COC Animal Services Rescue Needs

11/10/2026

📢 RESCUE PARTNER UPDATE | COLUMBIA ANIMAL SERVICES

Following the recent cybersecurity incident that disrupted City of Columbia systems, we're happy to report that most of our shelter operations and communication systems have been restored!

Our team has been working diligently to recover information, update medical records, and address the backlog created during the outage. While we're still catching up in a few areas, we're nearly back to normal operations and are grateful for everyone's patience and understanding throughout this challenging period.

NOW, WE COULD REALLY USE YOUR HELP!

Unfortunately, the disruption has placed additional strain on our already limited shelter capacity. With animals continuing to enter our care throughout the outage, we're working hard to alleviate overcrowding and reduce the stress on our shelter residents.

We're reaching out to our rescue community for some extra support!

If your organization has available space, open foster homes, or the ability to welcome even one additional animal, we'd love to hear from you! Let us know what types of animals you're currently able to accommodate, and we'll gladly work to match you with a shelter resident in need.

Whether you're looking for a particular size, age, temperament, or specific type of animal, we're happy to help identify a good fit for your program.

We want to extend our sincere appreciation to every rescue partner, foster, volunteer, and supporter who has helped us navigate these unexpected challenges. Your patience, flexibility, and continued dedication to our animals have made an incredibly difficult situation much more manageable.

We're excited to be moving forward and look forward to continuing our work together to save as many of these wonderful animals as possible!

Thank you for being such an important part of our lifesaving community.

Columbia Animal Services | Rescue Program

📍 127 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209

📧 [email protected]

📱 Rescue Cell: (803) 814-8316

🐾 Available animals: https://24petconnect.com/columbiastraypets

Thank you for your interest in adopting a pet! If you didn’t see anyone that piqued your interest here at Columbia Animal Services, try Home to Home. We are proud to partner with Home to Home– an innovative online platform that helps pets transition from one home to another without ever having t...

11/06/2026

❤️ UPDATE 11/7: EMERSON IS SAFE! ❤️

We're thrilled to share that Emerson has been rescued thanks to our incredible partners at Pawmetto Lifeline! This sweet boy now has the opportunity to receive the medical care he needs and the second chance he deserves.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to Pawmetto Lifeline for stepping up when Emerson needed them most, and to everyone who shared his story, offered support, or pledged toward his care. Your compassion and generosity truly make these lifesaving outcomes possible!

For those who generously offered pledges, donations can be made directly to Pawmetto Lifeline using the link below:

https://pawmettolifeline.org/get-involved/donate/

Thank you all for helping us turn another heartbreaking situation into a story of hope! ❤️

🔽 Original Post 🔽

🚨 URGENT: Sweet Puppy 'Emerson' Faces 5PM Euthanasia Deadline TODAY Due to Parvo Symptoms 🚨

📍 Columbia Animal Services | Columbia, SC

💔 Just 5 months old, and Emerson is running out of time.

Meet Emerson (A310790), a sweet, 15-pound puppy who was found dodging traffic on Halloween morning, alone and underweight. He survived the dangers of the street, but less than a week later, this little boy is facing another life-threatening situation.

Emerson has recently developed vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms consistent with parvovirus. Despite TWO consecutive NEGATIVE parvo tests, his symptoms remain concerning, and he needs veterinary attention beyond what our shelter can currently provide. While parvo has not been confirmed, a serious illness cannot be ruled out.

🚨 Shelter management has established a 5:00 PM EUTHANASIA DEADLINE TODAY (11/6) unless a rescue partner commits to taking him.

At just 5 months old, Emerson should have an entire lifetime of love, adventures, and companionship ahead of him. Instead, we're facing the heartbreaking possibility of losing him before he's ever had the opportunity to know a home of his own. Two negative tests leave us with questions, but they also leave us with hope.

🐾 Emerson (A310790)
Age: 5 months
S*x: Male, unneutered
Weight: 15 lbs
Medical: Vomiting and diarrhea, two negative parvo tests
Vaccinations: Rabies, distemper/parvo, Bordetella
Prevention: Heartworm, flea, and dewormer administered

🙏 We are urgently seeking a 501(c)(3) rescue partner willing to give Emerson a fighting chance. He needs prompt veterinary evaluation and supportive care, and we're eager to work with any organization able to offer him a lifeline.

