Mount Pleasant Pets 2017

22 www.MtPleasant.Pet | www,MountPleasant.Pet | www.MPvets. Pet R E S C U E Coonhounds are the unsung breed of the South. During peak times of the year, their days are spent procuring bird bodies, clutching feathered mallards in their jaws and pointing at quail. They brave the elements and clock long hours in the woods, all to ensure that a successful day of dinner fetching is complete. Explorers by nature, their noses lead them to adventure. At the end of a hunting season, it isn’t uncommon for them to be discarded. While many hunters treat their dogs like family, a number of these dogs find themselves homeless after a successful season is through. Each January, at the close of hunting season, shelters brace themselves for an in- flux of abandoned dogs. In some cases, the hounds are left helpless, on the roadside, to fend for themselves without food or water. That’s where advocate and dog-saving pow- erhouse Kelly Postell comes in. In 2010, she started Carolina Coonhound Rescue to give these loving, neglected dogs a voice, and, since that time, she’s saved thousands of canines from falling victim to unfortunate circumstances. Between responding to calls from concerned citizens who have found abandoned puppies and traveling to rural shelters to save dogs from euthanasia, her schedule stays full. “This is a problem in all states that still allow dogs to be used in hunting for game, especially for deer,” said Kelly Postell. “It’s hard to know just how many are abandoned since there are other reasons why these dogs end up in shel- ters, like being picked up by unsuspecting people when they are found on the side of the road during a hunt or simply straying too far from the hunt area, but it does happen.” Every single year, her mission grows bigger – to save even more dogs on a larger scale. Providing them with medical care, food and shelter is all done with the help of citizens opening up their wallets and homes for this unique breed synonymous with life in the deep South. “Our biggest need at any given time is money and fos- ters,” said Postell. “We don't have a shelter facility, and we rely on fosters to house the dogs. We don't discriminate on health needs for the dogs we take in, so many are quite expensive to get to an adoptable state. More fosters equals more lives saved.” From the cobblestone streets of downtown to the sandy shores of Sullivan’s Island, many local families have stepped up and taken these dogs in. Whether it’s adopting them for good or simply providing them with a safe place to stay temporarily, the local community continues to show up for these animals in a big way. “We have a few fosters and several adopters in the Mount Pleasant area and are always happy for more,” said Postell. “Coonhounds make excellent family pets and are way more than just hunting dogs.” By the time a dog finds its way to Postell and her team, they can often be in a pretty dire condition. “In 2016, our vet bills surpassed $50,000, with an average of about $600 going into each dog to get it to an adoptable state,” said Postell. “Some individual dogs cost us well over $2,000 alone. We rely on donations from the community to continue to help these dogs that very few other organiza- tions can or will help.” The real passion for Postell comes with wit- nessing the incredible transformations these dogs undergo. From scared and malnourished to engaging and plump, it’s amazing the turn- around that occurs once these beings are given the right amount of care and compassion. “I am particularly in awe of all of the amazing people that are actively involved in The Carolina Coonhound Rescue,” said Postell. “Without them, these dogs would be dead. It's stressful and heartbreaking a lot of the time, but it's also so great to see the dogs that we can help thrive in their family environments.” By Kalene McCort MORE THAN JUST A HOUND D G: RESCUE Organizations