06/01/2026
Long post alert. But it must be shared. Far and wide. Loud and clear 🐾🧡😞💔💙🙏
These animals deserve to be seen and their stories heard and so do some very passionate and quite amazing people who we should be very grateful for. The hard work they all do for the animals, in animal welfare overall and for the residents in our community and beyond is outstanding, and sadly often forgotten. They need OUR support. We must do better
Today, we want to take a moment to recognize some of the true heroes of Kershaw County, the shelter staff&volunteers at Kershaw County Humane Society
Every single day, these incredible individuals show up for the animals who have no one else. They fight for them, care for them, advocate for them, and love them through some of the hardest circumstances imaginable. They work tirelessly, often behind the scenes, sacrificing their time, energy, mental health, and hearts to save innocent lives. It is non stop and they can not and should not have to do it alone.
Right now, our county should not only be celebrating these dedicated shelter workers, but also taking a hard look at the very real animal welfare crisis unfolding in our own communities and neighborhoods. 👀
There are more stray animals than ever before, entering shelters and roaming our neighborhoods and County. Sadly, more families are surrendering pets for a variety of reasons. Yet, many of these situations could have been prevented through responsible pet ownership, spaying and neutering, education, and community support.
Meanwhile, shelter staff are CURRENTLY caring for approximately 400+ animals on-site. Nearly triple what their facility was designed to handle. New animals continue arriving daily, often multiple times a day. Despite having limited space, limited resources, low adoption numbers, and donations stretched thinner than ever, they continue to show up and do whatever it takes. This is not a shelter PROBLEM - this is a COMMUNITY problem.
And perhaps one hardest part of all they deal with?
They are witnessing MORE abuse, neglect, abandonment, and outright cruelty than ever before. -
The things these amazing humans in our "little" shelter, see and deal with behind the scenes are heartbreaking. Yet somehow they continue managing daily operations, all while carrying the emotional weight of seeing innocent animals suffer. Trying to love them all, and put their broken pieces back together, in hopes they will get the life they deserve. A family of their own..
So now this brings us to the main reason/s of this post.
The two young female dogs pictured below, Goldie and Aspen, are just two examples of why we should all be concerned.
Goldie, a young Golden Retriever, and Aspen, a young hound mix, arrived at Kershaw County Humane Society separately, less than 24 hours apart over the weekend. They were no where near the other, each lady was found from opposite ends of our County. Both were found as "strays" by individuals who thankfully intervened when they could. They got them to the staff at KCHS who did not waste any time and took them in, and got them the chance they deserve
These girls are estimated to be only 1-2 years old.
Both weigh less than 25lbs, both girls should be around 50lbs. At a minimum. These poor babies have suffered and been deprived of "basic care" for quite some time.
They arrived in such devastating condition that it is difficult to comprehend how they survived. 😞 we will never understand.
Their tiny bodies are so emaciated that every bone is visible. Conditions like this do not happen overnight. They do not happen accidentally. They do not happen because of one missed meal.
While we may never know exactly where these girls came from or what they endured, we do know one thing: somewhere along the way, people failed them.
And this is NOT OK. #
Sadly cases like Goldie and Aspen are no longer rare. Shelter staff, who are human with feelings are seeing more and more animals arriving in conditions that were once uncommon, but are now becoming alarmingly frequent.
That should concern every single one of us.
Because these animals are coming from our own neighborhoods, our own roads, our own communities.
They are coming from Kershaw County.
Thankfully, Goldie and Aspen are now safe.
They are under the care of Kershaw County Humane Society, where without an entire village of people that have stepped forward to ensure they never experience that level of neglect, suffering, or cruelty again.
They have already been evaluated by the amazing veterinary team at Impact Inc 🐾💙 and while they both have a long road ahead, they are finally receiving the care they deserve.
Even more heartwarming, the incredible team at DoRe Ranch and Rescue while already busy and in action for a community TNR day for Kershaw county residents, helping assist with low cost spay and neuter services for feral/community cats, got to meet the two girls in the shelters surgery/medical department. They did a wonderful thing, and honestly did not hesitate, stepping forward to foster both girls. Their willingness to provide a safe place, proper care, and endless love is making an enormous difference, not only for Goldie and Aspen, who are going to benefit so much from this, but also for the other animals at the facility, and shelter staff working tirelessly to save every life they can.
That is what this work is truly about. This is what team work is about. This is what animal rescue and saving lives is about. It is about the animals.
It takes a village. -
A village of shelter staff, veterinarians, rescue partners, fosters, volunteers, donors, adopters, transporters, advocates, and community members.
People from all walks of life who may differ in countless ways, but who come together with one common goal: saving lives and preventing needless suffering. And bettering our community and neighborhoods.
So today, please keep the staff of Kershaw County Humane Society in your thoughts. And a HUGE thank you to the other organizations who also support our community and the lives of the animals. Thank them. Support them. Share their animals. Foster. Adopt. Volunteer. Donate if you are able. All are 501C3 non profits. Tax deductible - All rely on donations and support to continue saving lives. 🙏🐾💙🧡
While many people may never see the work they do behind the scenes, hundreds, and thousands of animals are alive today because they chose to show up. And thousands more have been prevented lives of neglect&cruelty..
And for that, they deserve far more recognition than they will ever ask for.
Turbeville Impact Incorporated kchumanesociety.
