Author Archives: Angel Hartline

Adoption, Dogs, Foster, Pibbles, Transfer, Volunteers

Pulling for the Pibbles

Posted on by Angel Hartline
14
Jan

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

 

Luci was surrendered to the Aiken County Animal Shelter by her owner, who had been deployed overseas.

Olivia was picked up by Aiken County Animal Control, starving and anxious.

Harley spent the first part of his young life outdoors, starving and dodging abuse from the drug-addicts who claimed to own him.

Dante was found wandering the County roads in search of food. He was malnourished anxious and mistrustful.

Ginger spent her entire 2 years of life at the end of a chain. She has permanent scars on her neck and head from her chain and is heartworm positive (HW+).

All of these unfortunate animals are what we call “Pibbles” – pitbulls or pitbull mixes. Open admissions shelters across the country are inundated with Pibbles. It’s a real crisis. They are the hardest dogs to place, spend the longest resident time in the shelter, thus straining limited resources and space. Pibbles are euthanized in greater numbers than their less muscular, less energetic and less square-headed brethren.

Yet Pibbles make extraordinary pets and companions. Today, Luci and Olivia are companions to veterans and working on their service dog certifications. Harley has been adopted by a local, loving family. Dante is living the good life on a farm in Maine. Our dear Ginger, a little scruffy and scarred up, found her true love at an off-site adoption event at Stable View and spends her days loving and being loved.

Here is what you need to know about the Pibbles in the County Shelter.

Because it takes so long to find them homes, Shelter staff and FOTAS volunteers have had lots of time to observe and assess these dogs, so we’re confident they have the right temperament to make great pets. Our volunteers work with the Pibbles daily to channel their naturally energetic instincts and make them more adoptable – no small chore since 90% of them have never had basic obedience training or a regular routine of feeding and exercise.

Moreover, we work with our foster families and our no-kill rescue partners to find homes for these dogs when they are not locally adopted. We don’t need to transfer the cute, fluffy dogs that happen to come our way – they find homes in a heartbeat. We choose dogs for transfers that have been on the adoption floor the longest, which are, more often than not, our Pibbles.

For those dogs that aren’t selected for transfer or can’t be transferred out of state because they are HW+, FOTAS reaches out to its rescue partners to find them homes. If they need to be treated for heartworms, FOTAS funds the first six months of treatment (via the established slow-kill method).

It breaks my heart to see so many of these noble, big-hearted animals lined up in the kennels at the Shelter, desperate for someone to give them some attention, a little love, and a home of their own.

Dogs like handsome Bryon, who wags his tail so hard, it bleeds; or Rob Roy, a gentleman pit with the heart of a lamb; or little Tiger, who is wild about children and loves to play and kiss.

Please don’t wait. These dogs have done nothing to deserve their fate. They need our help.

Their lives are in our hands.

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Foster, Volunteer

Labor of love, Part 3: You can make a difference

Posted on by Angel Hartline
05
Jan

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Here’s what I know about you: you have a big heart and you love animals (or you wouldn’t be reading this article). You probably have pets at home – maybe a dog or cat or two or more – and those pets bring you and your family great joy and lots of laughs. You are sickened that almost 5000 abandoned and abused animals pass through the Aiken County Animal Shelter each year, and you wonder: how can this happen in this community you love and call home?

And although you are relieved that a record number of shelter animals were saved last year (almost 3000) thanks to the combined efforts of FOTAS, the County and the community, you are profoundly saddened that another 1900 had to be euthanized, either because they were irreparably damaged emotionally and/or physically by the cruelty or neglect of other humans or because we just couldn’t find them homes fast enough.

You want to do something that matters, but what?

Here are some ideas to think about.