📧 [email protected]
📞 (803) 376-3723

PLEASE SHARE! Even if you cannot rescue Emerson yourself, sharing his story could help reach the organization that can.

Emerson survived the streets. Please help us make sure his story doesn't end at the shelter. ❤️

10/22/2026

📢 We will be temporarily closed to the public tomorrow, Thursday, October 22nd for internal staff training.

This training will be focused on maintaining efficient operational workflows during the ongoing disruption to the City’s network and shelter management software.

Animal control services will continue to respond to emergency and urgent situations. However, residents should anticipate minor delays in routine services, communication, and response times during this period.

We will reopen to the public on Friday, October 23rd at our regularly scheduled time of 12 p.m.

We greatly appreciate our community’s patience and understanding as our team focuses on the necessary training to ensure the continuity of services moving forward. We hope to resume regular operations as soon as possible.

Thank you for your understanding!

10/22/2026

We are closed today for internal training as we work to get our team up to speed on important processes and updates.

Our usual communication channels remain open, but please be patient as we work through this transition. Most importantly, we are currently unable to share medical history information. We appreciate your understanding as we take this time to support our team and ensure everyone has the information they need moving forward.

📢 Public Service Announcement: Temporary Shelter Software Outage

Our shelter is currently experiencing a temporary outage of our software system. As a result, information about lost and found pets and information about animals available for adoption may not be accurately reflected on our website.

We kindly ask for your patience and understanding during this time. Our email capabilities are also affected, and phone calls may experience longer-than-usual wait times. However, please know that our team is still here to help!

Until our systems are restored, visiting us in person is the quickest way to get the assistance you may need. The second-best option to reach out to our team by emailing the appropriate program coordinator below: ⬇️

🐾 Foster: [email protected]
🫶🏼 Volunteer: [email protected]
🛟 Rescue: [email protected]
👥 Marketing (including inquiries about specific pets): [email protected]
🏡 Rehoming: [email protected]

🌟 Looking for a lost pet or hoping to adopt? Please visit our shelter in person, as this is currently the fastest and most reliable way to receive assistance. You can also view profiles with photos and information of most of our adoptable dogs 🐶 by visiting Pets of Columbia Animal Services on Instagram and Facebook.

🪪 Need to get your pet licensed? While we cannot currently process pet licensing in-person, you are welcome license your pet via our online portal at: https://licensepet.com/wl3/rc/reg/clmbwl

Thank you for your patience and continued support of our shelter and the animals in our care!

📞 (803) 776-PETS (7387)

📍 Location:
Columbia Animal Services
127 Humane Lane
Columbia, SC 29209

⏰ Hours:
Monday-Friday: 12-5 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m-4 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

10/16/2026

🚨 URGENT • TIME SENSITIVE 🚨
Dogs at Risk Due to Length of Stay

📍 Columbia Animal Services (Columbia, SC)

These dogs are at risk of euthanasia due to extended shelter stays and kennel stress. We are only able to hold animals as space allows.
Columbia Animal Services is an open intake municipal shelter and is legally required to accept all animals within our jurisdiction, regardless of capacity. To give these dogs their best chance, we proactively promote those most at risk so adopters, rescues, and fosters can step in before critical space or stress related decisions must be made.

⏳ Rescue commitments, foster placements, and adoptions are extremely time sensitive. We update this post as quickly as possible while caring for animals throughout the day. All dogs listed below are currently available unless noted otherwise.

🐾 DOGS CURRENTLY AT RISK
A309589 Wren
A297000 Rosalind
A309653 Koopa - Adopted!
A307732 Harvey - Adopted!
A309684 Willow
A309690 Ram - Adoption Ambassador!
A309677 Manning
A309711 Judge
A303697 Punkin
A309697 Panther
A309698 Raina
A303496 Kobe
A309716 Commander - Adoption Ambdassador!
A309756 Radley
A309715 Helena

🟡 Want to adopt?
Visit us: Mon–Fri 12–5 and Sat 9–4
📍 127 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209
📞 803-776-7387

🔵 501c3 rescue organizations:
Email 👉 [email protected]

🟢 Interested in fostering for CAS?
Apply here 👉 https://animalservices.columbiasc.gov/

🟪 Home to Home (owned pets listed by guardians):
https://www.facebook.com/CASPetResourceCenter

ℹ️ Important info:
➜We do not guarantee health, behavior, or temperament. Due to limited resources, animals do not receive extensive diagnostics prior to placement. Standard care includes spay/neuter, microchipping, basic vaccines, deworming, preventatives, and heartworm testing.
➜Dog to dog assessments are available upon request through the Rescue Coordinator. Dogs are assessed with dogs of similar size. We generally do not know how they will do with much smaller dogs.
➜CAS does not DNA test shelter pets and cannot determine breed with certainty. Dogs should be evaluated as individuals, not by appearance.

