Swan Lake Porch Project

05/31/2026

Patience • Commitment • Daily Responsibility 🔁

Dogs are more than companions; they are loyal partners who place their complete trust in the people they love. Caring for a dog requires patience, commitment, and daily responsibility, as their well-being depends entirely on the care and attention they receive. This unique bond is built through consistency, affection, and mutual understanding over time.

Many pet owners describe their relationship with their dogs as a source of emotional support and personal growth. The experience often teaches empathy, accountability, and unconditional love. For countless families, dogs are not simply pets but cherished members of the household whose loyalty enriches everyday life.

05/31/2026

✨🐾🥹✨

There’s something in the way my dog looks at me that makes me feel fully seen, without ever having to explain myself. Out of all the connections I’ve experienced in life, this four-legged heart seems to understand me on a level deeper than words could reach. It isn’t about perfection both of us have had messy days, stubborn moods, and quiet hurts but it’s about the way he chooses me every single day. His love remains steady, even when I’m tired, overwhelmed, or not at my best, offering a kind of devotion that quietly settles into your bones and transforms the way you move through the world.

Out of everyone I’ve loved, it is his unwavering affection that feels the most like home. Each glance, each nuzzle, each silent moment together is a reminder that true companionship is rooted in trust, loyalty, and the purest form of understanding

05/31/2026

🥹…’Helping them feel safe enough to live differently.’

He kept running into the same Dollar General for one reason.

Not food.
Not shelter.
Not people.

A purple unicorn toy.

That is what made Sisu unforgettable.

Back in Kenansville, North Carolina, the young stray Lab mix kept slipping through the automatic doors of a Dollar General and heading straight for the Easter section. Employees noticed it was always the same toy, a purple unicorn priced at $10, and after he kept trying to take it, they called Duplin County Animal Services for help.

What could have been a simple stray pickup turned into one of those stories people never forget.

Animal control officer Samantha Lane bought the unicorn for him.

And from that point on, it went everywhere with him.

According to shelter staff, Sisu stayed calm as long as the toy was nearby. If it got dirty, he would not touch it again until it had been washed. Then he would go right back to laying on it, peaceful again, like that little plush unicorn had become his safe place.

That detail says so much.

Stray dogs do not get to keep much.

Not routine.
Not security.
Not a favorite toy.

So when one of them finds comfort in something that small, it hits hard.

Before leaving Duplin County Animal Services, Sisu even made one more stop back at the Dollar General to see the employees who first noticed him. After that, he was transferred to Lab Rescue LRCP, where he could get training before moving into his forever home.

Shelter staff said he needed help learning to feel safer around other dogs, something many strays struggle with after spending so long fending for themselves.

That is the part people sometimes miss.

A rescue is not only about getting a dog off the street.

It is also about helping him feel safe enough to live differently.

Sisu did not just steal a unicorn.

He stole people’s hearts because, in a world that had probably given him very little, he held onto the one soft thing that made him feel okay.

And somehow, that little purple toy helped carry him all the way to a new life.

05/26/2026

Sadly, this applies to the Sumter area as well. 'Please be the person your dog thinks you are and stop trying to dump them on an already overcrowded and overextended shelter system.'

If you need help to keep your dog, please reach out.

The amount of owner Surrender emails and phone calls I've gotten over the past two weeks has been astronomical. People are trying to surrender their dogs for… I'm sorry… The most dumb s**t reasons I've ever heard. The most manageable reasons. The most temporary reasons.

We typically don't take owner surrenders from the public which means your only other option is the Shelter. Once your dog enters the shelter, no matter how amazing you think they are before you drop them off there, no matter how great of a chance you think they have once they enter those doors… They arent, and they don't. They're a number in the system Once a dog enters the shelter system they are no more special than the dog who was dumped there 20 minutes before yours was.

Obviously, there are very legitimate reasons why someone may need to rehome their dog but, if only the people who had a legitimate reason were rehoming their dogs, shelters and rescues wouldn't be overwhelmed with perfectly healthy and happy dogs with nowhere to go.

