Author Archives: Angel Hartline

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

FOTAS volunteers get back as much as they give to shelter animals

Posted on by Angel Hartline
15
Dec

With Christmas just a week away, FOTAS Volunteer John Berk reflects on what he will be doing on the holiday. His children are coming to visit and he and his wife, Sally, have plans to celebrate with them. But he also plans to make another stop.

“I’m sure I’ll be at the shelter on Christmas morning walking the dogs and visiting with the cats,” Berk said. “It’s a constant need that we serve. I don’t think Christmas feels any different to these animals in need.”

FOTAS Volunteer John Berk enjoys walking and spending time with shelter dogs like Arthur.
FOTAS Volunteer John Berk enjoys walking and spending time with shelter dogs like Arthur.

Berk came to Aiken 20 years ago, ready to retire after a successful career as a plant manager for a large corporation. An avid and skillful golfer, he used to spend much of his time on the links. But about four months ago, at the urging of a friend, he decided to sign up as a FOTAS volunteer. After completing a short application and taking a two-hour orientation class, he hit the ground running and immediately felt at home.

“Once you walk one of these dogs, it’s hard not to come back,” he said. “I get great satisfaction from giving comfort and a little bit of happiness to a dog or cat that really just wants to be loved and accepted.”

Another new FOTAS volunteer who has found a second home at the animal shelter is Jackie Edel. A professional horse rider and trainer most of her life, Edel and her husband, John, moved from Connecticut to Aiken 11 years ago.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Edel said. “But everyone was so friendly and welcomed me right away. I’m really impressed with how much effort people put in to get the dogs exercise and feeling more confident. And how hard they work to get them adopted.”

Volunteer Jackie Edel works with the County Shelter dogs nearly every day.
Volunteer Jackie Edel works with the County Shelter dogs nearly every day.

Edel has always been around animals and currently has four dogs and a cat at home. But it wasn’t until she and her husband decided to downsize from their farm to a smaller house, freeing her from her horse care duties, that she decided to give volunteering a try.

With her experience and comfort level around animals, she’s already become a star volunteer. She’s at the shelter nearly every day and even helps with play group, an advanced program in which dogs are brought together to interact and burn off energy in the shelter’s large, fenced-in yard.

But Edel’s favorite part of volunteering is seeing the dogs and cats finding their human matches and getting adopted.

“I certainly have become attached to some of the dogs, but I’m just so happy when they go to good homes,” she said.

If you would like to become a FOTAS volunteer, please stop by the County Shelter, 333 Wire Road, or call the FOTAS hotline, (803) 514-4313.

Their lives are in our hands.

above article written by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

BY THE NUMBERS

December specials – dogs/puppies $35, cats/kittens $10

Through November, the Aiken County Animal Shelter received 4,475 dogs and cats, and 3,722 were saved.

Please adopt and help our community shelter save 4,000 by year end!

PETS OF THE WEEK

BOO: Hound mix, female, 7 years old, black and red, 45 pounds – $0 (adoption sponsored by FOTAS donor)
BOO: Hound mix, female, 7 years old, black and red, 45 pounds – $0 (adoption sponsored by FOTAS donor)
STAR: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 1 year old, gray and black Tabby, 6 pounds - $10
STAR: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 1 year old, gray and black Tabby, 6 pounds – $10
Adoption, Dogs, Foster, FOTAS, Military Veterans, Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs

Service dog Blue brings blessings to veteran who adopted him

Posted on by Angel Hartline
08
Dec

Wherever Reverend Bill Kline goes, Blue is close by his side. A veteran who suffers from many health problems, Kline adopted the four-year-old, 62-pound Siberian Husky just three months ago from the County Shelter. However, the pair quickly developed a strong connection and now Kline can’t imagine being without his large canine companion.

“Blue’s my lifeguard,” Kline said. “It’s amazing how he can tell if I’m not feeling well. If I’m down in the dumps, he’s always right there to comfort me. He even knows when my blood sugar level is too low or too high. He’ll lick my hand and let me know that I need to check it.”

Blue, who was adopted from the Aiken County Animal Shelter, is in training to be a service dog for a local veteran.
Blue, who was adopted from the Aiken County Animal Shelter, is in training to be a service dog for a local veteran.

Kline was a medic in the Navy for 41 years, but his major health issues began only a year ago when he had a stroke, developed diabetes and was diagnosed with heart problems. His wife, Julia, is his “rock” and helped him through this difficult time. But he is still recovering and requires the physical strength that a dog like Blue can provide.