🧬 Fun fact: Less than 25 percent of a dog’s genome affects physical appearance.

❤️ Please share. Tag rescues. Ask about a dog. One comment or message can change a life!

10/07/2026

❤️ UPDATE: KINLEY IS SAFE!! ❤️

It didn’t take long for this little girl’s plea to reach exactly the right people. Pawmetto Lifeline stepped up for Kinley, and she is now on her way to get the treatment and care she needs!

THANK YOU to everyone who shared, tagged rescues, reached out, and helped get her story in front of the right people. This is exactly why we say every share matters. Sometimes a message only needs to reach ONE person willing to help.

Now Pawmetto Lifeline is taking on the important work of getting Kinley healthy. If you’d like to help support her care and the lifesaving work they do for animals like her, donations can be made here:

💙 Donate to Pawmetto Lifeline:
https://pawmettolifeline.org/get-involved/donate/

Now go fight, little girl. You’ve got a whole lot of people rooting for you! 💪

🔽 Original Post 🔽

⏳ URGENT: 5-MONTH-OLD PARVO PUPPY 'KINLEY' NEEDS RESCUE BY 5:00 PM TODAY (10/7)

📍 Columbia Animal Services, Columbia, SC

Kinley (A310165) is only 5 months old. She’s a tiny 21 lb spayed puppy who came to us as a stray, and this morning she tested positive for parvo after developing vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and lethargy.

Treatment has already started. Kinley is receiving fluids for hydration, medication for her vomiting and diarrhea, antibiotics to help protect against secondary infection, probiotics, and other supportive care. But parvo is highly contagious, and Kinley needs continued treatment and strict isolation that creates significant challenges in a shelter environment.

Because of those medical and quarantine concerns, Kinley has been given a 5:00 PM EUTHANASIA DEADLINE TODAY.

Look at that little face. She’s scared, she’s sick, and at only five months old, she has barely had a chance to experience the life we want every puppy to have. She deserves the opportunity to recover, feel safe, and write her next chapter.

We urgently need a 501(c)(3) rescue equipped to continue Kinley’s parvo treatment and isolation. If your rescue can help, please contact Columbia Animal Services immediately.

If you can’t rescue, PLEASE SHARE! This message only has to reach one person willing to help. ❤️

10/07/2026

🚨 URGENT • TIME SENSITIVE 🚨
Dogs at Risk Due to Length of Stay
📍 Columbia Animal Services (Columbia, SC)

These dogs are at risk of euthanasia due to extended shelter stays and kennel stress. We are only able to hold animals as space allows.
Columbia Animal Services is an open intake municipal shelter and is legally required to accept all animals within our jurisdiction, regardless of capacity. To give these dogs their best chance, we proactively promote those most at risk so adopters, rescues, and fosters can step in before critical space or stress related decisions must be made.

⏳ Rescue commitments, foster placements, and adoptions are extremely time sensitive. We update this post as quickly as possible while caring for animals throughout the day. All dogs listed below are currently available unless noted otherwise.

🐾 DOGS CURRENTLY AT RISK
A309173 Bessie - Euthanized (Space)
A309174 Ruth - Euthanized (Space)
A305380 Marshmello - Adoption Ambassador!
A307535 Bobby - Rescue Committed!
A309525 Lyra - Euthanized (Space)
A309531 Tilly - Adoption Ambassador!
A309538 Rayner - Euthanized (Space)
A309563 Socks - Adoption Ambassador!
A309580 Brady - Fostered to Adopt!
A309581 Moonpie - Euthanized (Space)
A309577 Haze - Adoption Ambassador!
A309572 Twix - Adoption Ambassador!
A309590 Angus - Adoption Ambassador!
A303496 Kobe - Adoption Ambassador!
A309576 Zahara - Adopted!

