As extreme heat continues to affect the Lowcountry, a Charleston animal shelter is struggling to keep its animals safe. Pet Helpers, a well-known local shelter, is currently facing an emergency situation after its air conditioning system broke down. Now, 40 dogs are at risk from the rising temperatures, and the shelter is reaching out to the community for urgent help.
What Happened at Pet Helpers?
This week, the AC compressor at Pet Helpers stopped working. Without proper cooling, the heat inside the shelter has become dangerous for the animals, especially the dogs. Staff members are working around the clock to manage the crisis, but they say this situation cannot be handled without community support.
According to J.J. Steele, the shelter’s Marketing Manager, it could take several weeks before the replacement parts for the air conditioning arrive. “We’ve reached a crisis level—every shelter has nationwide,” Steele said, explaining that shelters across the country are facing similar problems due to the extreme heat.
Temporary Fixes in Place, But Not Enough
With help from Charleston County officials, Pet Helpers has managed to bring in temporary cooling solutions like portable AC units and large fans. Some dogs have been moved into administrative offices, and others are being kept in pop-up kennels to stay cooler. However, these are just short-term fixes and not ideal for the animals’ well-being.
Glen Hill, Director of Facilities Management for Charleston County, also stressed how serious the situation is. “It’s hot. Those dogs—I’ve been back there—they are in bad shape. So we’re going to bring them some relief for sure,” he said.
Call for Community Support: Foster a Dog
To truly help the dogs, Pet Helpers is launching a special “Summer Break Foster Program” and is urging people in the Charleston area to open their homes to a dog temporarily. Fostering will not only provide a cooler and safer space for the animals but also ease the pressure on shelter staff.
The fostering period is expected to last a few weeks, but even a short-term foster of just 2 weeks can make a huge difference. All the supplies—such as food, crates, leashes, and medical support—will be provided by the shelter.
“If someone can only do two weeks, that gets a dog out of the shelter for two weeks, and hopefully we can find another family who can take that dog after,” Steele said.
How to Get Involved
If you’re willing to foster a dog and help during this urgent time, you can visit the Pet Helpers website at https://pethelpers.org/ and fill out the foster application. The program officially begins on July 20, but applications are being accepted now.
This is a critical time for Pet Helpers and the dogs they care for. With the air conditioning system down and heat levels rising dangerously, these animals need the community’s help more than ever. By opening your home—even for a short time—you can make a life-saving difference. If you’ve ever considered fostering, now is the time. Together, we can give these dogs the safe, cool homes they deserve until the shelter’s AC is fixed.
