“Paw Partners,” Clemson’s newest volunteer animal shelter, held a fundraiser with Clemson’s Delta Theta chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity at Esso Club on Wednesday night. Chi Phi, whose Clemson chapter was founded in 2016, raised a total of $1,350 for the program.
Paw Partners is a new organization located in Central and is entirely volunteer based. Margaret Thomas, a former Pickens County deputy, is the program’s president.
“What we are trying to do is open a low-cost spay and neuter clinic. We need things like surgical tables and anesthesia machines,” said Thomas. “If a family took their cat or dog to be spayed or neutered, you might end up paying $200 to $300 or more,” said Thomas.
Their goal is to provide veterinary services at a more affordable cost. They plan to offer spay and neuter services for $100 which would also include the cost of all required vaccinations. They will also offer microchip services for $10.
Kevin Lessing, a junior finance major, is Chi Phi’s community service chair. He reached out to Thomas over the summer in hopes of working with Paw Partners.
“They rescue any animals in the area, any pets, and they help provide a bunch of different services,” said Lessing. “Margaret saw the overcrowding in local shelters with too many animals, so we are trying to help with their spay and neuter program in order to reduce the number of new strays.”
Thomas hopes the program will be in full swing as soon as possible, but they are currently struggling to find a paid veterinarian. Once they find doctors, the program will be open to its fullest potential.
Paw Partners hopes to bring in student and community volunteers after it is fully open.
“I’ve lived in Clemson and worked for the community for 40 years and, I’ll be honest with you, I love this more than anything I’ve ever done,” said Thomas.

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Caroline Elswick, News Editor

Members of Chi Phi stand alongside Paw Partners organizers to celebrate their achievements.