Author Archives: Bob Gordon

2019, Dogs, Events, Fundraisers, News, Uncategorized, Volunteers

Playing Fore the Pets Golf Tourney Develops into Biggest FOTAS Fundraiser

Posted on by Bob Gordon
24
Sep

We are looking forward to our Sixth Annual Playing Fore the Pets golf tournament at The Reserve Club at Woodside Plantation tomorrow, Monday September 23. More than 200 players are expected to participate, and we are grateful to them and our event sponsors for helping us to raise funds for the Aiken County Animal Shelter and its homeless pets in need.

The planning that takes place behind the scenes for this important fundraising event starts in April, when the committee gets together to divide up duties, discuss changes and propose additions to make the tournament even better than the previous year. This is followed by monthly update meetings to review our progress.

The golf ball drop contest is a fun draw, and the winner receives a $1,000 check!

The FOTAS Golf Tournament premiered in 2014 with only four volunteers. Sandy and Ross Staiger chaired the event, bringing their ideas and direction from a similar tournament they started and ran in Wolfeboro, NH for seven years. They brought the Helicopter Ball Drop to Aiken to accompany this golf event, which has been a huge success. Selling and keeping track of 1,000 ball drop tickets is quite a task, but FOTAS volunteers and friends were more than up to the challenge.

Today, our committee has grown to 13 people. Karen Loughran, now in charge of coordinating the Helicopter Ball Drop, and Sharon Johnson, promotion coordinator, have been with the committee for five years. Corri McCorkle, Cindie Davidson, Marylou Kling and Sharon have been helping to gather the great gift certificates and gifts from the business community that we pull together for our wonderful raffle gift baskets. Six new members, Marianne Malloy, Fran Warner, Monique Gilbert, Pam Patron, Linda Samoranski, and Debbie Schroeder along with Connie Jarzmik, a member of 3 years, have been charged with speaking to the business community about the shelter’s mission, asking for their support in the form of TEE Sponsorships.

Over 100 wonderful businesses and private donors have stepped up to support this event. Our top Eagle Sponsors — Milton Ruben Toyota, Affordable Quality Marble and Granite, HESS Travel, and Lorac Design Group – are valuable supporters of the animals and this tournament. LongHorn Steakhouse is providing participating golfers with lunch for the fifth year in a row.

As we move forward to hosting our sixth golf tournament, we can honestly say we are blessed to have our loyal donors, new business partners along with the loyal and new golfers participating in this event. An additional 40 volunteers help out on the course the day of the tourney.

Adoptable dog SANDI enjoyed spending time with the tournament participants.

Our plans are to make this year’s golf tournament the best fundraising event of the year by making everyone aware of how important the work is for the animals in need that enter our shelter.

FOTAS is instrumental in saving lives and provides the Aiken community and the animals with such a vital service. The volunteers of FOTAS are able to work miracles thanks to you, our loyal advocates, who provide the financial fuel that allows us to promote proper pet care, take in medically neglected pets, provide them with the treatment and recovery they need and, most importantly, find unwanted pets the loving homes they deserve.

— By Sandy and Ross Staiger, FOTAS Golf Tournament Chairs

PETS OF THE WEEK

TIFFANY
Mixed breed, female, 3-1/2 years old, brindle/white, 45 pounds – $35

ZADIE
Domestic Shorthair, female, 1 year old, white Calico, 7.5 pounds – $10

2019, animal abuse, Dogs, FOTAS, News, Training, Volunteer, Volunteers

Volunteers Teach Homeless Pets about Love and Acceptance

Posted on by Bob Gordon
17
Sep

This week, I had two people tell me they can’t volunteer because the idea of witnessing the injured, neglected and abused animals who need homes would be too much for them to handle.

I told them we take a more positive approach and embrace the opportunity to greet these pets in need. Because on the day we meet them, we know their lives are about to get so much better! It is an honorable mission to help them.

Senior dog JESSICA gets some love and attention from FOTAS Volunteer Nicole Simons.

When a dog or cat arrives at the shelter emaciated, ill, neglected or abused, staff and volunteers greet them with love and make them comfortable. Now that they are with us, it’s game time! Time for them to get well and start their new life of love, happiness and never knowing hunger or loneliness again. It’s a gift to be part of a team that can turn their lives around.

Almost immediately after they arrive, we are planning what is best for these homeless pets. Do they need a rescue or a foster? Do they need a quiet home or would an active family best suit their needs? Would another cat or dog give them comfort or are they best as an only pet?

When we pull into the parking lot first thing in the morning, we see tails wagging and cats running up to the feline facility windows to meow their “hellos”. They love us, and we love them. These animals don’t think about past experiences and we don’t focus on them either. Each day we are one day closer to finding them a happy, loving forever home.

MEADOW is a volunteer and staff favorite.

Take Meadow, a white furred, 6-year-old mixed breed. She’s endured a rough past and growled at us when she first arrived. She was beyond scared. But Karen DeCamp, one of our devoted volunteer trainers, showed Meadow love and she rapidly improved. She learned how great it is to be loved and is now the gentlest dog on the adoption floor! Meadow dances around and greets people who visit her kennel. She is ready to be adopted and your new best friend.

