Mount Pleasant Magazine July/August 2019

www.MtPleasant.Pet | www.MPVets.Pet | www.facebook.com/MPpets G U I D E PETS 27 East Cooper Animal Hospital is a companion animal practice specializing in canine and feline medicine and surgery. We offer a comprehensive range of veterinary medical services. We schedule appointments with our veterinarians beginning at 8:30AM Monday through Saturday. MARCI SAULS, DVM WWW.EASTCOOPERANIMALHOSPITAL.COM 843.884.6171 993 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 staff@eastcooperanimalhospital.com M-F 7:30 am - 6 pm | Sat 8:30 am - Noon East Cooper Animal Hospital looks forward to becoming your partner in providing excellent health care for your pet. Complimentary Exam for First Time Clients When You Mention This Ad! there was no option. Adoption is the right choice for us. HOW DID THEIR STORIES SPEAK TO YOU? WAS IT A PHOTO, A SAD TALE, URGENCY FROM A KILL-SHELTER PERSPECTIVE OR WERE YOU GUILTED BY A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND? I (Andrea) might be mostly to blame for all of these ani- mals! I met Simon at an event I was hosting for Louie’s Kids at Joe Riley Stadium. He stood up, gave me a hug, looked me in the eye, and I agreed to foster him. He was a lot of work, having been abused, never lived in a house and he had some serious trust issues. In those first two weeks, he came so far! He bonded to our other dog, Monty, and our son, Dylan. We knew he was going to stay. We were a foster failure family. When we then lost our Monty to bone cancer, Simon was devastated, and we knew we needed another Great Pyrenees in our lives — for all of us. As fate would have it, Carolina Pyr Rescue had a litter of mixed puppies, and that’s how we were introduced to Hazel. We saw a picture of her, and Dean and I fell in love immediately. We contacted the rescue and adopted her the next day! River was a “happy accident.” Ai- ley went out shopping with friends for the day and called asking if we could foster an 8-year-old pit bull. She begged and pleaded, as there was something about this senior girl that Ailey couldn’t let go — like they were soul sisters. So River came home with her! She bonded with our other dogs, and the rest is histo- ry. Foster failure, take two. WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST PART OF ADDING RESCUED PETS TO YOUR FAMILY? Unconditional love! Their loyalty, their companionship, the smiles they all put on the kids’ faces. It is abundantly clear these pets rule the roost in their Mount Pleasant home, and their “staff” just happens to also be their loving family. Their dad, Dean, is one of the found- ing members of Hootie and the Blowfish. Their dog-ma, An- drea, owns an event and marketing firm that has her traveling all over the country. Their human siblings Anna Grace, Ailey and Dylan attend school locally and are actively involved in sports, volunteering their time with local rescues and hanging with the puppies. Simon, Hazel and River all relayed they are eternally grateful for being adopted by such a loving family, and, with so many local pets in shelters, they would like to encourage all the Mount Pleasant Magazine readers to consid- er adoption as their first option. Hootie & The Blowfish are in the middle of their Group Therapy Tour, hitting 44 cities and wrapping up the final