UNDATED -- When Rosemarie Nalevaiko retired to McCormick County, she knew right away she wanted to volunteer with the Humane Society.

Rosemarie Nalevaiko, McCormick County, SC: "There's a huge need for one, and it's just very rewarding."

Rosemarie and dozens of other volunteers come a few times a week to this outdoor kennel, the only place for stray animals in McCormick County. The county has no animal control, no indoor shelter, no formal way of helping animals in need. Like other rural counties in our area, it comes down to money.

McCormick County Bruce Cooley says tax dollars are limited and they use most of them to fund state- and federally-mandated programs...leaving animals to rely on the kindness of volunteers.

Georgie Jones, volunteer: "People will do anything...I guess for the love of animals and their welfare. It's amazing...the work that's done."

For months, Georgie Jones has been feeding cats, every day, at this abandoned house, on Wilson Road. You may remember, last fall, when the homeowner died, leaving hundreds of goats and dozens of cats roaming the dirt road on the outskirts of the county. Since then, the Humane Society's adopted out 20 healthy cats, 50 others are still here.

When they've run out of donated food, volunteers have been known to pay for more out of their own pocket to keep the cats fed.

Georgie Jones: "If we hadn't been out here to do that, I can't imagine what they'd look like, or how bad it'd be."

It's one of many missions these animal lovers have accepted. While we were with Humane Society volunteers, we made a quick stop, when they spotted a puppy on a rural road. No luck rescuing it, but they said they left food and said they'd try again, later. They're really the only hope the strays have.

Paige Tucker, reporting: "You somehow make it work?"

Georgia Jones: "Yeah, and I think what we're doing works."

What works in McCormick County would never work in the much larger Columbia County, according to Animal Control Director, Linda Fulmer. They answer 10,000 to 12,000 calls a year...many of them ordinary stray calls and barking complaints. Some are a little more extraordinary...

Linda Fulmer, Direcotr, Columbia County Animal Control: "We get livestock running at large, which is normally horses and cows. But, we get the goats and the pigs and the chickens. Emus, occasionally."

Fulmer manages a staff of 14, and oversees a $500,000 budget. Animal Control officers are constantly looking for, and picking up, dead animals off the road, and the kennels in Appling stay booked. Columbia County is hoping to have a new shelter in the next two years...McCormick County is working on its first.

Paige Tucker, reporting: "The Humane Society has had these pens since 2000. Now, they've got land to move to, they just need a building so they can accommodate more animals in a shelter."

Until then, they'll meet the animals where they are.

Here's a look at some of the counties in our area with no animal control:

In Georgia, McDuffie, Lincoln And Burke have no animal control facilities. Burke County's Commission Chairman says they are looking into whether it's feasible. They think it would cost $600,000 to $700,000 a year.

In South Carolina, McCormick County, depends on the Humane Society. Allendale And Bamberg Counties depend on volunteers in Barnwell County.