Staff reports  |  Pet shelters across the state are swamped with thousands of homeless animals leading them to declare a state of emergency and a rescue program that will run through August 22.

“Nearly every shelter in the state, including the largest shelters [Greenville County Animal Care, Charleston Animal Society, Horry County Animal Care Center and Columbia Animal Services] are at the breaking point and need help now,” said No Kill South Carolina 2024 Chief Project Officer Abigail Appleton in a statement. “These lifesaving organizations are critically overcapacity and there’s no sign of it letting up, especially as the pandemic is surging again and folks are not getting out as much as they did earlier this summer.”

Locally, the Charleston Animal Society said it had more than triple the number of animals it has the room to house at its shelter in North Charleston, caring for over 700 animals despite only having the space for about 230.