Author Archives: Angel Hartline

Dogs, Volunteer

Babysit our orphans this holiday season

Posted on by Angel Hartline
11
Nov

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

The Thanksgiving Day holiday is just around the corner, and no matter how much we might complain about large family gatherings and way too much food, the alternative – being alone on that day – is, for most of us, unbearable.

The animals at the Aiken County Animal Shelter have a particularly hard time over the holidays. In addition to being homeless, bewildered and confined to a kennel, the shelter is closed from Thursday through Sunday with minimal staff to feed and water and maybe a brief walk in the morning one or two days – weather, schedules and available volunteers permitting. That means that for four days, there are no afternoon walks, no opportunity to escape the monotony of their kennels, play, blow off a little steam and bask in the attention and love of a human.

It doesn’t have to be that way. FOTAS and the County Shelter are launching their annual “Take Them All Home for the Holidays” program, in which qualified families volunteer to babysit adoptable, orphan dogs over the Thanksgiving Day (and Christmas Day) weekends. Here’s how it works.

First, contact the County Shelter and fill out a foster application, or download the application on www.fotasaiken.org and fax it back to the Shelter. Shelter staff will review your application to make certain you have a home with a safe area for your weekend guests and the time and ability to give the animals attention and exercise during their stay. It is not necessary to keep your canine guests in your home: a warm outside shelter or a garage will suffice – they won’t mind. Plus, it won’t cost you a thing but time. FOTAS will provide you with food and a crate and blankets, if necessary.

Then FOTAS and shelter staff will match a dog to your accommodations and wishes (you might consider babysitting two if you plan to keep them in a shelter outside of the house so they will keep each other company). You would pick them up at the shelter on Wednesday afternoon (November 25th) by 5 and bring them back on Monday morning (November 30th).

There are so many reasons to babysit one of our orphans for the holidays. The dogs get a break from the stress of shelter life. They get lots of human contact and affection. Your experience with your ward in a home situation helps us better understand them. All of these things make the dogs calmer and more adoptable so they can find their forever homes.

Or, maybe you have been considering a first dog or adding an additional dog to your home, so this would be a perfect opportunity to assess how a new canine family member will mesh with your family life and schedule without any obligation past the holidays.

Sure, it might be hard to take your holiday guest back to the shelter on Monday morning, but the short-term and long term-advantages for the dog are huge. You can make a difference in that dog’s life.

Don’t let them sit alone this holiday season. Call us at 803-513-4313 or the Shelter at 803-642-1537 and get the process started. You won’t be sorry.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

Adoption, Dogs, News

Ginger Snaps back with proper care and a little love

Posted on by Angel Hartline
30
Oct

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President 

Ginger Snap sprawls across a fleece bed in the spacious, climate-controlled kennel that also serves as a canine nursery. Close by is a blue blanket she totes around to a resting place of her choosing. At her feet is a coveted rope toy, which she carries outside through the dog door when she does her business.

She keeps a watchful eye on her two 4-week-old puppies, Chocolate Chip and Biscotti. Chocolate Chip teeters across the soft, uneven terrain of fleece on shaky legs towards her mom, squeaking urgently for attention. Biscotti nuzzles against her body looking for a meal. She quiets the first puppy with a few gentle licks around the ears. She shifts her weight to allow the other puppy access to a well-worn nipple. Ginger is a good mother.

Sound like the picture of canine domestic bliss? Yes, it does, but here’s the thing: until she came to us less than 5 weeks ago, two-year-old Ginger Snap had spent her entire short life staked to a chain. This is the first time in that short life she has had medical care, regular meals, a proper shelter, a fleece bed, a blue blanket and a rope toy. It is the first time she has experienced human affection.

It is not the first time she has had puppies. Unspayed and at the mercy of other dogs, it appears from her condition that she had at least one other litter while chained to a stake. It is unlikely any of those puppies survived under the grim conditions of her previous existence, and perhaps that is, sadly, for the best.

Ginger was surrendered to the Aiken County Animal Shelter by her owner in the last days of her pregnancy. Despite her swollen belly, she was painfully thin and malnourished. Her striking white and red coat was scruffy. She was scarred around the neck from a lifetime on a chain. She was frightened, sick and weak.

Ginger touched our hearts, so County staff and FOTAS rallied in an effort to save her. Shelter veterinarian Lisa Levy addressed her immediate medical issues. FOTAS called upon one of its most experienced birthing foster families – the Conger-Wolcotts – to take her in. Within days, Ginger delivered 10 puppies, eight of which were too sickly to survive and died within the week. When she developed a raging infection in her nipples, FOTAS provided additional medical support.

