Myrtle Beach woman devotes her life to animals’ lives

Liz Owen loves cats. She wishes more people shared her love.

Owen runs The Sacred Vision Animal Sanctuary on Forestbrook Road in Myrtle Beach. It’s different than most animal shelters because it’s a no-kill facility.

It’s also connected to a thrift shop that Owen runs. In fact, the shop is what keeps the sanctuary running.

“We go through about $1,500 worth of dry food a month and about 70 bags of litter a week,” she said. “Plus, you have our rent and other supplies and that comes to a lot of money. The store does well, but not well enough to pay for all of it. So we rely on the public to help makes ends meet.”

Owen said people can do that by through volunteering or giving donations of money or supplies. She also said shopping at the thrift store or donating items to the store can help.

Owen’s work with unwanted cats started years ago in Loris.

As you may expect, she said, it started with one cat. That led to another and another, until the number reached about 150.

She now cares for more than 300.

Donna Haug adopted two cats from Owen.

“I think she deserves recognition for dedicating her life to the animals’ lives,” Haug said. “They’re helpless and they all need a chance. She has devoted her entire life to rescuing animals.”

Owen said this is her life’s work, but also concedes she’s growing tired.

“I work 18 to 19 hours a day, seven days a week,” she said while feeding a newborn kitten with an eye dropper behind the counter of her store. “I pick up furniture, I pick up couches, I pick up litter and I do get tired.” She paused, then said, “I’m getting older.”

The sanctuary is full of cats. Most are in kennels, but many run free. Owen said she simply has no room for any more, so she’s accepting no more drop-offs. Her immediate goal is to adopt the cats in her care to permanent, loving, indoor homes.

Then she hopes to focus her work on helping support a spay and neuter clinic in Horry County that is truly low cost. Owen thinks too many people simply don’t have the money to “fix” one animal, not to mention an entire litter.

“I get calls every day from people with unwanted cats,” she said. “That’s why we need this type of clinic, because one cat can produce 420,000 offspring in seven years.”

That’s a lot of cats, and that’s why Owen hopes everyone who shares her love for them will help.

The Sacred Vision Animal Sanctuary and thrift store are at 3701-A Forestbrook Road, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588. The telephone number is (843) 215-SPAY (7729).