  • You can volunteer at the shelter, where you can work with the animals or help at the desk. You can commit to any amount of time that makes sense in your life – there is no amount too small. You can maybe set aside Tuesday afternoon? Great. Only have an hour on Thursday morning? Also great. The FOTAS volunteer program is structured on blocks of time committed by people like you – just tell us what you would like to do and how much time you can reliably commit. We’ll make it happen.
  • You can foster dogs for a short period of time that have been approved for transfer to a sister no-kill agency in other parts of the country, which allows the dogs to decompress from the stress of shelter life beforehand and creates much needed space on the adoption floor for a dogpat with evie tues dec 29th from intake. Or, you can foster mama dogs and/or their puppies until they are old enough to be transferred or adopted. All you need is a safe, protected place in your home or your garage or barn to house the animals. FOTAS even pays for food and medical supplies, if necessary.
  • You can adopt your next pet from the County Shelter. That’s huge. Unlike other private no-kill shelters, the County Shelter does not have the luxury, space or resources to hold their animals for a long time: it is an open admissions shelter, required by law to take all animals. At the no-kill shelter, the animals can stay until someone comes to adopt them. At the County shelter, the animals are  at risk unless they can be transferred or adopted out quickly.
  • Or you can donate to FOTAS. We will use that money to improve the quality of life for the animals at the shelter, pay the costs associated with transfer, or attack the problem at its source through the FOTAS Fix-a-Pet program or its Lenny’s Brigade for community cats.

Contact us today at volunteer@aiken.org or at (803) 514-4313. Your help makes the difference between life and death for these unfortunate animals.

God Bless and Happy New Year.

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Foster, FOTAS, Volunteer

Strictly a labor of love, part 2: Volunteering at the shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
29
Dec

By Joanna Dunn Samson, Vice President of FOTAS

Caroline Simonson and Sandra Proctor walk dogs at the Aiken County Animal Shelter four times a week, as does Ellie Joos, who works with the shelter’s energetic “pibbles” and organizes FOTAS on-site programs. Karen DeCamp walks dogs every Tuesday. Jerri Wesner and Rita Tregnor walk dogs every Saturday morning. Peggy Babineau does it all: walks dogs, mans the desk and fosters dogs pending transfer. Pat Gilbert, Richard Proctor, Bill Joos, Agnes Bye, Kari and Holly Heiens, Jerri Smith, Wally and Susie Huiett, Ellen Fox, Lanni Brancato, Judy Thompson and Nanci Santos all commit their time to make certain the dogs on the adoption floor experience a little human love and attention at least once a day.

Then there are the devoted folks who man the shelter’s front desk, greet visitors and provide much needed assistance to hard-working and over-worked shelter staff: Kate Bailey, Cathy Palma, Linda Taylor, Neil Welks, Pat Hundertmark, Joyce Egge, Pat Ludwig, Paul Tallent, Bob Purdy, Melanie Oldham, Pricilla Denehy, Richard and Linda Leitner, Belinda Ebert, and Joan Locke. The day-to-day shelter work would not get done without their steadfast commitment.

These are only a few of the many FOTAS volunteers at the shelter that made it possible to save approximately 2950 animals this year: that’s more than 164% increase from 2011 and 10 times more animals saved than in the pre-FOTAS years. These volunteers are responsible and accountable. The volunteers perform duties at the shelter that are performed in private organizations by paid staff: on-site programs, off-site adoptions, fundraisers, special events, public relations, community outreach for spay/neuter programs, animal socialization, and managing the crucial foster and transfer programs, to name a few. The volunteers are the heart and soul of FOTAS.

Why do these volunteers commit themselves day after day, week after week, to a public open admissions shelter where the number of homeless animals exceeds the number that can be adopted locally or transferred to no-kill shelter partners in other parts of the country? Where public resources are strained? Where euthanasia is a profoundly sad fact of life until the day that all animals are fixed and intake numbers come down?

Our volunteers know they make a real and measurable difference in the lives of, and the outcomes for, the County’s homeless animals. It would be easy to get discouraged, but they don’t. They take the long view: they focus on the animals we save, and hands down, FOTAS and the shelter save more animals than any other organization in the County.