Blue is in training to be Kline’s service dog, helping him to get around and assisting him with tasks such as picking up items dropped on the floor, bringing him bottled water and fetching his diabetic kit. He’s also learning how to alert people if Kline falls or gets hurt, as well as how to use his body to help his owner get back to his feet. Blue attends classes offered by Veterans K9 Solutions and is expected to graduate early next year.

Named for his stunning eyes, Blue arrived at the County Shelter as an injured stray. He had been shot in the face and a bullet was removed from his chin. But once Blue recovered from his wound and was added to the adoption floor, it became increasingly apparent that he was a special kind of dog. Not only was he extremely calm and confident, but he also showed a natural drive to help and protect people.

Jerry Lyda of Veterans K9 Solutions is an expert at finding service dog talent and has worked closely with FOTAS and the County Shelter to find animals to assist folks who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other war injuries. When he visited the County Shelter and saw Blue, he knew right away that this Husky was a star in the making. He also had a hunch Blue would be perfect for Reverend Bill Kline.

“Blue and Reverend Bill are doing awesome,” Lyda said. “The bond between those two is amazing. I knew Blue was a winner – thank you so much for treating his injuries and making him available for adoption.”

FOTAS and the Shelter are proud to support veterans and active military personnel by helping to provide Veterans K9 Solutions and other organizations with service dog candidates. FOTAS also sponsors free adoptions for veterans as well as men and women currently serving in the U.S. military.

Their lives are in our hands.

above Article by Bob Gordon, FOTAS  Director of Communications

By the Numbers

December Specials – dogs/puppies $35, cats/kittens $10

Saturday, Dec. 16 – Adoption event:

free photos with Santa Claus and your new pet!

Pets of the Week

THOR POTW DEC 10
THOR: Mixed breed, male, 8 months old, brown and white, 32 pounds – $35
POTW TINY TIM
TINY TIM: Domestic shorthair cat, male, 2 months old, orange Tabby, 1.8 pounds – $10

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

FOTAS needs your Christmas spirit

Posted on by Angel Hartline
03
Dec

“Every charitable act is a stepping stone towards heaven.”
Henry Ward Beecher

It’s the time of year when the spirit of Christmas thrives. It’s a time for gratitude, for family and friends. It’s a time to rejoice our faith. It’s a time for love.

It is also a time for charitable giving, and if your mailbox is anything like mine, it’s filled with requests from worthy local charities for year-end contributions. They all do good works, but you can’t give to them all. How do you decide?

I am going to take a leap of faith here—that if you are reading this column, you care about the plight of abused, abandoned and homeless animals. If that’s true, then FOTAS, the private partner of the Aiken County Animal Shelter, is the right choice for your charitable urges. Here’s why.

FOTAS provides critical assistance to 5000 Shelter animals a year. In the first ten months of this year, 3456 animals have been saved. That’s an average of 340 animals a month. No other organization comes close to saving that many animals—day after day, month after month, year after year.

FOTAS has funded the design, construction and equipping of a wellness and isolation building at the Shelter to isolate and treat contagious, treatable illnesses—a much-needed project that has been two years in the making and is close to completion. FOTAS also purchased a new anesthesia machine for on-site surgeries and a commercial dishwasher that properly sterilizes feed and water bowls. It arranged for the donation of an x-ray machine and paid for the setup and training of medical clinic personnel.

FOTAS goes the extra mile to find every animal a home.

FOTAS Super Foster Manuela Segre-Amar holds puppy Rose
FOTAS Super Foster Manuela Segre-Amar holds puppy Rose

It aggressively markets adoptable animals through print and social media and transports animals to off-site adoption events in a van donated by FOTAS. It supplements adoption fees for active Military Personnel and veterans and pays for heartworm medicine for HWP dogs adopted from the Shelter (150 this year).

FOTAS developed a network of rescue partners in other parts of the country and organizes and pays expenses for transfers of adoptable animals. FOTAS recruits foster families (and funds their provisions, if necessary) to provide interim care for animals approved for transfer and longer-term care for animals in “a family way.”

FOTAS addresses the cause of high Shelter intake: rampant overpopulation of dogs and cats. Since 2013, FOTAS has paid for over 2427 spay/neuter surgeries and neutered and returned to field 880 free-roaming community cats.

