This SC county may have to euthanize animals due to overcrowding in new facility

Firecracker Opal and Quiet soul Onyx do not have a home.

Neither does Poppy and Sandler and Woody.

The dogs are currently housed the Cherokee County Animal Shelter, which opened a new $4.7 million facility last year. The facility is already so overcrowded that some animals might be euthanized.

“We hope not to have to get to that point,” Cherokee County Assistant Manager Kristy Bradley said.

The problem of overcrowding has been compounded by the closure of the Humane Society of Cherokee County, which had handled rescues, adoptions, and veterinary care of animals in the Animal Shelter facility.

It is also the result of the sheer number of animals abandoned or litters dumped on the side of the road, like Onion, a 9-month-old boxer described as the class clown among his siblings.

When the new shelter opened in April 2024, officials said it could house 164 dogs and 70 cats, compared to 28 dogs and 24 cats at the old facility.

The shelter currently has 148 dogs and 105 cats, Bradley said. Some have been there for nine months. State law requires government-run shelters to hold animals without identification for at least five days and animals with identification for at least two weeks.

“Cherokee County, like most other counties, is not completely no kill,” she said. “We are required to take all animals including aggressive, sick, etc.”

If euthanizing is an option, Bradley said it is not certain whether they will select from non-aggressive and healthy animals.

County adoption event planned

“We’ve never euthanized simply to make room,” she said. “However, we have to continue to keep the county’s function of open intake for shelter. We cannot just say we are full and close that side of services.”

To bring attention to the problem, the shelter planned an adoption event Saturday, Oct. 18 that included free and reduced-fee adoptions and a dog Halloween costume contest featuring shelter pets.

The shelter also asked the public for donations of pet food, cleaning supplies, and sponsorships.

The shelter was previously a holding facility for strays brought in by animal control or those surrendered by owners.

Veterinary care and adoptions were handled by non-profit organizations.

That changed with the closing of the Humane Society.

“The Cherokee County Animal Shelter had no choice but to step up to ensure the animals in the shelter would have an opportunity for a better future,” the organization said.

This story was originally published October 17, 2025 at 4:51 PM.