GEORGETOWN -- Calling all horse lovers, animal enthusiasts and building buffs: S.C. Coastal Animal Rescue and Educational Sanctuary needs your help.

The Georgetown-based fold of furry and feathered friends, the only exotic animal sanctuary in the Grand Strand area, just welcomed its first American Quarter Horse, Charmer, into the family.

The 10-year-old auburn beauty is suffering with navicular syndrome, a "degenerative bone disease that causes abnormal bone growth in the hooves," according to S.C. CARES board of directors President Skip Yeager. Her previous owner gave her to the sanctuary after growing concern about the cost of her medical bills.

Yeager says the arthritis-like illness may cause a bone to grow out and sever a tendon in Charmer's heel, leaving her lame and not rideable.

"The only thing we can do is do a surgery on her," he said. "They'll cut the nerve so she won't feel the pain. There's no correction for it, and it will eventually take her life."

Word of mouth brought Charmer from her previous pasture to her new home.

"We got her through one of our volunteers that knew of her at a place where she boards her horses," said Yeager. "That's what happens; people find out we have a home for animals that need a home."

"We moved to Georgetown a year ago in November, and we've just been flooded with rescues," said sanctuary operator Cindy Hedrick. "We just have to make sure they're comfortable and not in pain."

Along with Charmer, the exotic animal sanctuary tentatively plans to take in two more horses facing health challenges.

"They're here to be put out to pasture. They're just going to be loved and retire here," said Yeager.

To accommodate the new additions, the nonprofit organization needs to raise funds to build a hurricane-proof barn, to pay for Charmer's surgery and future appointments, to secure a single-horse trailer and to stock adequate feed.

"We're glad we're there to take care of them, but in some sense, horses are very expensive to take care of," said Kathy Shoemaker, Georgetown resident and S.C. CARES volunteer.

Dawson Co. in Georgetown has helped the nonprofit by giving them a deep discount on building supplies.

Along with monetary donations, S.C. CARES is looking for folks ready to work.

"Volunteers to help build [the barn] would be a big help, people who aren't afraid to climb a ladder or swing a hammer," said Yeager. "We need a lot of stuff, since we're starting from scratch."

For more information, call 546-7893 or visit www.sc-cares.org.

Upcoming expenses S.C. CARES estimates the following building, health care and boarding costs for its horses:

New hurricane-proof barn | $4,000

Surgery and recovery boarding | $900

Monthly food per horse | $100

Contact JENNIFER PARKER at jparker@thesunnews.com or 444-1702.