Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Cunningham.
Hi Lauren, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
We are here to tell you how we came to create a new non-profit rescue organization called Saving Sumter’s Strays. Back in Nov. 2013, we had finished up all our volunteer work with the school PTO and Sumter Jr. Welfare League; our children were grown, we decided to try and get involved with walking dogs down at Sumter Animal Control for an hour or two a day a couple of times a week. We thought it would be a great way to fill our empty nest, get some exercise, and love dogs. When we started, there were just a couple of female volunteers. We could help by walking the dogs and occasionally transporting them to their rescue, which we learned was called a “FREEDOM RIDE.” We sometimes took pictures of the dogs for the FB page “Friends of Sumter Animal Control.” We were under the guidance of more experienced Volunteers. We did this for approximately a year and a half. We had fun and enjoyed doing something good for the dogs and the community. On May 25, 2015, our occasional volunteer dog-walking life changed forever! We were informed by the staff of Animal Control that we were the only two volunteers allowed to continue to volunteer. We were blindsided! Even though we were considered “newbies” in the dog rescue world, we decided we could not abandon the poor dogs at Animal Control. To say this was a huge challenge is an understatement. Because the previous head volunteer shut down the FB page where they found and posted available-for-adoption dogs, Lauren and I felt that would be our first task in rebuilding. Our new FB page called Sumter Animal Control Volunteers was born on 5/27/15. Our 2nd major task was finding rescue organizations willing to pull dogs from our facility to save their lives.
Let me explain a bit about Animal Control. Their sole purpose is to proactively limit the number of stray animals running at large in the city and county of Sumter. Unfortunately, many pet-quality dogs are picked up and brought to the shelter. Once there, the dogs are on a 6-day “stray hold,” which allows the owner to reclaim their dog for a fee. If the dog is not claimed after their stray hold, it is available for adoption, rescue, or euthanasia. Fortunately, euthanasia has become less needed for adoptable dogs. We were completely in the dark about finding rescues willing to pull the dogs. We started by googling rescues in SC and bordering states. The learning curve was great, but we found people called “cross posters” who helped network our dogs and were gradually able to reach rescues in many states, including NY, PA, FL, MD, and VT., to name a few. With the number of animal intakes at the animal control, it quickly became a full-time job for both of us. We went to AC every day, walked the dogs, cleaned kennels, took photos, took dogs to the Vet, drove freedom rides, and spent the evenings networking to Rescues. It was too much!
We needed help. We found another volunteer, a photographer willing to take pictures once a week. She also took on the task of Dog of the Week in the local newspaper, The Item. We started recruiting a few other volunteers to help walk the dogs and take them on freedom rides. We currently have about 25 active volunteers. In August 2016, we approached the County Council to investigate adding a new position to AC, an Adoption/Rescue Coordinator. Charles Edens, who also has a heart for the animals, was happy to help us and lead the push for the new position. Gary Mixon came on board, and after a lot of red tape, a part-time paid position was approved. Sumter Animal Control Hired its first Adoption Rescue Coordinator on July 10, 2017! (Amy Frey). This is our Biggest Accomplishment so far, and we are very grateful to both councilmen. Also, during the year we worked on the Coordinator position, we realized we needed to start a 501c3 non-profit just for the AC. With our non-profit, we could get discounts on Vetting and supplies and raise money for the dogs. We could also start a fundraiser to help a new Adoption Facility. Thus, SAVING SUMTER’S STRAYS was born.
Our Mission is to save as many dogs and cats as possible who end up at the Sumter Animal Control. Our Purpose is to provide basic care and vetting for the animals. Once healthy, we look for adopters or rescues. Next, we decided to look for a more public-friendly adoption center. The new adoption center facility was approved in 2019 and completed in July 2021. It was funded with the Penny Tax along with private donations. The location of the facility is within walking distance of the current site. The dogs stay on their stray holds at the current site and then move to the adoption center when available for adoption or rescue. This new site is more public-friendly. The dog will stay there until adopted or rescued with no time limit. The center is owned by the county but managed by Saving Sumter’s Strays. We are happy to say this leap of faith in the right direction is a success. We are still learning and evolving!
We always look for fosters to keep a dog /cat for approximately 2 weeks while they wait for their transports. Occasionally, we need foster families to house a dog while it is treated for HW, 6 to 8 weeks. With fosters, we can board the dogs, which requires additional funds. Fostering Saves Lives! Dog Walkers and Transporters. We meet at AC, usually in the morning, and walk the dogs while their kennel is being cleaned. We drive the dogs to rescue and board when we can within 2 hours of AC. We need help taking the dogs to the Vet from time to time. We need donations of money, which is used for vetting supplies such as HW kits, wormers, and vaccinations. Our goal is to one day Worm, HW test, and Vaccinate every dog on admission to the AC. AC also loves donations of Puppy food, puppy pads, paper towels, and disinfectant stray, to name a few. The wish list is posted on your FB page.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We need help with fundraising and supplies. But most of all, Volunteers. As you can imagine, Volunteers come and go because it is rewarding but often heartbreaking. We are constantly looking for helpers. We are primarily a volunteer organization, so we rely on them often.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Nina and I are volunteers. We have 2 employees who work 20 hours a week and a kennel cleaner who works 21 hours a week. We are not an open intake shelter. We pull an animal from animal control and bring it to SSS when we have an adoption or rescue interest. We have a mobile Vet come to the shelter every week and do all our vetting. All animals are spayed/neutered, up to date on vaccines, and microchipped before they leave. We go to the shelter every day of the year and walk and feed the dogs at both buildings. We facilitate all adoptions at both buildings.
Who else deserves credit for your story?
SSS was founded by Lauren Cunningham and Nina Stroebel. We have had many people along the way give us advice and help. Sumter County Council has given much-needed financial support. Our first official rescue coordinator, Amy Frey, was very knowledgeable in getting the adoption center up and running. She had many years of rescue experience. The many volunteers who have spent any length of time over the last 10 years helping in any way they can to keep dogs safe. Some volunteered briefly, and some stayed for years, but they all contributed.
Pricing:
- Adoptions start at $250
Contact Info:
- Website: Savingsumterstrays.com
- Instagram: saving_sumter_strays
- Facebook: Saving Sumter Strays and Sumter Animal Control