But above all, our FOTAS volunteers are caring, generous people who express extraordinary acts of kindness, and scientists now know what the great spiritual masters have known for centuries: that acts of kindness promote happiness and a sense of well-being.

Exercise your kindness muscles this year. Save lives and boost your happiness quotient in the process. Join FOTAS to fight the good fight until every adoptable animal finds a home. Contact us at 803-514-4313 or at volunteer@angelhartlinedesigns.com.

God bless and Happy New Year.

Their lives are in our hands.

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, News, Volunteer

Strictly a labor of love

Posted on by Angel Hartline
20
Dec

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Volunteering at an open admissions shelter is strictly a labor of love, particularly in a place like Aiken County where intake runs consistently between 4500 – 5000 animals every year. No one with a heart can witness the endless procession of abandoned cats and dogs without being profoundly affected.

Most of these animals have never been to a veterinarian. They have never been inoculated from preventable killer diseases like distemper, rabies or parvo. Most have spent their life outdoors, in many cases with no shelter from the elements, and in worst cases tethered to a chain their entire life. They are crawling with fleas and often riddled with parasitic worms, particularly heartworms, which are deadly left untreated. The majority are malnourished and underweight, their ribs protruding through a lifeless coat and skin rubbed raw from scratching at fleas or mange mites.

Virtually all of them are unsprayed or unneutered, left to breed indiscriminately. Females with health issues produce more sickly, unwanted puppies – many of which die from lack of basic care, or worse, from being tossed out of a moving car like a crumpled paper bag.

You think I am exaggerating? Sadly, I am not. By the time most of these animals make it to the shelter, they are sick and scared and anxious and justifiably wary of humans. Many are irreparably damaged – physically, emotionally or both – by neglect and abuse. In those cases, the best thing we can do is to end their misery by humane euthanasia.

As for the rest of them, Shelter staff and volunteers do what they can with the limited resources and time available. The animals are bathed, inoculated and treated for fleas and worms. They are sheltered from the elements and fed twice a day. When they are moved from intake to the adoption floor as limited space becomes available, they are fussed over by staff and volunteers. The dogs are walked and taught basic obedience skills to make them more adoptable. Without question, the care is basic and institutional – there are far too many animals to give them the same level of attention they would get in a responsible home – but in most cases, it’s the best care they’ve ever had.

This year we expect to save +/- 2950 animals. It’s not perfect, but compare that with the days before FOTAS and the new Shelter when annual intake reached a high as 6000+ animals and only 300 were saved. Thanks to the commitment of the County and FOTAS, that’s thousands of more animals saved in the past 5-6 years.

As for the other roughly 1900 animals that won’t make it out of the shelter this year – it’s tragically unfair and outrage is the proper response, but direct your outrage appropriately: at the people who won’t spay and neuter their animals, who allow their animals to breed indiscriminately, who never provided their animals with proper medical care, and who would just as soon dump their sick, unwanted animals on the taxpayers to clean up their mess rather than do the right thing.

In the meantime, do something positive to help the County and FOTAS save more animals. Volunteer your time. Foster. Donate money and supplies. And please, please adopt from the County Shelter and bless those animals with a life of love free from hunger and fear.

Without you, they are lost. Their lives are in our hands.

Merry Christmas and God Bless.

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Foster, FOTAS, News, Volunteer

Business Community Rallies for County’s Homeless Animals

Posted on by Angel Hartline
16
Dec

By Edie Hubler, FOTAS Director
As Jeri Barrett, owner of Herbal Solutions, remembers it, a little brown and white hound dog named Mae was the spark that inspired “Hang One for the Animal Shelter”.

Jeri was an exhibitor at the 2014 FOTAS Woofstock event at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Jeri wasn’t looking for a dog, but Mae, one of the adoptable dogs, caught her eye. At home that night, all she could think about was the hopeful Mae sitting quietly in her kennel. Jeri called the shelter on Monday and learned, to her great relief and delight, that Mae had found a home.