By all rights, Ginger should be a troubled, suspicious and distrustful dog, yet nothing could be further from the truth. She has blossomed under the tender care of her foster family. She has gained weight and gets stronger by the day. She is a true “pibble” – a friendly, playful and affectionate pit bull mix possessing the good nature and a steadfast eagerness to please the humans around her in spite of the poor treatment she received in the past.

When her puppies are weaned in three weeks, Ginger will need a home. She is a special dog and will make someone an extraordinary companion. Will it be you?

Please don’t wait. Their lives are in our hands.

Adoption, Cats, Volunteer

Partnership with Happy Tales Gives County Shelter Cats Fresh Venue to Strut their Stuff

Posted on by Angel Hartline
30
Oct

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director and Volunteer

The Aiken County Animal Shelter and FOTAS are partnering with Happy Tales, a not-for-profit organization that shares their mission to find forever homes for rescued cats and kittens. The partnership includes showcasing County shelter cats at PetSmart in Aiken – and the kitties couldn’t be happier about their new showcase venue.

Last week, five cats were transported from the shelter to PetSmart, where Happy Tales Founder Joanne Dansby-Brosz welcomed them with open arms. Morris, Neo, Nicole, Kovu and Caleb were a bit scared and nervous during the trip and when they first arrived. But shortly after they were placed in their PetSmart “apartments,” they began to get comfortable – and even content – in their new digs. Joanne decorates the apartments with colorful bowls, blankets and toys to create a vivid, warm setting that makes the cats look their best.

Happy Tales has eight cat apartments at the Aiken PetSmart and Joanne is planning to transfer in new County shelter cats each week in partnership with FOTAS.

“We get a lot of traffic coming through here and that extra exposure results in a lot of adoptions,” Joanne said. “We are really excited to be part of saving the lives of County animals and can’t wait to accept more of the shelter’s cats and get them seen.”

FOTAS and the shelter are thrilled with the partnership as well. The more exposure the cats get, the better their chances of finding a forever home.

“This arrangement gives the cats an opportunity to shine at the PetSmart store,” said Martha Chadwick, Manager of the Aiken County Animal Shelter. “Our goal is to get every healthy cat adopted – and being in a different venue can make a difference.”

Joanne currently has 11 volunteers, each of whom works in two-hour shifts at the Aiken PetSmart location. Some have been with her organization for close to two decades. Happy Tales has partnered with the Aiken PetSmart store for 10 years and Joanne said that Store Manager Butch Hampton and his employees have been extremely supportive of her and her team.

Joanne only takes cats that are fully vaccinated and vetted, spay/neutered and parasite-free. She is strict about maintaining her strong reputation of providing only clean and healthy felines. In addition, before any adoption is approved, she visits the prospect’s home to ensure they are good, responsible pet owners.

With the shelter now at full capacity in the cat adoption facility and with its cat condos filled with kittens, the partnership with Happy Tales could not have come at a better time.

“We are doing this to save feline lives,” Joanne said. I know the County can be overwhelmed with the huge number of homeless cats coming in, so we need to get them good homes as fast as possible.”

The County shelter, located at 333 Wire Road, currently has some great black cats and kittens available for adoption, including: Muffit, Layth, Corey, Collette, Draco, Keifer, Jamison and Jet. At the shelter, they are $35 (half the price of a dog adoption), which includes all vaccinations, spay/neuter and microchip.

For more information about our new partnership with Happy Tales, please go to www.fotasaiken.org and www.happytalesadoptions.com.

Their lives are in our hands…

Photo Caption: 

FOTAS Volunteer Bob Gordon and Happy Tales’ Joanne Dansby-Brosz help Morris the cat get situated in his new Pet Smart “apartment”.

Cats, Dogs, Events, Fundraisers

‘Polo Under the Stars’ Raises Thousands for Shelter Animal Needs

Posted on by Angel Hartline
30
Oct

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director and Volunteer

It was a perfect night for combining fun, excitement, camaraderie and giving to a good cause. On the evening of Friday, October 9, Dennis Freeland and his wife, Janice, hosted “Polo Under the Stars” at their picturesque FireStar Arena, with all of the event’s proceeds going to FOTAS and the orphaned animals at the County shelter.

About 550 people attended Polo Under the Stars, which was as much a party as it was a sporting event. Besides the main attraction of the arena polo match, the event featured music, great food and an open bar. FOTAS set up an information tent along with the main corporate sponsors: Wagener Polo Club, Aiken Housing Center Superstore and The Aiken Horse newspaper. Former 5-goaler Billy Raab, director of Wagener Polo Club, served as the match announcer and provided his unique polo perspective.

