loves to play fetch with his stuffed animals, learns tricks extremely fast, and he loves to give kisses! Pursey is silly and sweet. He can be the life of the party or just relax on the couch with his “daddy” watching football.

Pursey makes even the toughest days easier to swallow. There is nothing more perfect than coming home to him being so excited to see me. He always does his “Pursey Dance.”

submitted by Sarah & Jerry Hurst

Would you like your dog featured in an upcoming Meet a Lowcountry Dog spotlight? Send us up to 3 photos, and a short {500 words or less} write up of what makes your dog so special OR fill out the Meet a LCD Questionnaire posted on the blog.  Email the info to gillian@lowcountrydog.com using the subject line: Meet a Lowcountry Dog

Charleston Dog Show Party

Please join the Charleston Dog Show organizers at Dog and Horse Fine Art and Portraiture downtown to mingle and admire the gallery and artwork at Dog and Horse tomorrow March 10th from 6-8pm. Hostess Jaynie Spector graciously opens her gallery to CDS friends, and their dogs for this event. Wine and light appetizers will be served. Sponsorship materials, posters and information will be available for interested parties. Hats, koozies, visors will be on sale.

Dogmore Stew and LCGRR Event Recaps

Lots of people and their pets were out at the Dogmore Stew event at Magnolia Plantation on Sunday. The event benefitted Lowcountry Animal Rescue. Check out the cute photos sent to us by Paws, Claws, Feathers and Scales. 

And here’s some additional shots provided by Kristie from The Learning Canine. You can see there was lots of training going on!

And Low Country Golden Retriever Rescue also had a great turn out for their fundraiser event at Charleston Krav Maga. Everyone had a great time taking a self defense class where all proceeds went to the rescue!  Check out these cute photos of the dogs in attendance. 

Doggy Dining at Dolittle’s

Bring your best friend to Dolittle’s for something a little different. Dolittle’s is launching a new food for the store. A food so pure you can enjoy it too. Dr Janice Elenbaas, founder of Lucky Dog Cuisine, will be in Dolittle’s Charleston store (22F Windermere Blvd) to share her creations with you and your pet on Friday, March 19th from 10am-4pm.

Each of Lucky Dog’s five recipes is specially designed as a whole meal for your dog. All of the meats are USDA prime meats. Cheeses and yogurt provide calcium. Vegetables are cooked in pure, filtered water, and pureed for easy digestion. Lucky Dog uses extra virgin olive oil to ensure no chemical processing. All of the ingredients are sourced from within the United States. There are no additives or preservatives, by-products or meat meals in any of the food. Lucky Dog recipes have been tested by the South Carolina Dept. of Agriculture and by independent labs for quality and nutrition. “Our food is so good, you can eat it too!” says Dr Elenbaas. So come hungry and ready to sample.

America is experiencing a foodie revolution, and the pet food industry is no exception. The natural foods section of the pet food trade has grown by 24.6% from 2003 to 2007, and Dolittle’s certainly recognizes the trend. A proud retailer in the Charleston-area, owner Ric Sommons seeks to provide the best quality products on the market for your companion animal.

Dolittle’s is pleased to add Lucky Dog Cuisine to their selection of all natural foods. “Lucky Dog is unlike any commercial dog food I have ever seen.” says owner Ric Sommons “I love that they come in ready to serve portions and look, smell and taste like home cooking. They are just right on spices, salt and sugar.”

Lucky Dog Cuisine is based in Bluffton, South Carolina. They are a member of the South Carolina Specialty Food Association.

Sunday Funnies

Courtesy of Cartoonist Jerry King

For more of his work: www.jerryking.com

Pet Helpers High School Speaker Series

Starting on March 9, local high school students can get a glimpse of the animal welfare world through Pet Helpers High School Speaker Series.

This program is designed for students with an interest in animals, animal welfare, or careers in animal welfare or veterinary science.  Speakers will cover a variety of topics that will appeal to animal lovers and humanitarians in grades 9-12.

The group will meet the second Tuesday of every month and will be an opportunity for likeminded animal lovers to interact with professionals in fields that interest them.  Spots are limited.  Email kmehle@pethelpers.org to register. See www.pethelpers.org for more information. Suggested donation: $5.

The fist session is on Tuesday, March 9 from 4:00-6:00 pm at Pet Helpers, 1447 Folly Road, James Island.

Pet Helpers is a private, non-profit 501c 3 Adoption Center and Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic that serves communities across the Lowcountry.  Pet Helpers’ mission is to end the euthanasia of all adoptable cats and dogs by keeping all animals until adopted; providing low cost spay/neuter surgeries; offering humane education programs; pursuing animal cruelty prosecution; and initiating animal welfare legislation. 

