SPOTLIGHT: Charleston Animal Society

Name of organization: Charleston Animal Society

Year established locally: 1874

Top local executive:  Joe Elmore, President and CEO, CFRE, CAWA

Contact information:  
2455 Remount Road
North Charleston, SC 29406
Phone: 843-329-1541
Fax:  843-747-1012
Website: CharlestonAnimalSociety.org

Corporate giving contacts:
Erin Nosker, Manager of Business Partnerships
2455 Remount Road
North Charleston, 29406
Phone: 843-329-1541
E-mail: Erin Nosker

Average number of volunteers in 2019: Over 2,500 volunteers contribute approximately 2,000,000 hours of service each year.

Total operating budget (2019-2020):
$7.3 million

Percent of revenue dedicated to program services: 76%

Geographic area or specific population served: The primary areas of lifesaving and educational services are in Charleston County and the Lowcountry. 

Disaster and emergency response services along with professional educational efforts are both national and international.  

Greatest need  
These three gifts make our lifesaving work possible:
1. Gift of Homes (Adopters)
2. Gift of Time (Volunteers)
3. Gift of Funds (Donors)  

2020 Top achievements:

No Kill Charleston Project
*Charleston Animal Society built the first No Kill Community in the Southeast in 2013!

• Taught thousands of children compassion through 20,000+ humane education lessons.
• Found lifesaving homes for homeless animals through 5,000+ adoptions.
• Prevented the births of unplanned litters through 6,500 spay/neuter surgeries.
• Reduced the number of free-roaming cats through 2,000+ trap-vaccinate-alter-return to habitats.
• Fostered the most at-risk animals until they were healthy enough to be placed in 2,200 homes.
• Reunited furry loved ones with their families through 650 found animals.
• Contained outbreaks of deadly diseases through 16,400 rabies and other vaccinations.
• Saved the lives of nearly 6,000 abused, abandoned and unwanted animals through medical care.
• Fought animal cruelty through assisting law enforcement with 35 investigations.
• Helped families keep and care for their pets through 60,000 pounds of food and additional support.
• Reaccredited with the American Animal Hospital Association – less than 10% of veterinary clinics/animal hospitals in the Tri-County area have achieved this accreditation for veterinary care.
• Sustained No Kill Charleston for all of Charleston County for eight consecutive years.
• Earned top-rated nonprofit honors (out of 22,000+ nonprofits in S.C.) for seven consecutive years.
• Achieved exemplary audit for eight consecutive years.
• Rescued 175 animals from harm’s way (disasters and cruelty operations) across South Carolina and the Southeast.

No Kill South Carolina Project

*Charleston Animal Society aims to build the first No Kill State in the South by 2024!

• Organized animal shelters across the state to realize thousands of fewer animals dying and improved shelter conditions than the previous year.

2021 Goals:

Eliminate unnecessary euthanasia throughout South Carolina.

Reduce the overpopulation of dogs and cats.

Prevent animal cruelty.

Fundraising events:

Applause for Paws Gala
Charleston Gaillard Center
Friday, April 16, 2021
https://www.charlestonanimalsociety.org/applause-for-paws-gala/

21st Annual Celebrity Chili Cook-Off  & Oyster Roast
Saturday, November 20, 2021
https://chili.charlestonanimalsociety.org/

Events throughout the year
https://www.charlestonanimalsociety.org/

Click for more information about