Since its inception in 2009, the Shelter’s live release rate has increased from a dismal 5% to 82.9%. That’s literally thousands more animals saved annually thanks to the substantial supplemental resources (both financial and manpower) provided by FOTAS.

Last month, the South Carolina Secretary of State honored FOTAS as one of the ten “Angel” charities in the state. FOTAS spends 83 cents of every dollar on its charitable purpose, which means you can be certain that your donations will make a difference.

The success of FOTAS is a testament to the generosity of the Aiken community, but there is still so much to do. Please send your much-needed donations to FOTAS, PO Box 2207, Aiken SC 29802 to help us continue the good work.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

By the Numbers

On Tuesday, Nov. 28, the County Shelter received 26 strays and owner-surrendered animals.

December Adoption Special: cats/kittens $10, dogs/puppies $35

Pets of the Week

BOJACK: Shepherd mix, male, 8 years old, brown, 43 pounds, calm and sweet – $35
BOJACK: Shepherd mix, male, 8 years old, brown, 43 pounds, calm and sweet – $35
DEUCE: Domestic Medium-haired cat, male, 1 year old, black and brown Tabby, 5 pounds, very friendly - $10 (available at Aiken PetSmart)
DEUCE: Domestic Medium-haired cat, male, 1 year old, black and brown Tabby, 5 pounds, very friendly – $10 (available at Aiken PetSmart)
Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Volunteers

Counting Our Blessings and Giving Thanks

Posted on by Angel Hartline
23
Nov

Image Credit: Well Pet Coach

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

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

Giving thanks and counting our blessings is particularly meaningful this year. On November 15th, the South Carolina Secretary of State announced that FOTAS would be one of the ten charitable organizations in the state to receive a 2017 Angel Award, which recognizes the most efficient and effective charitable organizations in the state based on, among other things, longevity of service, expenditures on charitable programs greater than 80% of the total budget (FOTAS was 83.9%), and good use of volunteer services.

This grant of this prestigious award to FOTAS is a testament to the dedication and support of our partner, the County, our extraordinary volunteers and donors, and you, the Aiken Community.

Thank you, Aiken County and Aiken County Council, for being a committed public partner and making it possible to save the lives of thousands of homeless animals.

Thanks to Paige Bayne, the County’s Enforcement and Animal Services Director, Bobby Arthurs, the Shelter Manager and Chief Animal Control Officer, Dr. Lisa Levy, the Shelter’s veterinarian, and all the Shelter staff for their dedication to increasing the opportunities for each adoptable animal to find a forever home and their willingness to implement new programs and practices that enhance those opportunities.

Thanks to the army of volunteers who make the work of FOTAS possible—everything from manning the front desk, walking and training dogs, managing canine play groups, working special events and fundraisers, fostering dogs, organizing transfers, manning off-site adoption events, working on publicity, social media and financial record and bookkeeping responsibilities, and coordinating FOTAS-Fix-a-Pet activities.

And finally, thanks to you, the Aiken Community, for your extraordinary generosity. Once again, you made it possible for FOTAS to help the County provide the best possible care for shelter animals, increase adoptions and transfers, and supplement the County’s spay/neuter financial assistance program.

Through your support, this past year FOTAS funded a new isolation and wellness pod at the Shelter; provided a digital x-ray machine and training for staff in the medical clinic; and funded heartworm treatments for 150 otherwise healthy dogs so that they could be placed in forever homes.

And here’s the best part: all of that love, effort, commitment and hard work has paid off. The live release rate at the shelter has increased from 5% (pre-FOTAS, prior to 2009), to 84% this year (as of the end of October). That’s 3,454 animals, which means the FOTAS/County partnership has saved more animals than any other local rescue organization. In addition, we have successfully trapped, neutered and returned to field 880 community cats (through September), and organized 79 separate transfers (through November) to out-of-state rescue partners, sending 1100 animals to their forever homes.

That’s a very big deal.

Thank you for your continued support—you have made it possible for us to save thousands upon thousands of homeless animals in the past eight years. God bless you and your family during this holiday season.

Their lives are in our hands.