Admission was a $20 donation per car, but folks were feeling extra generous this special evening. “We had a lot of people pay more than the $20,” Dennis said. “At the gate, a number of attendees pulled out a $50 bill and said, ‘Keep the change.”

That generosity resulted in a total of $5,000 being donated to FOTAS.

“We are so pleased and honored to be chosen as the beneficiary of this charitable event,” said FOTAS President Jennifer Miller. “FOTAS will put this money toward our spay/neuter programs as well as our exercise yard improvement project at the shelter.” The ground in the fenced dog exercise yards has eroded due to flooding and needs to be re-seeded and properly graded with new drain systems to prevent standing water.

It is fitting that this event was held in Wagener, the community where FOTAS first piloted its spay/neuter assistance programs. Since focusing on this hot spot, FOTAS has funded hundreds of spay/neuter surgeries for community cats and pets owned by citizens in need of financial assistance. County Councilwoman Kathy Rawls, a Wagener resident and early proponent for FOTAS and its programs, was in attendance at Polo Under the Stars, once again showing her strong support for the shelter.

This was the first of many night polo events the Freelands plan to host in coming months.

“Our goal is to promote and help local charities and also provide more exposure for polo in the area, since it is a sport near and dear to our hearts,” Dennis said.

FOTAS thanks everyone who came out and supported us for this event, and hopes this seamless blend of philanthropy and festivity becomes an annual occasion.

To learn more about FOTAS and its activities, including our spay/neuter programs, go to www.fotasaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands…

Photo Caption:

A check for $5,000 is presented to FOTAS. Pictured from left: Billy Raab, Shana Ryberg Pearsons, Janice Freeland, FOTAS President Jennifer Miller, FOTAS Vice President Mary Lou Welch and Ellie Joos.

 

Adoption, Cats, News, Volunteer

Partnership with Happy Tales Gives County Shelter Cats Fresh Venue to Strut their Stuff

Posted on by Angel Hartline
15
Oct

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director and Volunteer

The Aiken County Animal Shelter and FOTAS are partnering with Happy Tales, a not-for-profit organization that shares their mission to find forever homes for rescued cats and kittens. The partnership includes showcasing County shelter cats at PetSmart in Aiken – and the kitties couldn’t be happier about their new showcase venue.

Last week, five cats were transported from the shelter to PetSmart, where Happy Tales Founder Joanne Dansby-Brosz welcomed them with open arms. Morris, Neo, Nicole, Kovu and Caleb were a bit scared and nervous during the trip and when they first arrived. But shortly after they were placed in their PetSmart “apartments,” they began to get comfortable – and even content – in their new digs. Joanne decorates the apartments with colorful bowls, blankets and toys to create a vivid, warm setting that makes the cats look their best.

Happy Tales has eight cat apartments at the Aiken PetSmart and Joanne is planning to transfer in new County shelter cats each week in partnership with FOTAS.

“We get a lot of traffic coming through here and that extra exposure results in a lot of adoptions,” Joanne said. “We are really excited to be part of saving the lives of County animals and can’t wait to accept more of the shelter’s cats and get them seen.”

FOTAS and the shelter are thrilled with the partnership as well. The more exposure the cats get, the better their chances of finding a forever home.

“This arrangement gives the cats an opportunity to shine at the PetSmart store,” said Martha Chadwick, Manager of the Aiken County Animal Shelter. “Our goal is to get every healthy cat adopted – and being in a different venue can make a difference.”

Joanne currently has 11 volunteers, each of whom works in two-hour shifts at the Aiken PetSmart location. Some have been with her organization for close to two decades. Happy Tales has partnered with the Aiken PetSmart store for 10 years and Joanne said that Store Manager Butch Hampton and his employees have been extremely supportive of her and her team.

Joanne only takes cats that are fully vaccinated and vetted, spay/neutered and parasite-free. She is strict about maintaining her strong reputation of providing only clean and healthy felines. In addition, before any adoption is approved, she visits the prospect’s home to ensure they are good, responsible pet owners.

With the shelter now at full capacity in the cat adoption facility and with its cat condos filled with kittens, the partnership with Happy Tales could not have come at a better time.

“We are doing this to save feline lives,” Joanne said. I know the County can be overwhelmed with the huge number of homeless cats coming in, so we need to get them good homes as fast as possible.”

The County shelter, located at 333 Wire Road, currently has some great black cats and kittens available for adoption, including: Muffit, Layth, Corey, Collette, Draco, Keifer, Jamison and Jet. At the shelter, they are $35 (half the price of a dog adoption), which includes all vaccinations, spay/neuter and microchip.

