EUTHANASIA DROPS 43% IN FIRST YEAR OF CHARLESTON ANIMAL SOCIETY AND BERKELEY COUNTY PARTNERSHIP 

Transformational Results: Charleston Animal Society & Berkeley County Save Over 600 More Animal Lives as landmark partnership delivers data-backed shelter programs, expanded veterinary care, and major facility investments.

(MONCKS CORNER, SC) — One year after entering a historic agreement to manage operations at the Berkeley County animal shelter, Charleston Animal Society presented remarkable results to the Berkeley County Council, highlighting a dramatic reduction in euthanasia and hundreds of saved lives in its inaugural year.

Addressing county leadership, Charleston Animal Society Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Aldwin Roman, CAWA, shared that since assuming operations on July 1, 2025, the strategic partnership has resulted in A 43% drop in euthanasia, compared to the previous year’s outcomes.

“The most important thing I can tell this Council tonight is that 600 more animals are alive today that would not have been alive under the previous year’s outcomes,” said Roman. “Euthanasia dropped 43% in our first year — dog euthanasia fell 15% and cat euthanasia fell 53%. These are transformational results that reflect thousands of individual decisions made by staff, volunteers, foster families, and adopters, all working together.”

The operational turnaround was achieved while overall intake actually decreased by 13%, driven by managed intake strategies that keep pets with their families or safely in their communities whenever possible, reserving shelter beds for animals in immediate need.

KEY STRATEGIES DRIVING SUCCESS

Roman emphasized that these achievements were the direct result of deliberate, research-backed animal welfare models implemented from day one of the partnership:

• Managed Intake & Community Support: Finding tailored pathways for each pet — whether returning home, entering the shelter, or remaining in community care — rather than defaulting to shelter admission.
• Expanded Veterinary Care: Significantly increasing veterinary capacity at the Berkeley Campus to accelerate medical treatment, stabilization, and adoption readiness.
• Seven-Day Adoptions & High-Impact Marketing: Opening the shelter seven days a week and launching proactive community campaigns. A standout success, the Stronger Together campaign, led to 170 adoptions in its final three days alone.
• Targeted Behavioral Support: Deploying the Lazin Behavioral Transition Center to give shelter dogs a structured, quiet space to decompress and build skills for successful home placement.

RECOGNIZING COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Roman paid tribute to initial shelter leader Heather McDowell for laying crucial groundwork prior to the transition, as well as key leaders who have championed animal welfare in Berkeley County:

• Councilwoman Amy Stern: Recognized for championing stronger animal ordinances, spearheading community microchip stations to reunite lost pets, and driving funding for low-cost spay-neuter services.
• Sheriff Lewis & Detective DiFalco: Recognized for the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office’s relentless pursit of animal cruelty cases, including major dog fighting, hoarding, and neglect cases such as last July’s hound seizure in Goose Creek.

BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD

Building on the successful first year, major infrastructure and program expansions are slated for completion in late 2026:

• $1.6 Million Adoption Center Opening: A brand-new facility funded by Berkeley County, featuring a dedicated adoption entrance and reception area designed to separate the adoption experience from intake operations.
• Full Activation of On-Site Spay/Neuter Clinic: Reopening the campus clinic in phases. Having completed Phases 1 and 2 (treating shelter animals), Phase 3 launches in early September to serve free-roaming community cats. By year’s end, the clinic aims to offer affordable public spay/neuter services to county residents.

“Berkeley County made a bold decision one year ago, and the animals of this county are safer, healthier, and more likely to find homes because of it,” Roman added. “This is what happens when two groups truly work together in the best interest of animals. The work is not finished, but the foundation is strong, and the best is yet to come.”