PETS OF THE WEEK

 

KELBIE: Retriever mix, female, 1-1/2 years old, black with white, 52 pounds - $35
KELBIE: Retriever mix, female, 1-1/2 years old, black with white, 52 pounds – $35
FINN: Domestic Short Hair, male, 2 months old, orange Tabby, 2.5 pounds - $10
FINN: Domestic Short Hair, male, 2 months old, orange Tabby, 2.5 pounds – $10
Adoption, Cats, Foster, FOTAS, Spay/Neuter, Volunteer

Feral kittens and the Good Samaritan

Posted on by Angel Hartline
17
Nov

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

One morning, you come downstairs to the kitchen, turn on the coffee maker, and open the back door to check the weather. Then you hear it: faint, pitiful mewing sounds coming from the crawl space under the porch. You grab a flashlight and go out to investigate. What you find breaks your heart: six tiny feral kittens, eyes still closed, mewing for what? Food? Mama? Warmth?

What do you do?

mother cat and kittenThe Good Samaritan in you wants to spring into action and rescue the little snuggle nuggets, but is that the wisest course?

“It isn’t, at least not right away,” says Hillary Clark-Kulis, the Adoption Coordinator for the Aiken County Animal Shelter. “Odds are mama has gone out to feed herself and will be returning soon to care for her babies, and it is always better for little kittens to be cared for by their mama. She can properly clean and feed them around the clock. We advise waiting and watching for mama to return. Patience is the better part of valor in these cases.”

Raising little kittens is tricky business. They need to be fed every two hours around the clock. They cannot eliminate waste on their own, so cleaning and massaging in just the right places is required to allow them to process their food. Mama’s milk also provides crucial antibodies. When the kittens are weaned to hard food, mama teaches them how to be little cats, how to fend for themselves, how to hunt.

kitten bottle feederAssuming mama comes home, the best thing you can do is support mama until the kittens are weaned. Provide her healthy cat food and clean water, maybe a box with soft towels for a warm dry place to nest.

Feral cats are often fearful of humans, so speak softly, move slowly, try to befriend her, get her accustomed to friendly human contact. FOTAS can provide you with the appropriate supplies if needed.

After about five weeks, call the Shelter and make an appointment to bring mama in to get vaccinated, spayed and returned to field (no cost to you), and the kittens to be vetted and put up for adoption (unless the kittens are too feral, in which case, they too can be vaccinated, spayed and returned to field.)

Let’s rewind: what if you watch the little kittens all day and mama doesn’t return, then what do you do?

Now it’s time to collect the little kittens and bring them to the Shelter. Dr. Levy will assess their health, then FOTAS volunteers will foster the kittens at home. That means two weeks of bottle feeding every two hours, watching their temperature, keeping them clean until their eyes open and they can eat on their own. Once they pass that critical stage, the little snuggle muffins can be socialized until they are big enough to be adopted.
“Taking proper care of new-born kittens requires skill and patience, but there are experienced FOTAS volunteers we call upon for help,” says Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director. “We couldn’t do it without them, and we always need more volunteers!”

Call the FOTAS hotline at (803) 514-4313 or the County Shelter at (803) 642-1537, when your Good Samaritan is called into service.

Their lives are in our hands.

By the Numbers
Jan. to Sept. 2017: FOTAS Fix-A-Pet and the Aiken County Animal Shelter spayed/neutered 864 community/feral cats that were returned to field.

Pets of the Week

REMINGTON: Retriever mix, male, 2 years old, light brown and white, 46 pounds – $35
REMINGTON: Retriever mix, male, 2 years old, light brown and white, 46 pounds – $35

ERIK: Domestic shorthair cat, male, 1-1/2 years old, light orange Tabby, 10 pounds – $10 (available at Aiken PetSmart)
ERIK: Domestic shorthair cat, male, 1-1/2 years old, light orange Tabby, 10 pounds – $10 (available at Aiken PetSmart)

Adoption, Dogs, FOTAS

Surgeries at the County Shelter Give Two Dogs a New Lease on Life

Posted on by Angel Hartline
11
Nov

By Dr. Lisa Levy, ACAS Veterinarian

To paraphrase Forrest Gump, working at the shelter is like a box of chocolates. Every morning when I make my rounds, I never know what new problem attached to a wagging tail I’m going to get. A couple of weeks ago, two dogs with severe medical problems needing immediate attention were waiting for me at the Shelter clinic.

A BB was found imbedded in Remington's eye
A BB was found imbedded in Remington’s eye

First there was Remington, a beautiful brown retriever-mix with one very expressive eye and one injured eye—the cornea was completely opaque giving it a blue-gray appearance. From the thickness of the scar tissue on the cornea, I knew it was an old injury. Honestly, it made him look “creepy,” and I was worried that would turn off potential adopters and affect his chances of getting a new home.

