The S.C. Coastal Animal Rescue and Educational Sanctuary in Georgetown County is again available for tours after having been closed to the public for several months as it fulfilled requirements for an exhibitor's license from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
SC-CARES is a rescue and rehabilitation haven for abused, neglected and unwanted animals, exotic and domestic.
Located in the Choppee community outside Georgetown, the center was forced to suspend its tours of the animal sanctuary in April when its owners learned they needed a 10-foot-high perimeter fence to enclose its wolves, fox and deer to meet regulations for the exhibitor's license.
Cindy Hedrick, who owns the sanctuary along with Skip Yeager, said they received their license at the end of August.
"We passed the USDA inspection with flying colors," said Hedrick, adding that tours officially resumed in September.
She said they haven't had a lot of time to spread the word that they have reopened for the public. The sanctuary did attract 330 visitors to its Fall Festival in October. Guided tours are given by appointment, and the haven also conducts various off-site educational programs.
David Sacks, a public affairs official with the USDA Animal Care Program, said licensees are subject to unannounced, routine inspections throughout the year by its animal care veterinarian.
He said the agency enforces the Animal Welfare Act and ensures that minimum care standards are set for exhibitors, sanctuaries, circuses, zoos, large-scale dog and cat breeders and animals in medical research.
"The main thing [for the USDA] was that all our carnivores are behind a perimeter fence," Hedrick said, although they installed fencing for all the animals except for the tortoises and goats at the front of the sanctuary.
"The area is basically the same, but you'll just notice fencing that you didn't see before. ... It is more secure for the animals."
The perimeter fencing has already benefited some of the shelter's domesticated animals, as it has allowed some, such as Baby, their oldest horse, to roam outside of her original pen.
Hedrick said the quarter horse, who is estimated to be at least 20 years old, can now eat "when she wants, how she wants," without the bother of other horses, and she'll even lie down when she takes a notion.
"Somehow, a horse lying down just doesn't look right," Hedrick said, "but she's old; she gets tired."
The new digs have also allowed Norman, the shy Angus calf who arrived in 2009 with a broken leg, to find a buddy. He now can be spotted hanging out with his new best friend, Wilbur, the wild boar.
Hedrick said the number of animals at SC-CARES has grown to about 150, and they've added seven horses, which has added some urgency to their current project - building a second barn for the horses. She said they have the funds and materials, so anyone with a saw or the will to work is welcome to help on the project.
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