Humane society seeks 'best friends' at meeting

The Florence Area Humane Society is always looking for volunteers, but it’s now kicking off a coordinated effort to find people who want to reciprocate the love shown by man’s best friends.

The organizational meeting of the Best Friends Volunteer League will take place Tuesday at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Florence.

“The idea is that animals are our best friends, so that’s our goal, to be a best friend back to them,” said Florence Area Humane Society President Jayne Boswell.

Many people want to help the local humane society, but don’t know how to get involved, said Agnes Willcox, a member of the humane society’s advisory board.

“This will give them a way to know when and how they can be a part of helping,” she said.

The humane society wants to arrange volunteers to work in shifts so that those with busier schedules can help out maybe one shift per month, Willcox said.

The volunteer opportunities are wide ranging, either at the humane society’s animal shelter or throughout the city at pet adoptions and fundraisers, Boswell said.

While the humane society needs volunteers to help keep the shelter clean and spend time playing with the animals up for adoption, other options are available for those who might not be as comfortable working with animals, Boswell said.

For example, a volunteer who answers the shelter’s phones could give the humane society staff members more time to work with the animals, she said.

The humane society also is seeking people to help with educational programs for civic organizations and schools, and it aims to establish a quarterly newsletter, as well, Boswell said.

Among the volunteers, the humane society plans to find “team captains” who can lead off-site pet adoptions, training at the shelter, and other operations, she said.

After today’s organizational meeting, the Best Friends Volunteer League will hold regular monthly meetings that will include community programs on topics including dog obedience and animal care, Boswell said.

The local Best Friends Volunteer League is not connected with the Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah.

IF YOU’RE GOING

WHAT: Organizational meeting for the Florence Area Humane Society’s Best Friends Volunteer League

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday

WHERE: St. John’s Episcopal Church fellowship hall, 252 S. Dargan St., Florence

INFO: Call Agnes Willcox at (843) 319-0300 or e-mail her at awillcox@burtjordan.com

Humane society to hold yard sale, pet adoption

The Florence Area Humane Society says it “wants your stuff” for a yard sale fundraiser to be held Saturday.

The yard sale will last begin at 8 a.m., rain or shine, at the former S/W Manufacturing building at Hoffmeyer and Jody roads in Florence.

All donations are tax-deductible.

The humane society asks that no one drop off items at the shelter, which is storing all donations in town.

To get more information or arrange for someone to pick up your donation, call Lela Joseph at (843) 665-0450 or Jayne Boswell at (843) 669-4973.

The FAHS also will hold a pet adoption from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Swamp Fox Cinemas, 3400 W. Radio Road in Florence.

All the animals at the adoption will be clean and current on their shots. Those who adopt the animals will also get a $25 coupon toward the cost of spaying or neutering each dog or cat, which is required by state law for all animals adopted from a shelter.

The humane society shelter is located at 1007 Stockade Drive, off of National Cemetery Road, in Florence and is open from noon to 5 p.m. every day except Wednesday and Sunday. Call (843) 669-2921 for more information.