Caitlyn’s getting older. Perhaps the most famous shelter animal in the 150-year history of the Charleston Animal Society, she’s now 12.
These days, she’s a little slower around the house where she lives with the West Ashley family of the lawyer who prosecuted her abuser. But boy, is she still a story of resilience and inspiration.
“Caitlyln is tremendously sweet,” said attorney and Charleston School of Law graduate Ted Corvey. “She’s obviously been through a lot, but she is super-sweet.”
And these days, she has a new playmate — the 1 ½ -year-old son of Corvey and his wife, Danielle, a teacher.
“He crawls on her and hangs on her constantly. She’s been fascinated and interested and lorded over and protected him ever since he was a tiny baby.”
Caitlyn, who now weighs 45 pounds, gained notoriety in 2015 when news spread of a temporary caretaker who tightly wrapped black electrical tape around her muzzle.
“It was wound incredibly tight,” said Corvey, who was working back then as the assistant solicitor who ended up prosecuting Caitlyn’s abuser. “In her efforts to get it off and eat and drink, it just swelled up.
“She’s got permanent scarring — there are no structural issues — but there is permanent scarring around her muzzle.”
A 150-year story of caring, helping
Caitlyn is just one of the 10,000+ animals that have been through the society’s shelter annually since 2015.
Founded in 1874, the Society’s ongoing mission has been to prevent cruelty to animals. In addition to caring for homeless animals and adopting them into new homes, it reunites lost pets with families and responds to animals in man-made crises and natural disasters.
“Charleston Animal Society has pursued leading practices to turn around the dynamic and become a lifesaving model for the South and the country,” CEO Joe Elmore said. “Its open-minded approach and leadership has proven that we don’t have to be on the bottom of so much and that we can actually be a leader.
“The staff, volunteers, adopters, donors and community support of the Animal Society’s mission to prevent cruelty to animals, particularly unnecessary euthanasia, is an inspiration.”
The early decades of what originally was called the S.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals didn’t focus as much on helping pets until after World War II, Elmore reminded.
“The Animal Society did not start sheltering operations until 74 years into its history in response to systemic cruelty in government’s treatment and inhumane disposal of animals, from drowning to shooting to gassing them,” he said. “This awakened nonprofit organizations across the region and country to get involved with animal sheltering, in addition to their advocacy efforts.
“All of this is committed to memory so that we don’t replicate the mistakes of the past and continue to be vigilant to the everyday threats to our own humanity in the care of helpless, innocent animals.”
Laurel and Hank Greer, longtime local volunteer leaders and donors to the Society, highlighted its transition from a facility that struggled to help animals, having had to euthanize many, into an organization that became the Southeast’s first “no-kill” community in 2013.
“They achieved that in record time,” Laurel Greer said. “That is the main reason we love the Animal Society, but since then, they have done so much more in our community and beyond!”
Paws in the Park set for Nov. 23
Charleston Animal Society, the largest charity in Charleston County, will host the state’s largest event benefitting animals when Paws in the Park lights up Charleston’s Brittlebank Park from noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 23.
Not only will it be a huge celebration of the Society’s 150th anniversary, but it will also be action-packed with activities for some 3,000 expected guests in fun zones and an interactive history exhibit to live music performances and even a place where visitors can adopt a new family pet.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 at the door and include free oysters and chili. Paws in the Park will include the Society’s popular Chili Cook-off, which showcases 29 Charleston–area restaurants and local chefs competing to be the 2024 chili champion. Attendees can sample chili and vote for who they think should win.
For an extra $10, guests can also enjoy beer samples from nine area breweries. Music will be by three acts — Vallenato Flavor, 2024 City Paper Music Award–winner Lauren Hall and headliner Midnight City Band. Learn more: charlestonanimalsociety.org
What’s next for the Charleston Animal Society
Plans are underway to expand the Animal Society’s Remount Road campus to help support emergency needs of counties across the state, as well as to help law enforcement, emergency management and other agencies fulfill their missions, Elmore said.
“By constructing a high-volume spay/neuter clinic, emergency overcapacity shelter and training center, we can expand our capacity to save and improve the plight of at-risk animals across the entire state, building more compassionate communities, which will benefit individuals and families, including their animals,” he said.
Greer encouraged anyone interested in helping or volunteering to visit the shelter to see what its professionals and volunteers do everyday.
“It’s so hard to tell people about all the things that we do to save the lives of our precious pets,” she said. “The best way to have them learn about us is for them to visit the facility. There, they will see and hear about all of the incredible work we do … and see how hard we work to find forever homes for the animals in our care.”
She said the Charleston nonprofit continues to work to make the whole of South Carolina become a no-kill state for abandoned animals.
“Our staff has been assisting with spay/neuters and training the shelters in the state on how to achieve this goal. This will accomplish our biggest dream.”
What’s Caitlyn doing these days?
Corvey successfully prosecuted Caitlyn’s abuser, who he said is now in federal prison on unrelated old charges after serving a sentence related to the dog’s treatment.
He said he and his wife didn’t adopt Caitlyn immediately. That came two years later after another placement didn’t work out and Caitlyn was back in the Animal Society’s care. At first, they took in Caitlyn as a foster pet. But it wasn’t long before it was clear that she got along with the couple’s other dogs that Caitlyn found her permanent home.
“She’s been a joy and blessing in our lives. I don’t think she’s ever happier than when we’re home hanging out as a family,” said Corvey, who now is on the board of the Animal Society he sees Caitlyn’s story as one of perseverance. “She’s made a full and best recovery. She’s living her best life.”
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