Animal shelter shows off improvements

DARLINGTON – The Darlington County Humane Society showed off some recent improvements at the animal shelter Thursday with an open house at the facility. Among the improvements is a new adoption courtyard that will allow prospective pet owners and pets the opportunity to get to know each other before an adoption.

The courtyard was the idea of Tyler Steen of Scout Troop 523 of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Hartsville, who undertook the project for his Eagle Scout project. He and others from the troop built the courtyard and landscaped it.

“This is a great addition to the shelter,” said Humane Society President Jackie Kirven.

Shelter staff named the courtyard The Oasis.

The new courtyard occupies a space where an old dilapidated trailer once stood.

Another improvement is the addition of new outside group cages for shelter cats. Shaw and Linda Dargan provided the funding for those, Kirven said.

The open air cages help the cats stay healthier than when they are confined in an enclosed structure, Kirven said.

Visitors also got to see the newly renovated adoption center. Anderson Brass Co. employees renovated a former mobile classroom unit given to the shelter by the Darlington County School District. The renovations included a new roof, new siding and a new porch.

Anderson Brass had previously donated igloo-style dog houses for the shelter, and company employees frequently visit the shelter and offer volunteer help with the day-to-day running of the shelter, Kirven said.

“They keep on helping us and helping us and helping us. It’s that longtime, ongoing support that is so encouraging,” she said.

“We’ve come a long way from where we were with the old white trailer days,” Kirven said.

Steen, Shaw Dargan and Anderson Brass Co.’s Bob Anderson and Dale Tripp were all recognized during the open house.

Kirven said volunteer support is more important now because with the economy down, so are the number of pet adoptions.

In August, the Humane Society hosted a reception to honor Sen. Gerald Malloy, Darlington County Council and Nucor for their contributions to the water and sewer connection for the shelter along with other improvements.

Malloy was able to secure $30,000 in state funding for a new septic system for the shelter. Councilman Billy Baldwin approached Nucor about providing another nearly $8,000 toward the project.