People love their dogs. Just look around West Columbia and you’ll see dog-walkers at every park and the Bark West Dog Park was opened by the City of West Columbia in 2023. The park includes an activity course and places to sit, stay, and play. The unleashed dog park includes areas designated for small and large dogs. Bark West Info.

Long-term data shows that the number of  dog-owning households in the United States is at a high level compared to the late 1980s. Up-to 71% of U.S. households now own a pet, climbing from 56% in 1988, according to Forbes Magazine. Dogs are the most popular pet in the country, residing in up-to 51% of households. If you don’t have a pet, there are centers in West Columbia that specialize in dog adoption.

Final Victory Animal Rescue

Final Victory Animal Rescue at 919 N. Lucas St. is one of those organizations. “We are a nonprofit dog and cat rescue that rehabilitates, and rehomes dogs, and cats,” said Michael Sniezek, General Manager of Final Victory.  “We opened in 2017 because of the need for animal rescue. There is always an urgency to get the dogs out of the shelters due to space issues and the threat of euthanasia. We give animals a positive experience after a traumatic time in the shelter, neglected homes, or living on streets. We put them in large 5’x10′ runs, and we have volunteers who play with the dogs and they take them on long walks.”Final Victory also finds safe and loving homes for the pets they take in. Final Victory dogs are placed in homes in South Carolina or they are transported to other states across the entire East Coast. Final Victory houses up-to 250 animals and needs donations. Click here to find out how you can help;

PETSinc 

Founded in 1991,  PETSinc is a nonprofit  no-kill animal rescue organization  that is dedicated to helping dogs and cats find new forever homes.  The mission of PETSinc is to assist with rescue, rehabilitation, and rehoming unwanted and homeless dogs and cats through addressing each animal’s physical and emotional needs, providing medical, nutritional, and rehabilitation services to ensure successful life-long adoptions. PETSinc also provides a low-cost, full-service veterinary clinic, and spay-neuter surgeries to help control pet and shelter overpopulation. Adorable dogs and cats are  at PETSinc waiting to meet you and bring joy to your home. Click here to find out how you can adopt

Thrift Avenue

Thrift Avenue is located at 300 Orchard Drive (relocated to the PETSinc campus). It is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (closed Sunday). All proceeds benefit the non-profit, no-kill animal rescue PETSinc.

4 Paws Thrift Store

The mission of  4 Paws Thrift Store at 304 12th St, West Columbia, is to provide shelter to dogs and cats in a home-like environment. One-hundred percent of the proceeds go to care for animals. Donations to  4 Paws Thrift  go to buy food or to cover veterinary costs for things like spay and neutering.

Those donations go to help people who may be struggling to keep their pets.  4 Paws Thrift  helps pet owners keep their animals in their homes instead of taking them to a shelter. Donations can be dropped off at the 4 Paws store. Other items accepted are: shoes, kitchen items, and other household items, including fans, lamps, coffee makers and more. 4Paws is open Tuesday through Saturday and closes at 6 p.m. Donations are to be made in the back of the store, during store hours. 4 Paws on Facebook. Click here for website

Thrifty Paws Boutique

Thrifty Paws Boutique at 1230 C Avenue in West Columbia was founded by Teresa Smith in 2022. It’s a nonprofit  that was established to raise much needed funding for local animal rescue and welfare efforts. Proceeds raised by Thrifty Paws Boutique have totaled more than $200,000 and been given to over 40 different animal rescue organizations and individual animal welfare cases.  Thrifty Paws BoutiqueWebsite