Find Your Furever Friend

Mark your calendars! Kathy Stafford, our founder, will be at the 16th Annual Silver Bells Arts & Craft Show in Sumter on November 14 and 15, 2026, and she would love to see you there.

When

Where
Fair Memorial Building
30 Artillery Drive, Sumter, SC 29150

Free admission and free parking!
Give back while you shop: Bring 3 nonperishable food items to donate to the Salvation Army, and you'll be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card. Donations will be collected at the door.

Why stop by?
Silver Bells is one of Sumter's favorite holiday shopping weekends. Around 30 local artists and crafters will be there, so it's a great place to knock out your gift list early. While you're there, come find the K.A.T.S. table and say hello to Kathy. She has been rescuing animals in Sumter since the day a little kitten named Garfield was coaxed off McCrays Mill Road in 1991, and she always has a story to share.

It's also a great chance to:

Every animal that comes through K.A.T.S. is fully vetted before going home. That means all shots, deworming, and spay or neuter, and your support is what makes that possible.

We hope to see you at the Silver Bells Arts & Craft Show! Follow us on Facebook for updates leading up to the show.

It has been a while since we posted here, but the work at K.A.T.S. Special Kneads never stopped. Since 2006 our small group of volunteers has been doing the same thing: taking in abandoned and abused small animals, getting them the medical care they need, and helping them find loving homes.

Where it all started
K.A.T.S. began with one kitten. In the summer of 1991 a tiny cat named Garfield was coaxed out of the middle of McCrays Mill Road with a little chicken, and he won over everyone he met. That same care goes into every animal we take in. We've pulled bottle-fed kittens out of a 100 degree attic, rescued four puppy sisters from a drainage pipe right here in Sumter, and nursed an injured dog and an amputee kitty back to health.

Every animal gets the full treatment
Before any K.A.T.S. animal goes home, they are fully vetted. That means all shots, deworming, spay or neuter, and plenty of love and socialization. It is also where most of our money goes, so every dollar really counts.

No adoptable pets listed? You can still help.
Our adoption page may be empty right now, but the animals and the bills keep coming. Here are three easy ways to help:

Thank you
We could not do any of this without our sponsors, donors, and the other local rescues we work alongside, including Sumter T.N.R. & Kitten Rescue and Angel's Hope. Whether you give $5, a bag of litter, or an afternoon of your time, you are helping an animal in need.

Follow us on Facebook for updates, and keep checking our Adopt page for your future furever friend.