SEGMENT #1: Dorchester Paws
GUEST: Preston Hayden, Director of Marketing and Development
ISSUE: Pets/Animal Control
Former known as the Francis R. Willis SPCA, Dorchester Paws has been serving the Lowcountry for 51 years, all of it in the same Summerville building. In 2025, the non-profit hopes to break ground on a new facility. Preston Hayden, the organization’s Director of Marketing and Development explained Dorchester Paws need for the new shelter and the capitol campaign that started during the holiday season to raise money to fund it.  Hayden shared the shelters commitment to being a No Kill facility and the challenges that has created. He also discussed the organization’s other needs including fostering animals and volunteering and their next major fundraising event, an oyster roast on February 1.

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SEGMENT #2: Southeastern Wildlife Exposition
GUEST: John Powell, Executive Director
ISSUE: Tourism/Economic Development
The start of the tourist season in the Charleston area begins with the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition, this year February 14 through the 16. For the past 20 years, John Powell has been the Executive Director of SEWE. Powell shared the growth of the Exposition over that time frame and talked about how wildlife art is still the center of what has become a wide-ranging event. Along with art, SEWE includes outdoor and wildlife events like the Dock Dogs competition in the Birds of Prey exhibition in Marion Square. Powell explained the partnership that has been created not just with the city of Charleston, but the surrounding communities, and went in-depth on the economic effect of the Exposition, sharing how SEWE generates about $35 million dollars for the Lowcountry.