Good Dogs Gone Bad

Rylee’s Couch Terror

This is Rylee, Kelly Hackett’s one year old black and tan Coonhound. She tore up her (yes her) couch in no time at all. Then sat in the middle of her destruction like she didn’t do anything. She actually went back into the room… her room… and sat like this for this photo. No commands needed… She was proud!

Adoptable Dogs

Here are a few adorable dogs that are in need of new and loving homes. If you can’t adopt a dog, fostering or sponsoring one can be an amazing alternative and just as rewarding! Your donation will aid in their care while they are awaiting their permanent families and homes.

Lucky-Bumble is an adorable Border Collie Mix. He is 1 year old and deserves his forever home. He is housetrained and would be the perfect addition to your family. If you’re interested in Lucky-Bumble or if you would like additional adoption information from Pet Helpers, please visit their website www.pethelpers.org

C.C. is a super cute Beagle mix. She is 10 months old. She has been neutered and is ready to go! If you are interested in adopting C.C. through the Charleston Animal Society please visit their website www.charlestonanimalsociety.org

King is a sweet 6 year old boy who was rescued from a very poor living situation. He was chained to a tree and infested with hundreds of fleas when GGRLC received a call from the authorities asking if they could take him. Fortunately with the help of a great volunteer we were able to get him the next day. King has finished his Heartworm treatment and is ready for a family to call his own. If you think that could be your family please click HERE.

Clover is a 12 year old, sweet senior girl who is looking for a special home to spend her retirement years in. Clover came to LLR from a shelter in the Upstate, where she was found as a stray by animal control. For her age, she is in excellent health. She does have some arthritis and does appear to have some cataracts. But this doesn’t seem to slow her down any. She make weekly trips to the dog parks and enjoys the car rides and likes to tell the younger dogs what to do. She currently lives in a home with other dogs and enjoys using the doggie door to the back yard. She is completely vaccinated, heartworm negative, and ready to find her special home! For more information of adopting Clover click HERE.

Pet Fest 2010 Coming Up April 10th & 11th

Photo via www.ccprc.com

Our pets love us unconditionally – so why not give back to your best friends by bringing them out to experience a day of fun, frolic and exploration? Pets and their owners are invited to join Charleston County Parks for a full weekend of exhibits, demonstrations, experts, entertainment and more at Charleston’s premiere pet festival, Pet Fest, Saturday, April 10 and Sunday, April 11 from 12 – 6 p.m. at Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park! Mark your calendars!

Now a two-day event, Pet Fest provides an opportunity for local pet organizations and businesses to showcase their causes, products, and services in a fun, pet-friendly environment. Pet Fest 2009 hosted over 1600 pets and their owners.

Pet Fest 2010 highlights include:

· K9’s in Flight Frisbee Dogs and Dock Diving– Shows currently scheduled for 1, 3 and 5 p.m.

· Dock Diving for visiting canines (new for 2010!), for a charitable donation to Humane Net

· Lowcountry Dog Magazine’s Cover Model Contest – Enter your dog for a chance to be on the cover of Lowcountry Dog Magazine

· Dolittle’s Interactive Tent – Tons of fun doggie games and a chance to win a year supply of food

· Charleston Kennel Club’s “Meet the Breed Dog Show” – Enter your own purebred or family dog

· Canine Good Citizen Tests – Would your pooch make a good therapy dog (Saturday only)

· Pet Contests – Best Trick, Owner Pet Look-Alike, A Face Only a Mother Could Love, Musical Sit

· Dog costume contest (new for 2010!) – Dress your best to win prizes

· Chow Down Like Your Hound – Human-grade dog food eating contest (kids and adults)

· Lowcountry Kitten Rescue Animal ER – Ages 8 & up can explore careers in veterinary medicine

· Microchipping Clinic (Saturday Only)

· STAR (Search Tactics And Rescue) Demonstrations

· Veterinarians, Trainers, Groomers and Pet Suppliers

· Rescue Groups and Adoption Centers will have adoptable animals on-site

· Children’s Activities

· Plenty of food and beverages including special treats for the pooches

Plus, at this year’s event, meet Charleston County Parks’ official top dog mascot, Zoey. Also revealed at the event will be the winner of “From Fat to Fit: A Canine Fitness Challenge.”

Don’t miss Pet Fest, Saturday, April 10 from noon to 6 p.m. and Sunday, April 11 from noon to 6 p.m. at Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park. Admission is $5 per day. Parking is limited, so be sure to arrive early or carpool. Children 12 and under, Gold Pass Holders and leashed pets are free. For further information or a current schedule of happenings call 795-4FUN (4386) or visit www.ccprc.com/petfest.

Take a look back at all the fun from Pet Fest 2009 and be sure to attend Pet Fest 2010 to enter LCD’s Cover Model Contest for your dog’s chance to be on the cover of an issue of Lowcountry Dog Magazine! We hope to see you all there!