Anderson, Oconee and Pickens Counties in South Carolina euthanize tens of thousands of dogs every year. Freedom Fences was co-founded in 2010 to try to reduce those numbers. We find ways to educate owners and help them provide better homes and living conditions for their pets. Today we are a 501C(3), tax free, not for profit charity run by volunteers who:

• Identify dogs living outside on short or encumbered chains, often with inadequate shelter and/or nutrition
• Offer kennels to owners at no cost, enabling the dog to benefit from freedom of movement within a generous safe space
• Pre-screen and then follow up to ensure the services we provide are being used according to our agreements with the pet’s owners
• Advocate for strong anti-tethering laws, enforcement of responsible pet ownership and accountability of local civic leaders responsible for animal welfare

In 2014, we opened The Wag Shack. This small, no-kill shelter and our small network of foster families focus primarily on neglected dogs that have been surrendered or are at immediate risk of euthanasia in a local shelter. For these dogs, we:

• Ensure that fundamental veterinary care, including spay or neuter, is completed
• Rally benefactors and/or caregivers for our dogs with more serious health issues
• When possible, offer and certify local adoptions
• Focus on transporting the dogs in our care, as fast as possible, to no-kill partners in other states where spay and neutering laws have created more homes than dogs available
• Recognize that every dog that is transferred to a certified rescue partner facility enables us to rescue another in our local community

While we recognize that we, a small but mighty band of volunteers, are not likely to be able to change the world, we know that saving one animal will make the world a much better place for that dog.