Although Jeri was already a veteran supporter of FOTAS, Mae touched her heart in a big way and she decided to do more for the shelter animals. That’s when she came up with a $10,000 idea for the Christmas holidays – she would recruit other Aiken businesses to sell paper cut-out dog or cat ornaments for $1.00 to hang in their place of business and donate the proceeds to FOTAS.

“Hang One for the Animal Shelter” was such a splendid idea and a great success, Jeri is doing it again this Christmas. Local businesses have responded enthusiastically – Herbal Solutions (in Centre South on Silver Bluff), Brave Friend Apparel & Design (2171 Whiskey Rd.), Osbon’s Laundry & Cleaners (Centre South on Silver Bluff and 136 Pendleton St.), Family Pharmacy (333 Newberry St. and 110 Price Ave.), Hammond-Beyer Health Center (920 Houndslake Dr.), Powderhouse Pet Resort & Spa (1258 Powderhouse Rd.), Aiken Antique Mall (112 Laurens St.), Riverfront Antiques Mall (5979 Jefferson Davis Hgwy.), and the Aiken County Animal Shelter (333 Wire Rd.).

Here’s how it works. Visit any of these businesses during December, donate $1.00 or more and hang a paper dog, cat or horse in honor of a pet or someone you love. All donations will go to the County’s abandoned, abused and neglected animals, and your karma will brighten a notch on the enlightenment scale.

Looking for another way to donate and an easy and convenient way to get all those presents wrapped? Bring your gifts to Downtown Dog, owned by Vic & Sheri Scarborough and located at 150 Laurens Street, on December 23rd from 10:00 – 5:00, and FOTAS volunteers will do the wrapping for you in exchange for a donation to FOTAS. Vic & Sheri will provide the wrapping paper and ribbon. How’s that for Christmas spirit!

How about extending the Christmas spirit to one of our adoptable orphan dogs just for the holiday weekend? It’s a short-term commitment that will make a big difference in the life of your canine guest. Contact the County Shelter (803.642.1537) for more information.

There’s a special place in heaven for people like Jeri Barrett, Patrick Donovan, Rick Osbon, Jay Watts, Dr. Kim Hammond-Beyer, Philip Martin, Gaye Cain, Edie Conway and Vic & Sheri Scarborough — people who sacrifice their time, energy and personal capital to help the thousands of unwanted animals in the County who, through no fault of their own, are unwanted, unloved and homeless. God Bless them.

Their lives are in our hands.

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Training, Uncategorized, Volunteers

Aiken Tech Class Boosts Shelter Staff’s Value and Efficiency

Posted on by Angel Hartline
08
Dec

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director and Volunteer, 

The Aiken County Animal Shelter’s (ACAS) staff and a small group of FOTAS foster volunteers are hitting the books hard after hours. During three-hour classes held twice a week at the shelter, staff members are reviewing PowerPoint slides, engaging in discussion, observing animal behavior and practicing their new knowledge through hands-on exercises with shelter dogs and cats.

It is all part of a special curriculum designed by Aiken Technical College to increase the shelter staff’s expertise and improve their job skills. Completely funded by FOTAS, the Kennel Technician class is expected to help ACAS employees become even more effective, well-rounded and flexible in their job duties.

Martha Chadwick, manager of the County Shelter, came up with the idea with Dr. Steven F. Simmons, Dean of Business, Computer Technology and Training at ATC, and Dr. Katie Comerford, DVM, is teaching the class. It is the first partnership among ATC, FOTAS and the County.

“When I approached Dr. Simmons about creating a program for Aiken County, he was genuinely interested in tailoring a specific course that would positively impact the homeless animals of Aiken County, as he and his family are also FOTAS volunteers,” Martha said.

The classes began Nov. 3 and will continue until Dec. 17. ATC supplies the instructional books and other reading materials.

The class curriculum has much of the same content as ATC’s vet assistant course but was tweaked and tailored for shelter professionals since issues and needs that come up at an animal shelter are different from those at a veterinary office or hospital.