Since Remington was blind in that eye anyway, I decided to remove it to improve his appearance. I was also concerned about the possibility of glaucoma developing, which can happen with any eye injury.

When we sedated Remington, we noticed several BB’s under his skin which unfortunately is not that uncommon of a finding. What was unusual is that during the surgery I found a BB in his eye socket. He had been shot in the eye! Remington recovered beautifully and is so much happier since the surgery. His sweet temperament masked the fact that he was in pain, but I am glad that we could make him comfortable again.

I still cannot understand how someone could use a dog for target practice, showing total disregard for them as living, feeling creatures. Educating children on humane treatment of animals is critical. That’s why programs like FOTAS’s “Dog Ears Reading Sessions” are invaluable. By encouraging children to read to shelter dogs, it not only helps the child’s confidence in reading skills, but helps them see the dogs as individuals with personalities and feelings. It’s a win all around.

Grace gets a big hug from FOTAS canine coach Darling Rios
Grace gets a big hug from FOTAS canine coach Darling Rios

My second unique patient that week was Grace. Grace is an elderly, gray Pibble. The Animal Control Officer who brought her in left a note on the intake sheet: “Vet Please Check!” As I approached her kennel, she greeted me enthusiastically and I thought to myself, “What’s the issue?” Until she turned sideways. Then I thought, “Oh my goodness!” There was a large growth hanging off the back of one rear leg. I mean an impressively large growth. It was also very irritated from rubbing on the ground every time she sat down.

When no one claimed Grace, I decided to remove the growth and give her a chance to find a new home. I was concerned about how she would handle anesthesia at her age, but she through like a champ. We weighed the growth after surgery and it weighed two-and-a-half pounds!

Both Remington and Grace tested positive for heartworms, which is common in the South among dogs who are not properly protected. The good news is that we can medically eliminate the heartworm infection, allowing these canines to lead normal, long lives. Both dogs have started their treatment, which is being paid for by FOTAS.

Remington and Grace are awesome dogs and waiting for adoption with a new lease on life.

By the Numbers
November Adoption Special: cats/kittens $10, dogs/puppies $35

Pets of the Week

DELTA: Mixed breed, male, 4 years old, brown, 63 pounds – $35
DELTA: Mixed breed, male, 4 years old, brown, 63 pounds – $35

HATTIE: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 1-1/2 years old, gray and black Tabby, 5.5 pounds – $10
HATTIE: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 1-1/2 years old, gray and black Tabby, 5.5 pounds – $10

Adoption, Children, FOTAS, Volunteer

Children are the future of FOTAS

Posted on by Angel Hartline
28
Oct

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

“I believe the children are our future,
Teach them well and let them lead the way.”
Whitney Houston

If FOTAS had a poster child, it would be Noah Jacobs. Noah and his mother, Kathy Jacobs, have been volunteering at the Aiken County Animal Shelter since the new shelter opened in 2013. (Kathy is now the full-time FOTAS Program Director). Noah was eight years old at the time, and like his mother, has a magic touch with animals. Whenever an adoptable dog is identified as “kid friendly,” it means that it has passed the Noah Jacobs “kid friendly” test, which has proven to be a tried and true endorsement.

Noah, who is twelve now, attends the Tall Pines STEM Academy. The Academy is mission oriented, and last year, the students in Noah’s class selected FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter as one of their missions. The students asked Kathy and Bobby Arthurs, the Shelter Manager and Chief Animal Control Officer for the County, to make a presentation to the class.

Tall Pines STEM Academy students visit the Aiken County Animal Shelter to learn more about FOTAS.  Students include: Karylle Hambrick, Dylan Seeley, Kahlei Morris, Noah Jacobs, Christian Grove, Gabey Marshall, Blake Scott and Sydney Ledere
Tall Pines STEM Academy students visit the Aiken County Animal Shelter to learn more about FOTAS.  Students include: Karylle Hambrick, Dylan Seeley, Kahlei Morris, Noah Jacobs, Christian Grove, Gabey Marshall, Blake Scott and Sydney Ledere

Kathy and Bobby, along with a couple of adoptable dogs, made the trek to the school and talked to the students about the work and dedication involved in caring and finding homes for the thousands of homeless animals that come through the Shelter every year. The students rallied to the cause, and over the next month, raised money and in-kind goods (pet food, leashes, etc.) to donate to the Shelter.

Cool.