FOTAS Volunteer Jeri Wesner is one of our most dedicated dog walkers and I love seeing her when she meets a new animal. She always smiles brightly and tells the new dog, “It’s your lucky day!” Jeri has helped change so many dogs’ lives with her patience and positive attitude. She understands that we’re here to give these unwanted pets a second chance at a good life.

MEADOW was scared and growled at everybody when she first arrived at the shelter. But now she’s the sweetest dog on the adoption floor!

So, please don’t say that you can’t volunteer because it would be too heartbreaking. Dogs and cats aren’t like us. They forgive, bounce back and have the potential to give so much love to their future adopters.

Yes, we see kittens thrown from cars, dogs left tied to trees in the woods, puppies sick from neglect — you name it. But you need to see the silver lining. These animals are now safe and out of danger. We have the ability to make their lives better and find them homes. And when we do, it’s so rewarding!

As a volunteer, you teach these pets what love is and they quickly absorb the lesson! They forgive, they forget. Help be part of their future happiness. Volunteer and invest your time in these animals.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director

BY THE NUMBERS
The Aiken County Animal Shelter has already taken in nearly 200 strays and surrendered pets this month. Please spay and neuter your pets.

2019, animal care education, Cats, FOTAS, kittens, News, PetSmart cats, Proper Pet Care, Uncategorized

How to Select the Right Shelter Kitty for Your Home

Posted on by Bob Gordon
10
Sep

Looking to adopt a feline friend? Now is a great time to make the plunge and visit the Aiken County Animal Shelter. A flood of strays and surrendered pets is hitting the shelter and these beautiful animals need homes.

Young kittens are in cat condos located in the front lobby and most older kittens and adult cats are housed together in the shelter’s newly renovated feline facility.

Black kitten BERNIE waits to greet visitors who stop by the ACAS’s feline facility.

When selecting a cat, first observe their behavior. Whether the cat is alone or with another feline, you can quickly assess their personality. Observe if they are shy or confident, playful or laid-back, chatty or quiet. Then, choose accordingly.

Meet the kitties in the feline facility
Regardless of their independent nature, cats respond to attention and love. To approach a cat in the indoor/outdoor facility, crouch low so as not to intimidate the feline and extend your hand so he can sniff it. If he accepts you by licking your hand or coming closer, slowly rub his forehead or lightly scratch under his chin while speaking in a low, calm voice. Gentle petting should follow as long as his ears remain up, the tail is not flicking, and he is not cowering or hissing.

CERSEI is a friendly female Calico now available for adoption in the shelter’s feline facility.

Kittens in the front lobby
If the feline is in a cat condo or kennel, ask a volunteer or employee to open the door so you can pet him. For a kitten that is more active or playful, a trip to the shelter’s adoption room is a good idea. There, you can get a better idea about his personality and try out different toys for him to enjoy.

Shelter cats at the Aiken PetSmart store
The shelter also transports cats and older kittens to the Aiken PetSmart, where they can be adopted on-site. These felines are showcased in cat condos located in the back of the store. Description cards are posted on the condos to inform you of each cat’s background and personality traits. If you want to spend a little time with one of the cats, just ask a PetSmart employee to assist you.

Bringing your new pet home
Once you select a cat and bring him home, let him explore your residence. It is natural and enables him to define the kingdom he will soon rule. Leave the carrier he came home in near his food and water so he can have a place where he feels safe.

PANDA MANDA and LANNA at play.

Don’t let him outside even if you plan to make him an outdoor cat. He first needs to learn the lay of the land as well establish that you are his source of food and care – a process that takes at least a month. Keep in mind that the life expectancy for indoor cats is 14-19 years while that of those that go outside is 5-7 years. The Shelter strongly recommends keeping your cat indoors.

If you have other pets, wait at least one day before introducing them to allow your cat to decompress from the stress of moving to a new place. Spend as much time with your cat as possible and talk to him. Your calm voice and affection are what he needs to bond with you.

Pretty SOPHIE at the Aiken PetSmart store.

To ensure he gets needed exercise and satisfies his hunting instinct, play with your cat using different feather and mouse toys. Most importantly, enjoy your new feline companion and shower him with love and good care. You have just saved a cat and given him a second chance at a great life!

— By Steve Masterson, FOTAS Volunteer

2019, Bully Dogs, Dogs, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, News, Shelter staff, Uncategorized, Volunteers

Sick Puppy Saved Through FOTAS/ACAS Teamwork

Posted on by Bob Gordon
03
Sep

Brindle and white mixed breed Tiffany arrived at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) with three puppies that were barely one week old. We had no foster volunteers available, so the pups had to stay at the shelter and endure the loud barking of a nearly full intake area.

Tiffany was a great mother and very protective of her pups. We learned by walking her that she is a sweet, loving girl but just a little shy around people she doesn’t know. Her three pups were weaned and put into foster. They were fat and ready. However, one pup suddenly stopped eating. Still wagging his tail and begging to be petted, the little one just would not eat, even he was hand fed.

TIFFANY, the puppy’s mama, is still waiting for someone to adopt her from the ACAS.

