Community donates shade trees as animal shelter seeks food and supplies

As the Laurens County Sheriff’s Animal Shelter works to place more dogs with rescue partners and adoptive families, it is also asking the community to help meet the daily needs of the animals still in its care. The shelter has released a list of supplies where residents, businesses and organizations can make a difference.

The request comes as the shelter remains well over capacity heading into the colder months. Every bag of food, blanket and leash helps staff care for a growing number of dogs while they wait for their next home.

“People ask us all the time what they can do to help, and this list is the answer,” said Caroline Barnard, manager of the Laurens County Sheriff’s Animal Shelter. “Whether it’s a case of canned food, a bottle of bleach or a bag of treats, every donation goes straight to the dogs. Nothing sits on a shelf for long here.”

Food, treats and everyday supplies

The shelter goes through food and cleaning supplies quickly and is asking for the following items:

• Pate-style canned dog food
• Dry dog food
• Dog food formulated for sensitive stomachs
• Dawn dish soap
• Clorox bleach
• Small Milk-Bone treats (small size only)
• BamBones (this brand only, no substitutions)
• Cedar shavings for bedding and warmth in colder weather
• Blankets
• Durable dog toys for enrichment and play
• Pawbee 6-foot slip leads

Shelter staff ask donors to stick to the specific brands and sizes listed when noted, since those items have been chosen for the safety and health of the dogs.

Local businesses provide shade trees in under 48 hours

The community has already answered one of the shelter’s recent requests. In less than 48 hours, local businesses stepped forward to provide three trees for the shelter grounds: a Japanese maple to beautify the front entrance, along with a red maple and a silver maple to shade the outdoor dog play yard.

Nucor Insulated Metal Panel Company purchased the Japanese maple. Highway & Hedges Landscaping paid for the remaining two trees and sent a crew to the shelter to plant all three. The Neighborhood Nursery supplied the trees and delivered them to the facility.

“In less than two days, this community came together and gave us exactly what we needed,” Barnard said. “We are so grateful to Nucor, Highway & Hedges Landscaping and The Neighborhood Nursery. Shade makes a real difference for these dogs when they’re outside playing, and these trees will help animals at this shelter for years to come.”

How to give

Donated items can be dropped off at the Laurens County Sheriff’s Animal Shelter, 79 Mount Vernon Church Road in Laurens. Those interested in making a financial contribution can call the shelter at 864-682-4935 for details.

This article is part of an ongoing Laurens County Buzz series on the Laurens County Sheriff’s Animal Shelter.