For more information about our new partnership with Happy Tales, please go to www.fotasaiken.org and www.happytalesadoptions.com.

Their lives are in our hands…

Adoption, Dogs, Training, Volunteers

Trainer Helps Prepare Shelter Dogs for their Forever Homes

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Oct

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director and Volunteer

Everyone who adopts a dog or puppy from the Aiken County Animal Shelter receives a voucher for a free dog training session with canine expert Susi Cohen.

Susi is the president of the Palmetto Dog Club in Aiken and has worked with and trained animals for more than 30 years. She volunteers at the shelter twice a week, helping other volunteers and County staff with basic dog training skills and working one-on-one with dogs that need special attention.

We interviewed Susi to learn more about the FOTAS training program at the shelter and why it is so vital to both the dogs and their new owners.

Q. What are the keys to effective dog training and why should I take the time to do it?

A. Training takes patience and consistent repetition with a lot of praise and rewards. It gives the dog good manners, more confidence, and makes him a well-adjusted dog – and a well-adjusted dog is a happy and well-behaved dog.

Q. When I use my free voucher, what training will I receive for my adopted dog?

A. I work with the dog and adopter for about one hour at the shelter. Every owner will have different issues with their dogs. And that’s the beauty of the program – we tailor the training for each individual dog. So if they have a particular issue, we can help them eliminate it.

Q. If I’ve adopted a dog from the County Shelter, can I call you with questions?

A. Absolutely. If you have any issues, I am available to answer your questions and discuss them with you. Every adopter is given my contact information as part of the FOTAS “Ask the Trainer” program. I’m always taking calls. People need to understand that dogs love to be trained. They love to be told to what to do. They love parameters and being praised for behaving well.

Q. How much training do most dogs need?

A. Every dog is different. Some dogs have bad experiences that they have to overcome. Some of these dogs have been mistreated and need to learn to trust again. But the norm is not mistreatment; it’s lack of treatment altogether. They haven’t been given any attention and don’t know when they are acting improperly. Still, despite these challenges, we’ve had great success with adopted dogs.

Q. Can you give us an example?

A. Last season I had Annie, an older German shepherd mix that was insecure and had no confidence whatsoever. We worked closely with Annie and she made a turnaround you wouldn’t believe. She went from a cowering, overly defensive dog to a happy dog that trotted with her tail straight up and exuded confidence. The metamorphosis was incredible.

Q. Has the on-site dog training made a difference at the shelter?

A. Yes, it’s worked well because FOTAS and the volunteers are so dedicated. Like me, they can’t stand seeing good dogs come back after being adopted just because they need some training. The adoption return rate has gone down and I like to think that drop in returns is because the dogs leave with better manners and are more prepared for their new homes.

For more about the FOTAS Dog Training Program and Susi’s contact information, please go to www.fotasaiken.org.

 

Their lives are in our hands…

 

Pets of the Week

GRACE — Border Collie and Hound mix, female, 1 year old, 50 lbs.  — $70

CINDER— gray tabby, female, 7 months old, 6 lbs. — $35

 

By the Numbers

January 2013 – August 2015

FOTAS organized and paid for the spay/neuter surgeries of 699 citizen’s pets and 628 community cats, totaling 1,327 dogs and cats fixed!

Events, Fundraisers

Playing Fore the Pets Golf Tourney Results in Key Funding for Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
01
Oct

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director and Volunteer

One thousand yellow golf balls fell from the sky onto a green at Houndslake Country Club late Monday afternoon at the Second Annual Play Fore the Pets Golf Tournament. Wave after wave of dimpled spheres, each numbered to match a ticket issued for a $10 donation, poured out of a helicopter high above a crowd watching with anticipation. Some landed with a soft thud, while others bounced high into the air before finally resting on the manicured grass, but only one ball, #753, dropped into the hole, making Bill Haynsworth a lucky winner and one grand richer.

The helicopter ball drop, sponsored by Prime Steakhouse, Chesterfield Court, Chesterfield Design and in Memory of Latham C. Burns, was the climactic conclusion to FOTAS’s benefit golf tournament, which also included a four-person Captain’s Choice team golf match, an exploding golf ball challenge, individual skill competitions and numerous raffles for prizes.