The County Shelter’s small staff is expected to be more proficient with this new training, able to help each other with their tasks and work more as a team. For example, by learning how to properly and safely hold an animal to draw blood, insert a microchip or examine an injury or ailment, the staff can assist the vet techs if needed. Or by learning the symptoms of common medical conditions in dogs and cats, and being better able to spot signs of canine and feline illnesses, the staff can more readily alert the shelter’s vet, Dr. Lisa Levy, and her assistants to the situation so proper medical care can be administered right away.

Receiving this added education will allow the staff to cross-train for various positions and make it easier for staff members to fill in for their fellow employees if they are forced to be absent due to such unforeseen circumstances such as illness or personal emergency.

“This is a wonderful new partnership with Aiken Technical College,” said FOTAS President Jennifer Miller. “Everyone came together for this project, which will ultimately result in giving the best care possible to the orphaned dogs and cats at the shelter. This is the result of a true team effort, including the community, whose donations made this class possible.”

To learn more about FOTAS and its many activities, go to www.fotasaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands…

 

Adoption, News, Volunteer

The numbers don’t lie: life improves for shelter animals

Posted on by Angel Hartline
04
Dec

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Prior to 2009, a trip to the Aiken County Animal Shelter was a death sentence for the unfortunate animals consigned to the shelter by their owners or animal control. Intake numbers often soared to 6000 or more each year, which meant that at any given time, 210 animals resided in the tiny dark and outdated shelter designed to hold 100.

The annual euthanasia rate hovered consistently around 95%.

In 2009, FOTAS was formed to provide the County with financial support and volunteers to produce a better outcome for the shelter animals. Things began to improve.

In 2009 and 2010, the euthanasia rate dropped to 89% and 85%, respectively.

In 2011 and 2012, the euthanasia rate dropped again to 75%.

Thanks to the combined commitment and efforts of the County and FOTAS, the new shelter opened its doors in early 2013. Things really improved for the County’s homeless animals.

In 2013, the euthanasia rate dropped again to 71%.

In 2014, the euthanasia rate dropped to a remarkable and record-breaking 54%.

During the first ten months of this year, 2015, the overall euthanasia rate has dropped to 40% – that’s right… 40%!! In January and August, the monthly rates dropped to an all-time low of 25%.

That’s real progress: a 95% euthanasia rate to 40% in 5 years. It is not an accident.

Modern shelter management, dedicated animal control, and FOTAS’ continued support, have made the difference.

Shelter Manager Martha Chadwick has reformed the standard operating procedures at the shelter consistent with industry standards to ensure proper, uniform and accountable care for the animals.

Shelter vet Dr. Lisa Levy has established proper medical protocol to make certain the animals are inoculated, fed, treated, spayed and neutered.

Shelter employees are cross-trained (thanks to funding from FOTAS) to maximize productivity and flexibility on the job – essential to a high-volume public shelter with limited staffing resources.

FOTAS volunteers walk and socialize the animals virtually every day, and FOTAS volunteer trainer Suzy Cohen trains volunteers and works with the animals as needed, making them more attractive adoption prospects.

FOTAS volunteers provide much needed administrative support and organize on-site and off-site events and fundraisers.

FOTAS, working with shelter staff, organized and paid incurred expenses for the transfer of 718 animals this year alone, primarily to no-kill rescue partners in the north.

Although annual intake numbers persist in the 4400-5000 range and will continue to do so until every citizen spays or neuters their pets, FOTAS has paid for the spay/neuter of more animals than any other organization in the County: 476 pets and community cats through October of this year, for a total of 1411 since 2013.

Is the shelter perfect? By no means. Can it be improved? Of course. But by every metric (except intake, which is beyond our control) the County, FOTAS and you, the supporting public, have significantly improved the condition of and the outcome for the County’s homeless animals.

Now that’s something to be thankful for this holiday week.

