How a small shelter saved 1,000 pets in South Carolina

Tigger is a 7-year-old orange-and-white feline who came to Raskel’s Rescue — an animal shelter in Hardeeville, South Carolina, and a Best Friends Network Partner — from another shelter. When he arrived, he was a little too fluffy at around 23 pounds and needed to lose some weight. Fortunately for Tigger, Raskel’s Rescue had plenty of space for him to run, leap, pounce, and bounce — and lots of nice spots for a nap when that was his preference.

Some animal shelters have “real-life rooms” — cozy spaces with comfy seating where pets can relax and show their best selves to potential adopters in a home-like environment. Raskel’s Rescue has an entire two-story house that's been turned into a space designed to be comfortable and welcoming for cats and humans alike.

“The thing that people comment on the most is the friendliness and coziness,” says Kirstyn Northrop Cobb, Raskel’s Rescue executive director.

That friendliness extends to the adoption process, which is conversation-based and designed to be “friendly and welcoming,” Kirstyn says. “We believe that it should be a discussion, not an interrogation.”

The aim is for pets and people to be able to relax and enjoy themselves. Not only is this good for the animals’ well-being, but it also helps to facilitate adoptions. In the two years since opening, Raskel’s Rescue has placed about 1,000 pets in new homes.

Go inside Raskel’s Rescue, and you’ll find couches aplenty — donated or purchased from a local secondhand store — along with toys, blankets, perches, soft rugs, and tables where people and cats can gather.

There are custom-made screened “catios” for the cats to go outside for some fresh air — and a coffee maker for visiting humans to use to encourage them to settle in and hang out.

Raskel’s property used to be a pet boarding facility. The former owner retired during the pandemic, at which point a donor stepped in to help Raskel’s Rescue make the place a lifeline where pets in need could get a second chance and have a good time in the process.

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The grounds have a kennel where the dogs in Raskel’s Rescue’s care stay. Renovations are planned to make it as warm and home-like as the cats’ space.

There are two barns — one for storage and one for animals like goats, horses, and chickens brought in by animal services. And there are two houses. One of the houses has been transformed into a caretaker’s cottage, so someone is always on-site. The other is for the cats.

“Most of our animals were at risk elsewhere and are now having a blast,” Kirstyn says.

Pets come to Raskel’s in all kinds of ways. The organization has a contract with the local animal services agency to take in stray animals. They also work with a domestic violence shelter to temporarily house pets of domestic violence survivors.

Some pets come from more crowded, less-resourced shelters in neighboring communities. Or there might be a cat like Aragon, who arrives when someone from the community places an urgent, heartfelt call.

Aragon was 19 years old when he arrived. The little tabby kitty’s person could no longer manage his medical needs, so Raskel’s Rescue gave him a soft place to land.

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Once at Raskel’s, Aragon was often seen holding court at a food bowl, strutting around, or napping on one of the shelter’s many couches.

Aragon lived out his days with plenty of comfort and love before peacefully passing away in the arms of a staff member at Raskel’s Rescue. The aim is adoption for most pets. But Kirstyn takes solace that Aragon got to live in a home, too.

“He loved lying on a couch in the sun,” says Kirstyn. “He was so happy and super loved.”

A volunteer with Raskel’s Rescue helped Tigger land his new home when they told a co-worker about him. Partial to orange senior cats, Gregg and Shelley DiDia had been looking for a kitty just like Tigger. The couple visited the shelter to see whether Tigger was looking for humans like them.

They fell in love with both Tigger and Raskel’s Rescue. “It’s just such a homey atmosphere,” Shelley says. “We were able to play with the cat on the floor. It was very comfortable.”

Tigger went from the home-like atmosphere of Raskel’s Rescue to Shelley and Gregg’s actual home, where he is very loved and already slimming down to a healthier size.

“He’s eating delicately right now,” Shelley says affectionately. “He’s not looking for anything but attention and feeling secure.”

That's the happy ending that Kirstyn and her staff are trying to provide for the pets coming through the doors — and the warm, friendly experience that they are trying to provide for the people.

People are welcome! They can adopt, hang out, whatever makes them happy,” says Kirstyn. “We just want people to be comfortable with us.” 

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.