Mount Pleasant Pets 2018-19

7 www.MtPleasant.Pet | www,MountPleasant.Pet | www.MPvets. Pet L O V E By Bill Macchio Keeping our temporarily homeless pets healthy, happy and sheltered is foremost in the minds of all animal lovers. Since Pet Helpers supported the inaugural issue of Mount Pleasant Pets in 2017, I wanted to make sure to introduce myself to Carol Linville, the organization’s founder and president of the board. I got in touch with her, and we set up a meeting with Alan Berger, who recently took over as Pet Helpers’ executive director. I am personally interested in how Pet Helpers, the Charleston Animal Society, Doc Williams SPCA and other shelters raise funds to take care of homeless pets while they await adoption. As the three of us sat down, I had several questions, and I was hoping the answers would crystallize how Mount Pleasant Magazine and Mount Pleasant Pets could help Charleston-area shelters. As our conversation progressed, we discussed Pet Helpers’ various fundraising efforts, including the annual Fur Ball, a formal event and auction. Carol enthusiastically explained how the Pet Helpers family of supporters really comes to- gether for the Fur Ball. She relayed how local celebrity Tom Crawford of “Lowcountry Live” auctions off an array of donated items throughout the evening. Suddenly her eyes lit up as she asked, “Would you let us auction off the cover of Mount Pleasant Pets ?” I really didn’t know what to say. “Yes, of course,” was my first unspoken response. But my second private thought was: “What happens if the winning bid does not come from an East Cooper pet lover?” The bottom line was this: The intent was for Mount Pleas- ant Pets to help all Charleston pets in need, so, naturally, I said yes, and Carol was delighted! We would be helping our area’s homeless pets, and that was the ultimate goal. But in the back of my mind, I was still concerned about whether the top bidder would be an East Cooper pet family. As the Fur Ball drew closer, I decided it would be best to engage the services of a pet photographer for the cover shoot – one who truly makes pets a priority. I called Jeanne Taylor, the Charleston area’s best pet photographer. I asked her if she would be able to fit the front-cover project into her busy schedule, and I was pleased to hear the excitement in her voice. She works closely with local rescues, and I could tell she would be up for the shoot. She added a photo session and other items to the auction package to sweeten the pot for potential bidders. Through Pet Helpers’ outstanding efforts and Crawford's auction savvy, the evening was a success. Carol and her team were pleased, and I was amazed at the contributions that came in that evening. For me, it solidified what my gut had been telling me all along: Mount Pleasant residents love their pets, reaffirming why we launched Mount Pleasant Pets in the first place. Photo by Jeanne Taylor.