General F.A.Q.

How Can I Volunteer?

We are always looking for new volunteers, and would love for you to join our team! There are many ways to get involved. First, email us at [email protected] to be added to our volunteer email list, so you’ll receive requests for help. You can also use our online form to sign up for an event. Our About Volunteering page has more information about the different types of volunteer opportunities available.

I am no longer able to care for my pet. Can you take it?

We are sorry you are no longer able to care for your pet. There is a Facebook page for people looking to rehome their family pets called Pets In Need Of Rescue, Foster Or Adoption Of Upstate, S.C. that you can use to share information about your pet and situation. If you do share information about your pet online, be cautious. Unfortunately, people looking for free bait dogs often contact trusting owners through these pages. Make sure you get and check veterinary and employer references before giving anyone your pet.

We typically stay full but if we can help rehome, we will try. We need to know a bit about the animal. Please include the age, spayed or neutered, how they get along with dogs and cats. What heartworm prevention is used. If your dog is current on vaccinations, including rabies, and if they have been around kids.

If you email us information about your pet, including a photo, to [email protected] we may also be able to share your situation with our Facebook followers on your behalf.

A dog in my area is living in terrible conditions, but I’m afraid to talk to its owners. I also don’t want to call animal control, as I don’t believe they will help. Will you do it for me?

Thank you for looking out for this dog. If you don’t feel like you can approach its owners, the best way you can help is to report its situation to Animal Control.

City of Anderson: 864-231-2277
Anderson County: 864-260-5576
Oconee County: 864-888-0221
Pickens County: 864-898-5929

When you call, tell the Animal Control Officer you will continue to check back with them to make sure the situation has been addressed. Follow up with the officer if you don’t get an update. Then call their supervisor if necessary.

If you’re not happy with the answers you’re getting, make sure your local City or County Council member hears about it. You have as much power to help animals in our community as we do – and this is the only way we can influence real change. We need as many voices as possible speaking on behalf of animals.

Will you come out and fix my existing fence?

Thank you for your interest in donating! We appreciate every dollar that comes our way, as our work is entirely based on donations. You can donate money, dog food and other supplies, or even your empty aluminum cans! Visit our Donate page to find out more about how you can help.

Fence Eligibility FAQ

I don’t want to spay or neuter my pet. Can I still get a fence?

We ask that animals be spayed or neutered before receiving a fence. One of our goals is to get dogs off chains, and to reduce the number of animals euthanized in our local shelters each year. Oconee Humane and Anderson County PAWS (local shelter) have voucher programs for those needing help with the cost of the surgery.

How much money needs to be raised to build a kennel for a family's pet(s)?

The cost of each build varies depending on how many pets live at the home and how big the dogs are. On average, kennel builds cost about $500, which includes:

a large, 20×20’ fence enclosure (size may vary depending on size and number of dogs at the home, but this is the standard fence size),
new dog houses, and
clean water/food bowls
bag of dog food (if needed)
dog toy
wheat straw or shavings for the kennel area

What other support does Freedom Fences provide families receiving fences?

We share information with the families we work with about how to best care for their pet – including ensuring housing is appropriate for the weather, feeding and making sure water is available at all times and proper medical care. We encourage our fence recipients to treat their pets as members of their family.

Wag Shack FAQ

How do you screen partnering rescues to make sure the dogs you send there are well taken care of?

Our partnering rescues are screened in a number of ways. We do extensive research on the organization, including its customer reviews, and conduct a site visit. We also personally contact the rescue to discuss living conditions for the animals in their care, and their screening process for potential adopters and fosters. Our priority is to ensure that our animals receive the same quality of care from our partnering rescues as they received from us.

Why are dogs at the Shack sent to rescues in other parts of the country, instead of being adopted out locally?

Simply put, our community has more animals than available homes. In 2014, 5,140 animals were euthanized at the Anderson County PAWS shelter alone. There are several other shelters in the area with similarly high rates of euthanization. Many northern states, however, have much stricter spay and neuter laws, and therefore do not have as many dogs needing homes. The rescues we work with take dogs of any breed and age, and are committed to finding good homes (conducting veterinary reference checks, home visits, etc). Sending these dogs up north gives them a chance at finding a family that they don’t have here.

How do dogs get admitted to the Wag Shack?

The Wag Shack is a small facility that can safely accommodate only a small number of dogs. The need in our area is great – and as a result, our priority is pulling dogs facing euthanization at local shelters, and that can be accepted for transport to partnering no-kill rescues in other states. These dogs have generally been temperament tested, received their vaccinations, are often spayed and neutered, and have undergone a general health check.