PROVIDING W.A.R.M. FUZZIES ON THE FARM
Julie Finlayson with one of her many dogs at the WARM farm. -Photo by Abby Sink, Art Director.
Waccamaw Animal Rescue Mission (WARM) is an all-volunteer organization that rescues and rehabilitates abandoned and abused domestic animals and wildlife along the Grand Strand. WARM is a no-kill animal shelter, meaning euthanasia is not used other than when medically necessary. In addition to housing animals at a farm the group runs in Conway, WARM had, until December, run a successful adoption center at Inlet Square Mall. When the mall underwent renovations, WARM's lease was not renewed, and the group has been searching desperately for a suitable location ever since.
A dog at the WARM farm -Photo by Abby Sink, Art Director.
Julie Finlayson is a local naturalist with 35 years experience in wildlife rehabilitation who donates 40-plus hours a week to WARM and the animals in its care. She is passionate about finding a new adoption center. "We had six good years there," says Finlayson of the previous location, noting that many people visited the mall just to stop by and visit with the animals and staff at the WARM center. With no adoption center for WARM to display its animals, the group has seen a decline in adoptions. "We need another adoption center desperately," says Finlayson. "There are so many places sitting empty at the beach," she says, noting several warehouses and vacant stores along U.S. 17 and U.S. 17 Bypass that would serve the group's purposes. Finlayson says Scalise Development in Murrells Inlet has committed to helping with the building and customization of any site, and has established a building fund for the group at Conway National Bank. "We need someone sympathetic to our plight, who could offer us free or very low cost rent, at least until we get set up." WARM would offer grooming and boarding services for pet owners, and the store could be used for drop-off of donated items such as furniture and electronics. "We receive a lot of donated items, which we can turn around and sell to raise money for the care of the animals."
One of the goats at the WARM farm comes in for a closer look. -Photo by Abby Sink, Art Director.
Until a new site is found, the group is keeping all its animals at the farm in Conway. The farm is open to the public and visitors are urged to call WARM at 347-6583 at least a day in advance to schedule a visit. Directions are given by phone - WARM does not publish the exact location, as the staff is too busy to accommodate drop-ins. (The farm's chickens are prolific egg layers, and fresh, free-range chicken eggs are available for $2.50 a dozen.) The group provides shelter for more than a hundred dogs and cats, as well as a large menagerie of farm animals, and it is unable to accept any new animals at this time due to space constrictions. This is especially troubling to Finlayson, because animals turned away are usually taken to one of the taxpayer funded Humane Societies, which are not permitted to turn away animals and thus euthanasia is more common. Says Finlayson, "When I'm full, I'm virtually condemning these animals to death." The group has photos of animals up for adoption on its website, www.warmfarms.org, as well as on www.PetFinders.org. Contributions to the building fund can be made at any Conway National Bank Branch (be sure to designate your contribution to the WARM Building Fund).
By Kimberly Moore
For Weekly Surge