Over the course of that year, the Principal Griffin would call Kathy from time to time to come and pick up a stray dog on the property, and Kathy would drop off the current FOTAS Newsletters.

Then, this past September, Kathy attended the Academy’s open house to meet Noah’s teachers. When she walked into the English Language Arts room, to her surprise and delight, she discovered that the walls were covered with essays written by the students on how kids can make a difference for homeless animals, along with countless pictures of dogs and cats drawn by the students.

“My son tells me nothing!” says Kathy, and when she questioned Noah, he told her they had even had student debates on what FOTAS does and how it could do more. (Not to worry, says Noah, he totally educated the class on all the important things FOTAS does.)IMG_0295

Very cool.

It gets better. The staff, teachers and students at the Academy have become active supporters of FOTAS and the Shelter: homework assignments to write essays on the FOTAS mission, contributions to FOTAS fundraisers, teachers and their children volunteering at the Shelter.

The kids at the Academy are required to complete eight hours of community service before the end of the year. Kathy has scheduled three service days for students to serve their hours at the Shelter reading to the animals. On the first service day last Wednesday, eight children participated.

Beyond cool.

With programs and interest like this, developed early in life, there is hope the next generation will carry on our work and solve, once and for all, the vexing problem of overpopulation of unwanted pets.

Their lives are in our hands; but soon their lives will be in the hands of our very capable children.

IMG_0300IMG_0355higher pixel pic of young students visiting ACASIMG_0303

November Adoption Special: cats/kittens $10, dogs/puppies $35

Pets of the Week

RILEY: Pointer mix, female, 1 year old, white and black, 44 pounds – $35
RILEY: Pointer mix, female, 1 year old, white and black, 44 pounds – $35

TAFFY: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 2 years old, gray and black Tabby, 7 pounds - $10
TAFFY: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 2 years old, gray and black Tabby, 7 pounds – $10

Uncategorized

The numbers tell the story

Posted on by Angel Hartline
20
Oct

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

In the five short years since the new Aiken County Animal Shelter opened its doors, the Shelter has steadily increased the number of animals saved from a meager 29% to a whooping 83% so far in 2017 (despite record high intake during the summer). This remarkable save rate is even more astonishing if you compare it with the save rates prior to 2009, when FOTAS was formed and began its partnership with the County: on average, intake often exceeded 6500 animals a year, only 5% of which were able to be saved.

5% to 83% in 9 years. Is it perfect? No. Is it progress? You bet. Huge progress.

The steady increase of the save rate and the concurrent reduction of the euthanasia rate is no accident. It is due to the ingenuity, hard work and dedication of FOTAS and Shelter staff, working together to make it happen. We transfer animals to sister agencies in the northeast. We work every day with the dogs on the adoption floor to make them more attractive adoption prospects. We exercise the dogs every day, including appropriate dogs in intake to make transition to the adoption floor easier. We give the cats and kittens lots of love, too.

Aiken County Animal Shelter Statistics*
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017**
Total Animals Received 5107 4689 4785 4912 3405
Total Animals Adopted 829 1141 1136 1730 1075
Total Animals Transferred 681 1107 1568 1382 975

Total Cats TNR/RTF

 0 0 0 278 609
Total Animals Returned to Owner N/A N/A 260 243 180
Total % of Animals Saved 29.57% 47.94% 56.51% 73.96% 83.38%
Total % of Animals Euthanized 71.02% 53.91% 39.83% 30.72% 19.79%
*  Since new Shelter opened in 2013                                                     ** Through August 2017

We have a thriving foster program for dogs and cats. We neuter and return community cats to their colonies. We host outside adoption events and run monthly specials on adoptions. We aggressively market our animals in print and social media to reach a wide audience.

We treat and rehome heartworm positive, but otherwise healthy, dogs. We treat dogs with demodex mange and place them in foster homes to allow stress-free recovery. We provide emergency medical care and surgery for animals with life-threatening injuries and find them homes when they have recovered, a task made easier because FOTAS was able to provide a new anesthesia and digital x-ray machine for Dr. Levy. We are building a wellness/isolation pod so that animals with treatable contagious diseases like kennel cough can recover without infecting the larger population.

All of these things have made it possible to save 83% of our animals. However, it is a sad fact of life that until every pet owner spays and neuters their animals to reduce the population of unwanted animals, the need for euthanasia cannot be eliminated in a public shelter legally obligated to take all comers.