🟡 Want to adopt?
Visit us: Mon–Fri 12–5 and Sat 9–4
📍 127 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209
📞 803-776-7387

🔵 501c3 rescue organizations:
Email 👉 [email protected]

🟢 Interested in fostering for CAS?
Apply here 👉 https://animalservices.columbiasc.gov/

🟪 Home to Home (owned pets listed by guardians):
https://www.facebook.com/CASPetResourceCenter

ℹ️ Important info:
➜We do not guarantee health, behavior, or temperament. Due to limited resources, animals do not receive extensive diagnostics prior to placement. Standard care includes spay/neuter, microchipping, basic vaccines, deworming, preventatives, and heartworm testing.
➜Dog to dog assessments are available upon request through the Rescue Coordinator. Dogs are assessed with dogs of similar size. We generally do not know how they will do with much smaller dogs.
➜CAS does not DNA test shelter pets and cannot determine breed with certainty. Dogs should be evaluated as individuals, not by appearance.

🧬 Fun fact: Less than 25 percent of a dog’s genome affects physical appearance.

❤️ Please share. Tag rescues. Ask about a dog. One comment or message can change a life!

09/22/2026

❤️ UPDATE: Katniss has left the shelter through our Foster-to-Adopt program! ❤️

With a little luck, this sweet girl has finally found her forever home with a local family. 🐾

A huge thank you to everyone who shared Katniss, advocated for her, and helped network her story. Every share helped give this deserving girl another chance, and we’re so grateful to everyone who helped get her here.

Keep your paws crossed that this is the happy ending Katniss has been waiting for!

⬇️ Original Post ⬇️

Petite Husky Mix 'Katniss' Is Looking for Her Second Chance
📍 Columbia Animal Services, Columbia, SC

💔 She’s already come so far. Now Katniss needs someone to help her keep going.

Katniss (A309320) thought she had found her way home when she was adopted from our shelter in August. Sadly, this petite 29 lb Husky mix was returned and is once again searching for her next chance, whether that comes through rescue or the right adopter.

But Katniss came back to us with some important wins. ❤️ Her previous adopter reported that she is housebroken and did well with other dogs. Back at the shelter, we’ve seen just how much her confidence has grown. Katniss is sweet and easy to handle, enjoys affection, knows sit, takes treats gently, and during her reassessment, confidently initiated appropriate play with another dog.

Katniss was returned due to resource guarding around food and other valued items. Her adopter reported that she would react when attempts were made to take those items away, although no bite occurred. Katniss originally came to CAS after concerns that she was not receiving adequate care, including concerns about her body condition and tethering. Given that history, our team believes her guarding may be consistent with a dog who previously lacked reliable access to food or enrichment. She’ll need a rescue or adopter prepared to understand and appropriately work with this behavior.

The scared girl who once needed treats and patience just to be leashed is now approaching handlers sweetly and confidently asking other dogs to play. Katniss has already shown us how much she can grow when given the opportunity.

We’re hoping her return can be just one setback in her story, not the end of her progress. ❤️

Katniss (A309320)
🐾 2 years old
🐾 Spayed female
🐾 29 lbs
🐾 Heartworm negative
🐾 Housebroken
🐾 Dog social

Interested in adopting Katniss? Come meet her at Columbia Animal Services.

501(c)(3) rescue partners interested in helping can contact:
📧 [email protected]
📞 (803) 376-3723

If you can’t rescue or adopt, please share!

09/18/2026

🚨 URGENT • TIME SENSITIVE 🚨
Dogs at Risk Due to Length of Stay
📍 Columbia Animal Services (Columbia, SC)

These dogs are at risk of euthanasia due to extended shelter stays and kennel stress. We are only able to hold animals as space allows.
Columbia Animal Services is an open intake municipal shelter and is legally required to accept all animals within our jurisdiction, regardless of capacity. To give these dogs their best chance, we proactively promote those most at risk so adopters, rescues, and fosters can step in before critical space or stress related decisions must be made.

⏳ Rescue commitments, foster placements, and adoptions are extremely time sensitive. We update this post as quickly as possible while caring for animals throughout the day. All dogs listed below are currently available unless noted otherwise.