Statistically, there are simply not enough homes for every single dog in need. Please do the world a favor. Stop supporting breeders. They're not the ones that are gonna take your dog when you don't feel like dealing with the them anymore. If you have a fixable problem, figure out a solution. Save up for a trainer, spend more time with your dog. Having a baby isn't an excuse to ditch your dog. Thousands of women every single day
have babies and keep their dogs. Find a place to live that allows dogs. It might not be where you want to live ....but atleast you get to keep your dog.

Having a pet is an honor, it's not a right. And we should be thankful every day for the love and unconditional companionship we get from the dogs and cats in our lives. That being said, please be the person your dog thinks you are and stop trying to dump them on an already overcrowded and overextended shelter system

If you need resources, we can help but we cannot take your dog. We're already full with a bunch of dogs a bunch of other people didn't want anymore.

03/17/2026

🚨 URGENT WEATHER ALERT: SUMTER COUNTY

The Swan Lake Porch Project is currently tracking a 28°F wind chill right here in Sumter.

The ground is cold, the wind is biting, and for an outdoor pet, these conditions are dangerous. We are asking all neighbors to:

Bring them inside: If it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for them.

Check on the vulnerable: If you know a neighbor’s dog is outside without proper shelter, check-in or offer a hand.

Fresh Water: Ensure outdoor bowls haven't frozen over.

We are on the ground and active. If you need resources or see an animal in distress tonight, please reach out. Let’s keep our community’s fur-babies safe and warm! 🐾❄️

02/10/2026

🏈 SUPER BOWL SUNDAY SUCCESS! 🐾

​I have some great news to share! Our very first straw donation has already found its way to a dog in need.

​The gentleman who needed it was actually visiting my neighbor for the Super Bowl! He was able to take the straw directly home for his Malamute/Retriever mix. While it’s a beautiful 70° afternoon, we know these SC nights still get chilly, and that straw will provide the perfect dry insulation for her to nest in.

​A quick personal update:
I am currently battling bronchitis and am in the middle of moving, so I’m having to coordinate everything from my "sick bed" today! I didn't get a photo of the handoff, but the impact is real.

​WANT TO HELP?
If you have straw or supplies to donate, please message us so I can coordinate a volunteer to meet you! Let’s keep this momentum going for the Sumter pups!

02/04/2026

🚨 WINTER RELIEF UPDATE: STRAW & FOOD AVAILABLE! 🚨

​We have supplies ready to go for anyone in the Sumter County area struggling to keep their pets safe in this weather!

​ • WHAT WE HAVE: Dry straw (best for outdoor bedding!) and a limited supply of dog and cat food.

​ • TRANSPORT READY: We have a volunteer with a large SUV ready to help move these supplies to those who can't get out.

​NEED HELP? If you or a neighbor need straw or food to get through this cold snap, please comment below or message us.

​HAVE SUPPLIES? If you have extra straw or insulated houses but no way to deliver them, let us know - we can now come to you!

​Stay warm, Sumter!
— K & the Team 🐾❄️

02/02/2026

❄️ URGENT: IF YOU’RE COLD, THEY’RE COLD ❄️

​With temperatures dropping to a bone-chilling 7° tonight, we are pleading with everyone in our community: Please bring your pets inside.

​Too many people assume "dogs are built for the cold." They aren't. At 7 degrees, paws freeze, ears get frostbite, and hearts stop. We have already heard devastating stories of loss in our community this week due to exposure. These animals depend on us for their lives, they shouldn't pay the price for our negligence.

​🐾 Winter Safety Essentials:
▪︎ The "Inside" Rule: If it's too cold for you to stand on the porch in a coat for 10 minutes, it's too cold for them to live out there.
▪︎ ​Check the Paws: Salt and ice can crack paw pads. Wipe them down if they’ve been out for a quick bathroom break.
▪︎ ​See Something, Say Something: If you see a dog left out in these conditions, please call local animal control or non-emergency dispatch immediately. You could be saving a life.
📢 Report Neglect: If you see a dog tethered or left out tonight without a wind-proof shelter and straw bedding, call Sumter County Animal Control at (803) 436-2066 or the Sheriff’s Office at (803) 436-2775.📲
🚫🤫​ Don't stay silent. One phone call could be the difference between a dog surviving the night or being buried in the morning.

​Please share this post. Let’s make sure every pet in our town is safe, warm, and accounted for tonight. 🏠❤️

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