Four pets adopted at shelter car show

Editor’s note: Alexandra Whitbeck is on the board of the Barnwell County Animal Shelter.

A crowd came out to the inaugural car show held by the Barnwell County Animal Shelter (BCAS) on Saturday, July 20 at the Lions Club Park in Barnwell.

The car show helped jumpstart the week of Pick Me! SC– a statewide initiative from July 20 to 28 promoting dog and cat adoptions through lower adoption fees and education initiatives. Shelters across the state ‘compete’ to see who can find the most loving homes for stray/unwanted animals.

With the statewide goal of finding 2,000 shelter animals homes, BCAS started off the week with four adoptions at the car & bike show.

Twenty-three entries ranging from the classics to newer sports cars came from across the state under the direction of Barbara Christian, who coordinates the cruise and car show for the Barnwell Development Association’s annual Sundial Festival. Christian, with help from her granddaughter Kaydence, was responsible for contacting, registering, and organizing the vehicles.

BCAS employees Holly Ellis, Erica Ellis, and director Marlena Ray coordinated the event with help from board members Dawn Keeney and Beth Zorn.

Zorn is not only a board member, but the dog foster coordinator and foster parent to many shelter pups. At the event, Zorn officially adopted two of her shyest fosters, Palomino and Chestnut.

Volunteer Lizzie Ellis hosted the event on the microphone with musical assistance from New Pump City’s J Mo & DJ Makeaway representing Alexander & Alexander Law Firm.
Ray thanked all involved in a social media shoutout, expressing her gratitude for all who helped make the event successful.

Free hot dogs were grilled by Barnwell resident, shelter volunteer, and foster-dog parent Steven Bloomer, who recently added another shelter puppy to his pack in June. CandyLand Canteen brought sweet and frozen treats and donated part of the proceeds to the shelter.

Volunteer Kaylynn Couch, alongside all volunteers and employees in attendance, made sure the adoptable dogs were socialized, safe, and cared for throughout the event.

For their safety, dogs were rotated between shaded crates and leashed walks to have their picture taken with each car entry.

Keeny and her husband, Eddie, were the only motorcycle entry at the show and used the bike to promote another BCAS initiative, Pets for Vets.

Pets for Vets is a new program offered by BCAS for veterans to adopt dogs at no cost for either companionship or service training. Free training is provided through the shelter’s partners, and veterans must provide a DD214 form or military ID upon adoption.
During the week of Pick Me! SC, there will be reduced adoption rates at BCAS: $25 fee for pitbulls and pit mixes, $50 fee for other dog breeds, and $30 fee for cat adoptions.

Pick Me! SC is funded through Petco Love, BOBS by Skechers, and led by No Kill South Carolina 2024 - an initiative of the Charleston Animal Society. For more information on the statewide, 10-day adoption initiative, visit https://pickmesc.org/.

To contact the Barnwell County Animal Shelter or sponsor an adoption fee, reach out on Facebook, call (803) 259-1656, or visit the shelter at 55 Diamond Road, Barnwell.