Other winners included:

1st place team: Peter Miller, Lito Salatino, Andy Grim and Antonio Galvan

2nd place team: Chuck Easters, Jeff Hennen, Dan Sheehan and Rick Donaldson

Closest to the flag: Eric Holmes (won a two-night stay at the Houndslake Inn)

Longest drive: Chas Masters (won a Yeti Cooler donated by Milton Ruben Toyota)

Playing Fore the Pets was a great success thanks to the co-chairpersons of the event, Sandy and Ross Staiger. They—along with their committee of Sharon Johnson, Karen Loughran and Jim Johnson—started working in March to organize and manage the day-long affair. In addition, a legion of FOTAS volunteers worked together on Monday to ensure all the activities ran smoothly.

Adoption, Dogs

A Tribute to Harry

Posted on by Angel Hartline
01
Oct

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

“Love doesn’t need reason. It speaks from the irrational wisdom of the heart.”

Deepak Chopra

Ellen Priest knows all about the “irrational wisdom of the heart.” When she first learned about the sad young coonhound tied to the railing at the old Aiken County Animal Shelter in 2007 with a wire wrapped around his mouth and embedded into his skin, the last thing on her mind was another dog. She was in the process of transitioning from her job in Aiken to Summerville. Her family already had three dogs. Her life was busy and temporarily unsettled.

So Ellen arranged for the Aiken Standard to cover the plight of this poor animal in the local news, certain some kind-hearted soul would take him home, and moved on to her new job in Summerville. But still, she could not stop thinking about him. When she called to check on his progress, she learned, to her dismay, that there had been no takers for the sweet bewildered dog with the tragically scarred face. His time was up. He was to be euthanized the next day.

“I called my husband Jeff, sobbing,” says Ellen. “I said, ‘Please, please, just one more dog.’ The dog had suffered so much and deserved so much more—I just couldn’t let him go.”

And so it was that Harry the Goober Dog, as he was nicknamed by their son Greg, slobbered and loped and loved his way into the hearts of the Priest clan. At first it wasn’t easy. Perhaps because Harry’s previous experiences with the human kind hadn’t worked out so well, he escaped from the yard countless times, taking off for parts unknown. Each time, Ellen, Jeff, Greg and daughter Jayme brought him home and loved him more. Slowly Harry learned to trust his new humans, and because real love is patient, he eventually learned to love, too—probably for the first time in his short unhappy life.

Two weeks ago, Harry the Goober dog died on his way to an emergency clinic, likely as a result of the cancer that had almost killed him three years earlier. But in the preceding 8 years, Harry had loved and been loved by the Priest family, giving as much joy and comfort as he got and probably more.

Dogs are like that. They reflect back to us the best part of ourselves, without hesitation or expectation, in exchange for the simple pleasures of life: a warm place to sleep, something to eat, a good scratch behind the ears, a ride in the car, a romp in the woods—if a pesky squirrel happens to wander by, why, so much the better. If it’s true that dogs live in the moment, then all we can hope is that we’ve given them a lifetime of good moments, maybe even some great moments, in exchange for the love they’ve given us.

Farewell, sweet Harry. Your courage, resilience, forgiveness and love are a model of the humanity we often find lacking in ourselves. We will honor your memory by loving the next goofy, slobbering, loping, abused and helpless animal that crosses our path with the same happy abandon that you showered on those around you.

Help FOTAS and the County save the thousands of Harrys that find themselves in the County shelter each year: donate, volunteer, but most of all, adopt. Their lives are in our hands.

Children, Volunteers

Young FOTAS Volunteers Making a Difference at County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
22
Sep

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director and Volunteer

On Diana Haltiwanger‘s tenth birthday, she did something unusual to celebrate the big day. She took her birthday money as well as food, leashes, toys and other treats to the Aiken County Animal Shelter and personally delivered the generous donation to FOTAS.

“I just love animals,” Diana said, “and I thought it might help make a difference in their lives.”

Diana’s selfless gesture is just one example of children steadily becoming a force in fulfilling the altruistic goals of FOTAS and the County Shelter.

Although the majority of community members who support the shelter are retirees and other adults, more kids are getting involved in assisting the orphaned dogs and cats at 333 Wire Road. Some children donate their time by participating in FOTAS events like the Dog Ears Reading Program, Dog Day Crafternoons, Woofstock, and other fundraisers. Others get involved through clubs, Scouts, and their schools (prime examples are the South Aiken High School Chapter of the Serteen Club and the Aiken High NJROTC). And some kids just decide to become FOTAS volunteers on their own.

Volunteer Holly Heiens became a volunteer after she did a report on shelter animals for school last year. Ever since learning more about their hardships, the driven 10-year-old has donated her time to animals in need.

“When Holly wants something, she goes after it,” said her mother, Kari, who volunteers with her daughter every Saturday. Kari said that even though there are lots of social events and parties on Saturdays, they work around them so she and her daughter can meet their weekly commitment to the shelter animals.