In addition, sometimes animals come with such severe physical and emotional damage, they cannot and should not be saved. With respect to owner-surrendered pets, most, say 90%, have excellent adoption prospects. Occasionally the very reason those animals were surrendered—aggressive, unmanageable behavior—creates an urgent and immediate safety issue for staff, volunteers, other animals, and ultimately the public. When that happens, the Shelter cannot and will not risk the safety of people and other animals. Ever.

Their lives are in our hands.

October Adoption Special: cats/kittens $10, dogs/puppies $35

PETS OF THE WEEK

ARCHIE: Mixed breed, male, 1 year old, tan, 44 pounds – $35
ARCHIE: Mixed breed, male, 1 year old, tan, 44 pounds – $35

APOLLO: Domestic shorthair cat, male, 2 months old, black and white, 1.5 pounds - $10
APOLLO: Domestic shorthair cat, male, 2 months old, black and white, 1.5 pounds – $10

Adoption, Cats, Foster, FOTAS

FOTAS fosters and good Samaritans are saving kittens every day

Posted on by Angel Hartline
18
Oct

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

Livie and her sibling were tossed out of a moving vehicle like pieces of garbage. A good Samaritan, driving behind the vehicle, witnessed the hideous crime and slammed on his brakes. He and his wife scrambled out of their car to see what they could do to save the kittens. But as they ran to Livie, a gray kitten, her sibling was run over and killed by a car coming the other way. Horrified, the couple scooped up Livie, blood dripping from her mouth, and sped to the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS).

LIVIE THE KITTEN - NOT LIVVYOnce at Shelter, Dr. Lisa Levy and her vet techs treated Livie. The left side of her face was scraped badly and her left rear leg injured, but she would be okay. Now, the five-week-old needed time to rest and heal.

Livie is just one of 227 kittens and 8 nursing momma cats that have been received by the County Shelter over the last two months. Some of these kittens are only a couple of weeks old and need to be bottle fed. When they are motherless and so young, they’re vulnerable and need constant care and attention – the kind of nurturing they can only get from a devoted foster family. But as fast as FOTAS recruits kitten fosters, more babies in need arrive at 333 Wire Road. Currently, there are 48 kittens being fostered by volunteers.

Because so many kittens have been received lately, ACAS staff members have taken kittens home to ensure their survival. Adoption Coordinator Hillary Clark-Kulis, Vet Tech Betty Milne-Erikson and Adoption Assistant Mary Calabro have all fostered litters of kittens during the last two months.
“I do it because these babies need to be saved,” Mary Calabro said. “It’s love for the innocent and the love they give back.”

Once the kittens are old enough to be spayed or neutered, they go on the adoption floor. But the fosters are needed to help these kittens get stronger and more comfortable with human touch and interaction.

“Without the foster program, many of these kittens wouldn’t survive,” said Hillary Clark-Kulis. “They are too little to spay or neuter and need constant bottle feeding or, if they’re old enough, have to be weaned from wet to dry food.”

FOTAS Volunteer Peg Seger and her husband, Ron, have been fostering kittens for two years and their latest assignment is a litter of five one-month-old strays. “If you love animals, fostering is a wonderful thing to do,” Peg said.

Jerri Smith just finished fostering three feral kittens for two weeks. By the time she returned them to the shelter for adoption, the six-week-old siblings liked to be held and petted.

“The longer they stayed with me, the less fearful they became,” Jeri said. “I enjoyed seeing them progress and it was fun and rewarding to help them learn and grow.”

Mindy Hand, another foster standout, just completed fostering three kittens that have since been adopted and is now nurturing and preparing two three-week-old kittens for adoption.

“Fostering takes a lot love and patience,” Mindy said. “But it is special knowing these cats are going to find families of their own after you’ve taken care of them.”

With so many kittens flowing into the shelter, FOTAS is in urgent need of more fosters. If you can volunteer, please call 803.514.4313 or send an email to info@angelhartlinedesigns.com

With your help, we’ll have more success stories like Livie, who recovered from her injuries and was put on the adoption floor on Thursday. Discarded like trash, this beautiful, gray kitten now has a second chance at a good life.
Their lives are in our hands.

