Category Archives: essay

Broken Beyond Repair? They Might Just Surprise You

By Dr. Lisa Levy, ACAS Veterinarian One of the greatest dangers to dogs running loose is being hit by a car. Unfortunately, injured animals being brought to the shelter is an all too common occurrence. Some of these injuries can be catastrophic and the animals can’t be saved. But some will defy the odds and […]

Surrendered Pets Desperately Want to Be Home for Christmas

With more than 1,000 strays and surrendered pets arriving at the shelter over the last two and a half months, there are going to be adoptable animals who get lost in the crowd and take longer to find their forever homes. But here are three hidden gems who will make wonderful companions for you and […]

Reunited by a Microchip — Eight Years Later!

This is a story with a happy ending, one that spans eight years, six states, and a dog named Beanie. In 2010, the Wilson* family found a hungry and scared shepherd puppy on the side of the road. They took her home, fed her, and cleaned her up. They actively searched for her owners, but […]

Giving Thanks at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

Thanksgiving is a time of reflection for those of us at FOTAS — a time to take stock of our blessings; to consider the remarkable progress we and the County have made in making the world a better place for Aiken County’s homeless, abandoned and abused animals; and in particular, to celebrate the many people […]

Doggy Treadmill Works Wonders at the County Shelter

When someone suggested to FOTAS a few months ago that using a doggy treadmill at the Aiken County Animal Shelter would help our shy, scared dogs and overly-energetic dogs to adapt faster, I was skeptical. But when I spoke with Susi Cohen, an amazing dog trainer who helps us with behavioral issues, she was all […]

FOTAS and USC Aiken Partner on Program that Helps Save Shelter Dogs’ Lives

When you take Dr. Meredith Elzy’s Behavior Modification class at USC Aiken, not only do you learn the key concepts of this psychology therapy in a regular classroom setting, but you also make weekly visits to the Aiken County Animal Shelter to learn how to train homeless dogs. “My role is taking what students are […]

Leadership & Teamwork Make FOTAS Golf Tourney a Signature Event

FOTAS just held its Fifth Annual Playing Fore the Pets Golf Tournament and Helicopter Ball Drop on Oct. 1. The event was bigger than ever, with 176 golfers participating in the tournament and 996 ball drop raffle tickets sold. In just five years, this special event has become the biggest FOTAS fundraiser of the year. […]

Love Is in the Air at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

Sandra Procter, one of FOTAS’s first volunteers, was walking her favorite dog, Stanley, on the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s trails this week. She stopped to pet Stanley and praise him for his good behavior. As she enjoyed this warm moment with the young Retriever mix, Sandra looked around her and saw something that really touched […]

Aiken PetSmart Cats Get Care and Comfort from FOTAS Volunteers

“I like their purring – I love that sound,” says FOTAS PetSmart Volunteer Twylia Stewart as she strokes the fur of Kendi, a male black kitten who’s just arrived from the Aiken County Animal Shelter. “I also think they sometimes don’t get as much attention from people as dogs do. Everybody loves dogs, including me, […]

Shorter Stray Hold Requirement Will Reduce Kennel Stress

It’s Friday, August 24th and the Aiken County Animal Shelter is full. I make my way to Intake to check out the new arrivals. There are so many in all shapes and sizes: fluffy, shiny, furless, battered, blonde, red and black. They are scared and anxious. It breaks my heart. Near the back in #28, a […]