Since the inception of our organization in 2005, I have had the privilege to be the president of the Animal Advocates. It is not only an honor, but also a humbling experience.

Although our non-profit organization is made up of a diverse group of people, we all have the same common goal. The Animal Advocates truly strive to make a difference in the lives of the homeless, abused, neglected and abandoned animals in Barnwell County. In doing so, we realize that in order to accomplish our goals, we must expand our thinking and continue to seek new and innovative ways to provide services that are meaningful and rewarding to the animals and people in our community. When we embarked on this incredible journey, we had no idea of what a diverse organization we would become. Seizing every opportunity set before us, to the best of our ability, we have not only helped the cats and dogs in our community, but many people as well.

Through income from our thrift shop, Pick of the Litter, and in an effort to STOP the over-population of dogs and cats in our community, we provide a No Cost/ Low Cost Spay and Neuter program to assist families in our community that cannot afford the surgery. In addition, we have assisted Axis I, There is Hope Mission, Ashleigh Place Home for Girls, families that have lost their homes and belongings to fire, and the City Serve Project. We have also donated books to the summer reading program for children, and been able to support many others in need.

In April of 2013, our Friends for Life Foster and Adoption Center opened, allowing us to rescue and house (mostly from our county shelter where the euthanasia rate has been as high as 98%) cats and dogs in our community, give them proper medical attention, and find loving homes for them. In May of the same year, we began a fostering and training partnership with Allendale Correctional Institution that began with a small number of animals being fostered in the MeowMate/MuttMate program. We currently have (50) dogs and cats fostered in Bamberg dorm on a continual basis at the prison. To date, over 600 dogs and cats have been cared for, socialized, and trained “behind the fence”. Our MeowMate/MuttMate program has received recognition by television news stations in South Carolina, as well as South Carolina ETV. We are especially proud to have had our MeowMate/MuttMate program recognized nationally by Animal Planet’s My Cat from Hell show, staring Jackson Galaxy. This episode was named for our “MeowMates” program and featured us in a special “My Cat from Heaven” segment which focused on the inspirational stories of the inmates and the animals they have fostered. The episode aired in September 2018.

We are certainly proud of our accomplishments, but continually strive to do more for the deserving animals in Barnwell County.

TOGETHER, we CAN make a difference!

Vikki Scott, President

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“What we have done for ourselves dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.”

Albert Pike
Lawyer Journalist & Soldier 1809-1891