Columbia Animal Services

06/05/2026

It’s Rocko’s Modern Life and we’re just living in it. ✨

Rocko came to the shelter when his previous owner could no longer care for him, and the transition was incredibly difficult. In his early days, he was so overwhelmed and frightened that he would curl up in the corner of his kennel out of fear. 💔

With patience, enrichment, and support from our behavior team, Rocko slowly began to gain confidence. Playgroups played a huge role in his progress, helping him become a social, well-liked dog among his canine friends. As a long-term resident, Rocko eventually found himself at very high risk due to overcrowding, but a loving foster stepped up just in time and changed his future.

Now thriving in foster care, Rocko has shown what a wonderful companion he can be. He is house trained, crate trained, a perfect passenger in the car, and has had no accidents or destructive behaviors in his foster home thus far. He loves the simpler things in life- walks, outdoor adventures, and simply spending time with his people. He is a super sweet and loving boy.

Rocko is social with other dogs and has done well around cats, horses, pigs, and chickens. While he can be shy and fearful of strangers, loud noises, and the vacuum, he is an incredibly sweet, affectionate boy who forms strong bonds once he feels safe. He has shown some crate guarding around other dogs, so adopters should continue to manage and monitor interactions around his crate until he is fully acclimated.

Rocko is looking for a patient family willing to help him continue building confidence at his own pace. In return, they’ll gain a loyal, loving companion who has overcome so much and is more than ready for a forever home of his own.

🏡 Rocko is currently in a foster home. 👀 Interested in meeting him? Submit a Meet and Greet Inquiry here! https://forms.columbiasc.gov/250657481340860

ℹ️ Basic info about Rocko: ⬇️

🪪 Shelter ID: A306083
🕰️ Age: 5 years
💙 S*x: Male
⚖️ Weight: 48
❤️‍🩹 Medical: Neutered, microchipped, UTD on basic vaccines, HW-
🗓️ With CAS since: March 13, 2026
🐶 Dog social
✅ House and crate trained

06/04/2026

🔦 June Staff Spotlight: Miller ✨

Miller is one of our dedicated Animal Services Officers! He joined our team in August 2025, starting in our kennel department before working his way up to Animal Services Officer through hard work, determination, and a passion for helping both animals and people.

Outside of work, Miller enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time outdoors. One of his favorite things about working at the shelter is the people he meets and the relationships he builds along the way.

Miller is known for always being willing to lend a hand whenever it’s needed. Whether it’s helping a coworker, assisting a citizen in the community, or going above and beyond on a call in the field, he consistently steps up to make a difference.

A Sagittarius who loves both dogs and cats, Miller brings a positive attitude and strong work ethic to everything he does. 🐶🐱

Thank you, Miller, for your commitment to our animals, our team, and our community. We appreciate all that you do!

06/03/2026

🆘 Our shelter is at a critical point. Intake has been through the roof over the past several days, and we are completely full- not a single open kennel remains, and the day is far from over. As heartbreaking as it is, we are actively making euthanasia decisions due to lack of space.

If you have been thinking about fostering or adopting, there is truly no better time than right now. Every dog that leaves the shelter opens a kennel for another dog in need, saving not just one life, but potentially two. Summer is historically our busiest season, and it’s only the beginning of June. We urgently need the community’s help to clear kennels and create lifesaving space. 🚨

We try not to ask for help unless we truly need it, but when lives are on the line, we have to reach out. If you can open your heart and home to an animal in need, whether through adoption, fostering, or rescue, we would be incredibly grateful.

➡️ If you’re interested and able to help, please visit the shelter in person as soon as possible‼️ You can also email us at [email protected], but coming to the shelter in person during busy times of crisis will result in the fastest outcome. You can also call us at 📞 (803) 776-PETS (7387)

⭐️All pets are spayed or neutered, microchipped, and up to date on basic vaccines at the time of adoption. For heartworm-positive dogs, CAS will provide heartworm treatment at no cost to the adopter. Heartworm disease is treatable and non-contagious.

🏡 Interested in fostering? Fostering saves lives. Get approved and pick up your foster the same day: APPLY HERE: https://forms.columbiasc.gov/232624008451953. Learn more at 🌐 animalservices.columbiasc.gov/foster-program.

❤️‍🩹 To view dogs at highest risk of euthanasia, visit our Rescue Needs page:�COC Animal Services Rescue Needs

🛟 For 501(c)(3) rescue pulls, please contact us at [email protected].

💙 Please share. The more people who see this, the more lives we can save. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for helping us find placement for our animals in need. 🐾

06/02/2026

💔 Peepster has officially become our longest-term resident.

While other dogs have come and gone, Peepster is still waiting. Because our shelter remains full, she is at risk for euthanasia due to space and her length of stay.

Peepster came to us as stray at just 10 months old, and she is now just over a year old.

She’s young, loves other dogs, enjoys toys, and has the perfect mix of playful and sweet.

Peepster urgently needs a foster, adopter, or rescue.

