A guide to taking your pet to the beach
folly beach
To ensure the safety of pets from crowds and extreme heat, animals will not be allowed on the beach from 10am to 6pm from May 1st to September 30th. Pets are allowed at all times during the off-season, but must be kept on a leash. times.
island of palms
Pets are allowed on Isle of Palms from 5am to 9am from April 1st to September 14th and from 4pm to 10am from September 15th to March 3rd. . It is okay to let your dog off the leash during this time. All visiting animals must be vaccinated and pet owners must carry proof of vaccination.
sullivan's island
Summer hours for pets at the beach are from May 1st to September 30th. During this period, pets are allowed off-leash from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and must be on a leash from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. Animals are prohibited. Winter hours, when pets are allowed on the beach from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., are from October 1st to April 30th. During this period, dogs can be off-leash from 5 a.m. to noon, but must be on a leash from noon to 5 p.m.morning
Kiawah Island
Pets must be leashed at all times from March 16th to October 31st. From November 1 to March 15, pets may roam off-leash from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., except in critical habitat areas, and on-leash from 7 p.m. can.until 7am
Edisto Beach
From May 1st to October 31st, animals must be leashed at all times on this beach. Outside of these designated months, pets are allowed to enjoy the beach off-leash.
How to keep your pet safe as warm weather approaches
Dr. Matthew Patrick, owner of Patrick Veterinary Clinic in downtown Charleston, said the biggest health risk for pets during the summer is heat stroke. As temperatures rise, pet owners and their animals can enjoy the warm weather, but it's important to understand how to keep everyone safe.
“The rule of thumb is if it's warmer for you, it's hotter for them,” Patrick says.
The safest time to exercise or let your pet outside is in the early morning or evening when temperatures are cooler. To minimize the risk of heating surfaces from direct heat exposure, it is best to limit your time outdoors and choose a shady location. The way they monitor the temperature of the surfaces they walk on is by placing the back of their hand against the surface until they feel discomfort.
By paying close attention to your pet, you can notice signs of heat-related distress, he says.
“I can't walk,” Patrick said. “They either seem unsteady or unsteady on their feet, or they simply refuse to keep walking. The ground may be too hot at that point, or they may be starting to feel the effects of overheating. I don’t know.”
Common signs that your pet is overheating include a change in the color of the tongue, dark red gums and a flushed appearance of the tongue. Providing plenty of water and maintaining regular grooming are effective ways to keep your pet cool.
Another condition to watch out for during the warm season is allergies. If your pet frequently licks its paws or shakes its head, it's a common sign of itching due to allergies. Patrick said flea allergies are the most common allergy that specialists see.
“The best thing you can do is make sure parasites aren't contributing to the problem. Taking preventive medication regularly can help prevent it,” he said.
Seeking your veterinarian's guidance or regular check-ups to understand your dog's reaction to high temperatures is a heat-tolerating strategy.
“If you're worried that your pet is having a hard time in the heat, there's probably a reason for that. A little knowledge goes a long way,” Patrick said.
Top area pet influencers
Here's a list of Instagram's top area pet influencers: Yes, they have their own accounts and have thousands of followers.
Leni
@Lionel
142,000 followers
A fit check that no one asks for, but everyone needs.
craig
@goodboycraig
108,000 followers
Very fresh and very clean and tidy.
maverick
@agoldennamemaverick
12.6K followers
Please say “cheeeeeeee”.
emma
@emmarooonlyhastwo
12.5K followers
Emma is a professional beach walker.
teddy
@teddythecavalier
11.8K followers
Wait and see my good side.
Exotic pets are also available for adoption.
Not all pets that visit the Charleston Animal Society are dogs or cats. You'll get some pretty exotic friends to find new homes with.
Like an emu that has been absent for six weeks. Or the peacock that started wandering and took three hours to catch.
Below is a list of more interesting adoptions that brightened up life at the shelter.
Emu: The adventurous young emu needed a break and six weeks off before being reunited with his owner was just the thing.
peacock: When they arrived at the shelter, they were served a sumptuous meal of green grapes and crickets. He now lives on a 300-acre farm fit for a king in Moncks Corner.
monitor lizard: Two six-foot-long pair of monitor lizards became the Romeo and Juliet of a shelter because they refused to part.
Marshtucky horse: The shelter was fortunate to find four of these unique South Carolina native horses as part of the seizure. There are only about 400 of this breed left.
Barbados Blackberry Sheep: Someone discovered this sheep from the sunny Caribbean island of Barbados happily frolicking along the Carolina coast.
Albino python: This mischievous serpent was caught wandering and brought from the crime scene. Imagine the surprise of the police officers who were there.
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