On Christmas morning, the Charleston Animal Society’s “Home for the Holidays” program—now in its 13th year and partnered with Hendrick’s Automotive—delivered pets to 246 Lowcountry families, fostering lifelong bonds and easing shelter overcrowding.
Heartwarming Stories
The Hart family surprised 4-year-old Riley with Rudy the kitten, straight from Santa’s “stocking.”
“This was the one thing she asked from Santa,” they shared, calling the delivery “fantastic.”
Society staffer Kay Hyman highlighted the magic: “Can you imagine this being in your stocking?”
Program Impact
Shelters nationwide often see post-holiday returns due to pet commitment realities, but Charleston bucks the trend.
Hyman credits thorough counseling: Adopters learn about heartworm preventatives, flea/tick care, beds, and crates.
Hendrick’s Jac Thomas praised the tradition: “I can’t imagine a better way to spread Christmas cheer than bringing a new family member home.”
Ongoing Needs
Despite success—thousands placed over the years—the shelter remains packed.
Free adoptions for all dogs and cats 1+ years old; open daily.
They urge fostering, adopting, or donating to create space for more animals in need.
This initiative exemplifies Lowcountry community spirit during the holidays. Would you like me to format this as a social media post, press release, or volunteer call-to-action?