🐾 DOGS CURRENTLY AT RISK
A309152 Gramps - Adopted!
A309173 Bessie - Euthanized (Space)
A309174 Ruth - Euthanized (Space)
A309207 Fuse - Adopted!
A309239 Angel - Euthanized (FAS)
A304450 Toddy - Adopted!
A308864 Mochi - Euthanized (Space)
A309341 Rachel - Euthanized (Space)
A309353 Rails - Fostered to Adopt!
A309350 Shadow - Adopted!
A309348 Tate - Euthanized (Medical)
A308928 Huck - Euthanized (Space)
A308230 Midnight - Euthanized (Space)
A307921 Daisy - Adopted!
A309396 Lady - Euthanized (Space)

🟡 Want to adopt?
Visit us: Mon–Fri 12–5 and Sat 9–4
📍 127 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209
📞 803-776-7387

🔵 501c3 rescue organizations:
Email 👉 [email protected]

🟢 Interested in fostering for CAS?
Apply here 👉 https://animalservices.columbiasc.gov/

🟪 Home to Home (owned pets listed by guardians):
https://www.facebook.com/CASPetResourceCenter

ℹ️ Important info:
➜We do not guarantee health, behavior, or temperament. Due to limited resources, animals do not receive extensive diagnostics prior to placement. Standard care includes spay/neuter, microchipping, basic vaccines, deworming, preventatives, and heartworm testing.
➜Dog to dog assessments are available upon request through the Rescue Coordinator. Dogs are assessed with dogs of similar size. We generally do not know how they will do with much smaller dogs.
➜CAS does not DNA test shelter pets and cannot determine breed with certainty. Dogs should be evaluated as individuals, not by appearance.

🧬 Fun fact: Less than 25 percent of a dog’s genome affects physical appearance.

❤️ Please share. Tag rescues. Ask about a dog. One comment or message can change a life!

09/10/2026

🚨 URGENT • TIME SENSITIVE 🚨
Dogs at Risk Due to Length of Stay
📍 Columbia Animal Services (Columbia, SC)

These dogs are at risk of euthanasia due to extended shelter stays and kennel stress. We are only able to hold animals as space allows.
Columbia Animal Services is an open intake municipal shelter and is legally required to accept all animals within our jurisdiction, regardless of capacity. To give these dogs their best chance, we proactively promote those most at risk so adopters, rescues, and fosters can step in before critical space or stress related decisions must be made.

⏳ Rescue commitments, foster placements, and adoptions are extremely time sensitive. We update this post as quickly as possible while caring for animals throughout the day. All dogs listed below are currently available unless noted otherwise.

🐾 DOGS CURRENTLY AT RISK
A309069 Rhett - Adoption Ambassador!
A309099 Bridget - Euthanized (Space)
A309093 Isaac - Adoption Ambassador!
A306391 Rover - Fostered to Adopt!
A309112 Comet - Fostered to Adopt!
A309113 Jolene - Rescue Committed!
A309120 Lucky - Euthanized (Space)
A303514 Ember - Euthanized (Space)
A309145 Lottie - Rescue Committed!
A307704 Bluebell - Adoption Ambassador!
A309146 Shady - Euthanized (Space)
A307704 Brookie - Adopted!
A309152 Gramps - Adopted!
A309138 Edward - Euthanized (Space)
A304898 Rose - Adopted!

🟡 Want to adopt?
Visit us: Mon–Fri 12–5 and Sat 9–4
📍 127 Humane Lane, Columbia, SC 29209
📞 803-776-7387

🔵 501c3 rescue organizations:
Email 👉 [email protected]

🟢 Interested in fostering for CAS?
Apply here 👉 https://animalservices.columbiasc.gov/

🟪 Home to Home (owned pets listed by guardians):
https://www.facebook.com/CASPetResourceCenter

ℹ️ Important info:
➜We do not guarantee health, behavior, or temperament. Due to limited resources, animals do not receive extensive diagnostics prior to placement. Standard care includes spay/neuter, microchipping, basic vaccines, deworming, preventatives, and heartworm testing.
➜Dog to dog assessments are available upon request through the Rescue Coordinator. Dogs are assessed with dogs of similar size. We generally do not know how they will do with much smaller dogs.
➜CAS does not DNA test shelter pets and cannot determine breed with certainty. Dogs should be evaluated as individuals, not by appearance.

🧬 Fun fact: Less than 25 percent of a dog’s genome affects physical appearance.

❤️ Please share. Tag rescues. Ask about a dog. One comment or message can change a life!