Basic info about Peepster: ⬇️

🪪 Shelter ID: A306180
🩷 S*x: Female
🕰️ Age: 1 years
❤️‍🩹 Medical: Spayed, microchipped, UTD on vaccinations, HW -
📆 With CAS since: March 19, 2026
🐶 Dogs Social

06/01/2026

Scrub-a-dub-dub, $10 gets a shelter pup in the tub! 🛁 In celebration of International Bath Day on June 14th, we’re raising funds to help us pamper our city’s deserving shelter dogs! Then, on the 14th, our dedicated volunteers will gather at the shelter to bathe the pups! 🫧

🧼 CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR A BATH FOR A SHELTER DOG FOR ONLY $10: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/sponsor-a-bath-for-a-shelter-dog-2

Bathing our pets is about so much more than keeping them clean- they serve as a simple yet important way to show our residents a little TLC during their time with us. ❤️‍🩹

Many of our dogs arrive at the shelter in desperate need of a good bath (often a medicated one), and others get very dirty running around and wrestling in our play yards, especially on rainy days.

Baths provide a sense of comfort and relief for our pups, especially under stressful circumstances. They help remove dirt, debris, dead hair, and any dead mites or fleas, promoting a cleaner, healthier coat and skin. ✨ Bathing also helps to reduce shedding and relieve allergies by washing away allergens like pollen and dander.

⭐️ All funds raised will directly benefit Columbia Animal Services shelter programs and will help us buy much-needed supplies and equipment for our pets and volunteers (including but not limited to slip leads, Kongs, hard chews and other enrichment materials).

Thank you so much for supporting this worthy cause. We can’t wait to have a shelter full of squeaky clean cuties looking and feeling their absolute best! 🐾

💙 Want to volunteer with us? Click here to learn more! 🔗 https://animalservices.columbiasc.gov/volunteer/. Interested in volunteering with us on International Bath Day and bathing shelter dogs? ✍️ Sign up on Volgistics or 📧 email us at [email protected].

🤝 In partnership with Animal Mission and Pets of Columbia Animal Services

05/30/2026

It is Foster Friday…🚢 Don’t let this Tugboat sail away! 🚢

Mila aka “Tugboat” came to Columbia Animal Services at the end of March after being confiscated. When she first arrived, she was incredibly shy, reserved, and unsure of the world around her. But thanks to the patience and love of her foster home, Tugboat is finally beginning to blossom into the dog she was always meant to be.

Every day, she’s gaining confidence, learning new things, and discovering how much fun life can be. Tugboat enjoys the company of other dogs who share her calm, easygoing energy.

While she can be a little cautious at first, once Tugboat trusts you, she becomes the most loyal companion. More than anything, she loves being near her people and will happily be your best friend forever.

Tugboat is crate training and is almost fully house trained. She’s still learning the ropes of being a dog, but she’s making incredible progress and is ready for a family that will continue showing her how wonderful life can be.

Could Tugboat’s next stop be her forever home? 🏡❤️

Basic info about Tugboat: ⬇️

🪪 Shelter ID: A306353
🩷 S*x: Female
🕰️ Age: 3 years
⚖️ Weight: 35 lbs
❤️‍🩹 Medical: Spayed, microchipped, UTD on vaccinations, HW -
📆 With CAS since: March 30, 2026
🐶 Dogs: Tolerant but friendly
🏠 Crate trained

✨ Click here to submit a Meet and Greet Inquiry for Tugboat! 🔗 https://forms.columbiasc.gov/250657481340860

05/29/2026

Today is National Heat Awareness Day! 🥵☀️

As temperatures rise across the Carolinas, it’s so important to remember that pets are far more susceptible to heat-related illness than humans. Sadly, our shelter sees multiple heat stroke cases every year, and they can be absolutely devastating. Heat stroke can happen much faster than most people realize, even at temperatures lower than you’d expect.

Knowing the warning signs could save a life- your pet’s life, or another. Heavy panting, excessive drooling, weakness, vomiting, disorientation, or collapse are all signs of a medical emergency. Prevention is key: always provide pets with access to COOL water (water temperatures in bowls and buckets rise quickly), proper shade, and shelter, and NEVER leave a pet in a car during warm weather- not even for a few minutes. 🚗🚫

🚨 Being a responsible pet owner means staying informed and helping protect animals in our community. If you notice a pet suffering from lack of resources during hot weather, please report it. ⬇️
📍 City of Columbia Animal Cruelty/Neglect:
(803) 776-PETS (7387)
📍 Richland County Animal Cruelty/Neglect:
(803) 929-6000
‼️ Animal cruelty concerns can also be reported to your local police department or through Midlands Crime Stoppers:
http://www.midlandscrimestoppers.com/sitemenu.aspx?ID=585

⭐️ Does someone you know need help providing adequate shelter for their dog(s)? If so, please contact us at [email protected]. You can also reach out to our partner organization, , and they will do whatever they can to help you keep your pet(s) safe. They can be emailed at [email protected].

Please help us spread awareness and keep pets safe, cool, and protected this summer. ❤️

05/29/2026