God Bless you and your family.

Their lives are in our hands.

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Foster, News, Volunteer

The art of fostering and letting go

Posted on by Angel Hartline
25
Nov

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Oddly enough, when I ask dog-loving folks with the means and opportunity to be a short-term foster for the Aiken County Animal Shelter and they refuse, it’s generally not because of the inconvenience of babysitting a canine guest, or the costs (there are none – FOTAS pays if necessary), or the uncertainty of introducing an unknown dog into the family.

What worries them the most about being a foster is how they will feel about letting them go when the time comes. How can I, the thinking goes, care for this dog in my home and then send him back into the shelter system – it breaks my heart!

Okay. I understand, but here’s the flaw in that thinking: it’s not about you – it’s about the dog, and for that dog, the couple of days he spends with your family means the world.

And here’s the other thing: you have to let them go! They are already spoken for! A foster’s job is to simply help that dog transition from the hectic pace of a public shelter to their ultimate forever homes.

“When we clear a dog for transfer,” says Jennifer Miller, President of FOTAS, “we move it as quickly as possible to a foster home where they can de-compress from shelter life with lots of attention, exercise and rest. In addition, that frees up space for another dog to be moved to the adoption floor. So you see, fostering helps two dogs find their home.”

Hunter and Albert were surrendered to the Shelter by their owner. The dogs were so bonded we believe they must have been together for most of their lives. Despite their unfortunate circumstances – having a home one day and being abandoned the next at a crowded public shelter with a chance of being euthanized – they were well mannered and quiet. Still, no one adopted them locally.

So FOTAS networked Hunter and Albert to one of its terrific transfer partners in New Hampshire, who were delighted to take them. In the meantime, FOTAS arranged for the two dogs to leave the Shelter and stay with one of its experienced foster families, the Urbens.

“Hunter and Albert were true gentlemen,” says Toni, “affectionate, willing and attentive – the perfect guests. They are poster children for forgiveness, hope and the dream of a grand future. I prayed some kind soul would spare them the pain of separation and adopt them both.”

Someone did. Four days ago, a big-hearted family in Rhode Island adopted them both, describing them as “big loves” and the “sun and moon” of their lives. We can all breath a sigh of relief. Hunter and Albert are finally home.

There you have it – that’s how you let them go . . . right into the arms of the people who will love them forever, freeing you up to foster one more hopeful canine soul on their way to dog bliss.

Be a foster. They need you. We need you. Call the shelter today (803) 642-1537 or call the FOTAS Hotline (803-514-4313) and join the FOTAS foster team.

Their lives are in our hands.

Hunter and Albert – home at last. This is why you foster.

 

 

Adoption, Cats, Fundraisers

Wonderful Weekend Launch: Fifty Felines Adoptable for Free

Posted on by Angel Hartline
19
Nov

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director and Volunteer

Wow, what a wonderful weekend for the animals at the County Shelter! Yesterday, FOTAS held its Pre-Holiday Yard Sale, with all proceeds going to the orphaned animals, and launched an amazing adoption special that allows the shelter to waive the adoption fees for 50 spayed/neutered cats.

With the shelter taking in so many orphaned cats and kittens this fall, FOTAS is very thankful to the organizations and individuals who collectively sponsored and paid the adoption fees for 50 fixed felines. The generous donors are: Best Friends Animal Society, Jane Ellenberg, Hollister Houghton, Joanna Samson, My Aiken Body and Kelly Paint & Body.

Thanks to them, these cats will be available to adopters for free instead of the standard $35 fee. That means there has never been a better time to visit the shelter and adopt a feline companion. Whether you are looking for a lap cat, a frisky kitten or an aggressive mouser – now is the time to add a furry, purring friend to your home.

Here is a small sampling of the fantastic felines waiting for you at the County shelter:

Scrunchy – Big, orange and confident, this handsome guy has it all. The three-year-old Tabby would make a terrific family kitty but also has all the tools to be a fine barn cat.