By the Numbers


August 10 to October 10: The Aiken County Animal Shelter received 227 kittens and 8 nursing cats.
October Adoption Special: cats/kittens $10, dogs/puppies $35

Pets of the Week

Livie was thrown out of the window of a moving vehicle but thanks to good Samaritans, she made a complete recovery from her injuries.
RENO: Bully mix, male, 2 years old, white and brown, 50 pounds – $35

KENT PET OF THE WEEK
KENT: Domestic medium hair cat, male, 2 months old, black with light gray undercoat, 1.8 pounds – $10

Adoption, Bully Dogs, Dogs, FOTAS, Pibbles

Adopted Pit Bull mixes find love and give it back in spades

Posted on by Angel Hartline
30
Sep

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

The American Pit Bull Terrier or “Pit Bull” was America’s dog during World War I and their photos were used in military posters. Because of their popularity, “Bullies” or “Pibbles” were often used in advertising, including the Buster Brown shoes campaign. In fact, the first famous dog to star on TV was a Pit Bull. Remember Petey, the white dog with the black ring around one eye who starred in the Our Gang comedies in the 1930s? Yep, the cute canine who often joined the Little Rascals in their fun-filled adventures was a Pit Bull.

The County Shelter takes in a lot of stray and surrendered Pit Bull mixes, so we’re familiar with the positive attributes of this breed. Smart, goofy, athletic, high-energy and very loving, these are some of the best pets available for adoption.

Unfortunately, starting around the mid-80s, Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixed breeds started to get a bad rap in the media. Dog fighting surged in popularity and criminals chose the breed due to their physical strength. These villains nearly destroyed the rich history of the Pit Bull and sullied the breed’s reputation through their cruel and illegal actions.

But FOTAS and the Shelter are working to help these dogs and reestablish their honorable reputation by prudently preparing them for adoption and finding them loving homes.

Young Raymond and his mother, Darling Rios, fostered Gloria, helping the dog gain confidence before going to the Shelter’s adoption floor.
Young Raymond and his mother, Darling Rios, fostered Gloria, helping the dog gain confidence before going to the Shelter’s adoption floor.

For example, Gloria, a 2-year-old Pibble who arrived at the Shelter scared and shy, was fostered by Darling Rios and her family. At first, Gloria was too scared to leave the house. But slowly she began to trust her foster family and learned to relax and play by interacting with the other dogs living at the Rios household.

“All we did was give her love and provide a place where she felt safe,” Darling said. “Gloria built confidence after weeks of attention and came out of her shell.”

Once she was put on the adoption floor, Gloria didn’t last long. She was adopted by Shannon Wilhelm of Graniteville and is doing great!

Gloria is adopted from the County Shelter by the Wilhelms.
Gloria is adopted from the County Shelter by the Wilhelms.

Another Bully mix was adopted by Jude and Kerwin Iglesias of Aiken. They took home one-year-old Doxter, a white and brown cutie who is very protective of his new family. When he thinks they have been swimming for too long, the young dog gets worried and dives into the family’s pool, gently gripping them by the hand to pull them out of the water!

 

Ripley at home with his adopter, Amanda Brown of Augusta.
Ripley at home with his adopter, Amanda Brown of Augusta.

Ripley, a fawn and white Pibble, arrived at the Shelter as a stray and tested positive for heartworms. Bo and Amanda Brown fell in love with the big boy and adopted him, FOTAS paid for his treatment and now he is expected to be heartworm free by next month.

claressa at home
Newly adopted Claressa makes herself at home on Corbin Goodwin’s bed.

And then there’s Claressa, a 10-month-old, tan and white Bully mix. She was shy and having difficulty dealing with the noisy environment of the Shelter. But Brian and Gina Goodwin of Aiken adopted her and turned her life around. 

“At first, she was terrified of everything!” said Gina. “But after about three days, she was a completely different dog. We love her so much and I’m pretty sure she feels the same.”
The County Shelter always has some wonderful Pibbles available for adoption, and this week is no exception. Three standouts include Bailey, Ranger and our dog of the week, Toffee. Come visit them!

Their lives are in our hands.

 

By the Numbers

Jan. through Aug.:
FOTAS organized and paid for the spay/neuter surgeries of 292 community cats and pets owned by citizens in need of financial assistance.
October Adoption Special: Cat and kittens $10, dogs and puppies $35

 

Pets of the Week

 

TESSA: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 4 months old, Tortoise shell, 3.6 pounds - $10
TESSA: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 4 months old, Tortoise shell, 3.6 pounds – $10

TOFFEE: Pibble mix, female, 2 years old, gray and white, 46 pounds – $35
TOFFEE: Pibble mix, female, 2 years old, gray and white, 46 pounds – $35