Last month, three groups of animal advocates began a campaign to treat heartworm-positive dogs at the Dillon County Animal Shelter.
The Animal Shelter staff, members of Friends Helping the Dillon Shelter and the Humane Society of Dillon County designated 26 dogs who were suffering from this dread disease but who would be adoptable or likely to be attractive to rescue organizations if treated with the expensive fast-kill method. The problem was financing this campaign. Through hard work and determination, plus the generosity of local friends and others from across the United States, they have been able to fund treatment for 28 dogs, more than originally expected.
The problem is that as quickly as dogs are designated, funded and treated, more enter the Shelter. There are presently 5 dogs that are technically not funded and awaiting treatment. (Who knows what the number will be by the end of the next day?) So far, eleven of these lucky dogs who have been restored to good health have either been adopted or have gone to reputable rescue organizations.

Early Tuesday morning, one of the rescue groups working with this project pulled their beautiful yellow van onto the Shelter yard and loaded 54, yes, 54 Dillon dogs and pups to transport them to no-kill rescue groups in Pennsylvania where dogs are in high demand. Three of the dogs who caught a ride on the SAVEDOG van were recently treated for heartworms. Honda, Danica, and Oreo were given a chance for a happy life because of the 2018 Heartworm Campaign. Honda’s story is particularly heart-wrenching. Her elderly owners were killed in a house fire during one of this past winter’s coldest nights, and she entered the Shelter abandoned, alone, cold, sick, and very scared. To see her board this freedom bus was particularly joyous!
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Another happy passenger was Grey, the longest resident at the Dillon Shelter. She would have been there a full year on Wednesday, but luckily she was not able to mark that anniversary! The SAVEDOG Project is an amazing group based in Wilmington, NC. In addition to providing transport for Dillon dogs to freedom, they are sponsoring ten of the dogs’ heartworm treatments and they have an online fund-raising campaign.
Members of these groups are still working to raise funds to treat all the heart-worm afflicted dogs at the Dillon Shelter. As stated previously, as quickly as dogs are funded and treated, more enter the Shelter. The most important thing that can be done for a dog in this respect is to keep them on a regular preventive medication. The Humane Society of Dillon County continues to provide this for all dogs at the Shelter, and they encourage all pet owners to do this for their pets. It has been said that for the price of one fast-kill heartworm treatment, seven years of preventive medicine can be purchased.
If you would like to contribute to this on-going project, you may donate directly to the Dillon County Animal Shelter at 1020 Old Latta Highway, Dillon, SC. Pay Pall to Dilloncountyanimalshelter@hotmail.com. Or you can donate to the Humane Society of Dillon County at Pay Pal Humanesocietyofdilloncounty@gmail.com or their mailing address of 4160 Glasdrum Drive, Little Rock, SC 29567. Or you can send your donation directly to the South Robeson Veterinary Clinic at Highway 41 North, Fairmont, NC 28340.
The SAVEDOG Project also is a 501©3 organization and donations can be mailed to them at SAVEDOG Project, Heartworm Treatment Fund, 3200 Corporate Drive, Wilmington, NC 28405.
The Humane Society of Dillon County meets every the third Tuesday of every other month at the Dillon County Wellness Center at 7:00 p.m. Anyone interested in improving the lives of homeless animals of Dillon County are invited to attend and bring new ideas and inspiration to this group.