Lucille – Only seven months old, this orange and white girl is the ultimate cuddle mate. She mothers the other kittens in the Cat Adoption Facility, sometimes grooming them or letting them nuzzle her as they sleep.

Hobbs and Brownie – This brother and sister duo are inseparable. Always grooming each other or wrestling, the two gorgeous, three-month-old, gray Tabbies are ideal family pets.

Oscar – Big and loveable, Oscar has been at the shelter far too long and needs a home. Very sweet and affectionate, this two-year-old is a fantastic companion and lap cat.

Avalon – This small, 8-month-old brown Tabby is a social butterfly that loves to play. Inquisitive and bold, Avalon is a great choice for any family or individual.

Donald –Strong and tough, this sleek, black coated, young adult was born to be a barn cat. Sometimes aggressive with other cats, “the Don” is affectionate with people but rodents and other small critters best beware when he’s around.

Ailin – Cute and cuddly, this little lad likes to climb and has been known to jump on staff members’ backs when they lean down to clean his kitten condo. Black with white markings, the three-month-old Ailin is a striking looking feline.

Diva – A staff favorite, this three-month-old kitten is shiny black and has a big personality. Always ready to play or be held, Diva (who is not at all a diva) will make someone a wonderful companion.

For more information about the 50 cat adoptions special and to view photos and descriptions of cats and kittens available at the County shelter, please visit the FOTAS website at www.fotasaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands…

Adoption, Dogs

Shelter dogs and veterans face life together

Posted on by Angel Hartline
11
Nov

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Luci is a golden boxer/pit mix with a white chest and soft brown eyes. Olivia is a rangy, muscular brindle pit mix with a white chest, white socks and golden eyes. Buddy is a shepherd/lab mix with a white chest, a black nose and a great big dog smile.

What do these dogs have in common? They were all unwanted, abandoned dogs that wound up in the Aiken County Animal Shelter through no fault of their own. Luci was surrendered by a bereft young man who was being deployed overseas. She was bewildered and very, very pregnant. Olivia was found roaming the streets and starving, her dull coat stretched dangerously over her rib cage. She was anxious and hyper. Buddy was abandoned by his owner in a remote part of the County. He was confused, and who can blame him? One day he had a home and the next day he finds himself in a crowded public shelter with a 40% chance of being euthanized.

In each case, FOTAS volunteers recognized that there was something special about these dogs, and they reached out for Jerry Lyda, the founder of Veterans K9 Solutions in Augusta. Now these unwanted dogs have something else in common – they share a noble purpose. They are companions and service dogs for veterans suffering from the stress and horrors of war.

“Each year,” says Lyda, “300,000-400,000 veterans are diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. The military estimates that 22 veterans a day commit suicide – 22!”

We know that a dog can greatly improve the quality of life for these veterans – we see it happen all the time. Our love for dogs and gratitude towards those who served makes our goal at K9 Solutions simple – give back to those in need by saving two lives at once: a traumatized veteran and a homeless dog.”

Jerry selects dogs for the program by assessing their temperament and their trainability. The dogs must be intelligent, confident and people-oriented. Once selected, the dog and their veteran handler participate in a rigorous training program with escalating stages of accomplishment. The process itself instills confidence and an abiding sense of achievement in both dog and veteran.

It is an elegant solution to a heartbreaking problem: paired together, the traumatized patriots and forgotten dogs help each other find a safe place in an uncertain world and are restored to a full life through love and commitment.

But here’s the thing: Luci, Olivia and Buddy aren’t the only shelter residents special enough to serve as service dogs – at any one time, the shelter is full of lovable animals capable of bringing life and love to any home. They just need the chance. They need you.

Plus, starting in November, in honor of the men and women who have served our country, FOTAS will pay half the adoption fee for any veteran who adopts a dog or cat. $35 for a dog and $17.50 for a cat – a very small price to pay for a fully inoculated, spayed and neutered companion.

Their lives are in our hands.