When the puppy started to weaken, the foster brought him back to the shelter for medical attention. He was slowly deteriorating but tests didn’t reveal any underlying reason for his refusal to eat. He yearned for human interaction but looked hollow, which is very unusual. Dr. Levy and her team gave him fluids and kept him warm with a heat lamp. But he still would not eat.

The medical staff kept him under intense observation for days and days. I personally was not optimistic about his chances. But then he somehow managed to eat a small amount of baby food and drink a bit of puppy formula. Even though the odds for survival were still not in his favor, I asked to take the puppy home and foster him.

The puppy was still so fragile but when I gave him some chicken and broth, he lapped at it. It was so rewarding to see him eat! The little guy cries whenever I put him down. He’s still eating and now even runs and plays. He chases my dogs, bites my fingers, barks for attention. Things are finally looking up for this cutie, but he has a long way to go.

TIFFANY’S puppy would not eat but his strong drive to live, extra human attention and good medical care saved him.

His mom, Tiffany, is still with us at the shelter and available for adoption. The poor girl has spent nearly two months at the shelter and still has no forever home. But thanks to her foster dad Kelly, at least she gets to go to a quiet house each night and sleep in bed with a person who cares.

FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter work well together. The staff strives hard to give the best medical care and comfort to those that come to them, with FOTAS purchasing any supplemental medicines and equipment needed. Volunteers and foster families make such a difference with the needed follow-up care and attention.

Tiffany and her pups were saved, but the ACAS shelter has so many other animals waiting for homes. When you receive more than 500 homeless pets a month, it can become overwhelming and we need volunteers to help.

Please join us and be part of our life-saving team. There is nothing more rewarding!

Their lives are in our hands.

–– By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director

BY THE NUMBERS
The Aiken County Animal Shelter took in 509 strays and surrendered pets from Aug. 1 to 29. This marks an unprecedented fourth month in a row the shelter has taken in 500 plus unwanted animals in 2019. Please adopt!

PETS OF THE WEEK


JESSICA
Shepherd mix, female, 11 years old, 50 pounds – $35

WYNTER
Domestic Shorthair, female, 3 months old, white and black, 2 pounds – $10

2019, Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Events, FOTAS, injured animals, kittens, News

Clear the Shelter Event Results in Heartwarming Adoptions

Posted on by Bob Gordon
26
Aug

Last Saturday’s Clear the Shelter event at the Aiken County Animal Shelter was a success, with 40 unwanted pets finding loving homes in four hours.

Part of an annual national effort, the shelter’s standard adoption fees were waived on this day to encourage folks to visit the animals and give them homes, thereby “clearing the shelter” to make room for — and save the lives of — more homeless animals.

Adopted blind cat DREW sits on the lap of his new owner, Kathy Brewer.

Last month, the ACAS received 533 stray animals and surrendered pets, so the timing of this event was ideal. We needed to find these animals homes and the community rallied and responded.

“I had been looking for a cat for my family for a while, and when we saw Drew, we knew it was just meant to be,” said Erica Brewer. Erica’s mom, Kathy, recently had a stroke that severely impaired her vision – so when Erica saw the blind cat, she knew he was the right choice for them. Erica’s wife, Jessica, and their two daughters, Makayla and Makenzie, held and petted Drew while the adoption process was completed.

“Drew adjusted to his new home right away,” Erica said. It’s like he’s been living there for years. Everybody loves and spoils him rotten. There’s just something about him – he’s a special cat.”

Deke meets his new human brother.

While Drew was being put in his carrier to go home on Saturday, a kitten name Juliet was selected for adoption by Samantha Maynard. Carrying her 7-month-old son, John Keith, in her arms, she said, “I saw the shelter was having this event, so we drove out here to find him a pet. Everybody has been helpful and friendly. It’s been a great experience.”

Meanwhile, three senior dogs, a senior cat and 13 heartworm positive dogs were also adopted on this day, including black Lab mix Deke, who bonded with an autistic boy looking for a support animal. Thanks to your donations to FOTAS and its “Have a Heart, Save a Heart” program, all of the heartworm positive dogs at the shelter go home with medicine to treat and cure their condition. Thank you so much for coming out and adopting these animals in need.

Kitten JULIET gets adopted by Samantha Maynard during Clear the Shelter Day, Aug. 17.

While the shelter continues to be overwhelmed with more strays and unwanted pets received each day, your help and participation make such a difference! If you are looking to adopt, foster or volunteer, please come to the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 333 Wire Road. Or contact FOTAS at (803) 514-4313 or info@fotasaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands.

–By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

BY THE NUMBERS
Nationwide, the Clear the Shelters 2019 campaign, resulted in the adoption of more than 147,000 pets from nearly 2,000 participating shelters. Since it began in 2015, the Clear the Shelters initiative has resulted in nearly 400,000 pets finding their forever homes.

PETS OF THE WEEK

PRISCILLA
Mixed breed, female, 2 years old, 36 pounds – $35

KAI
Domestic Shorthair, male, 3 months old, Tabby, 2 pounds – $10

2019, Demodex, Dogs, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, injured animals, kittens, neglected pets, News, Volunteers

Fostering Medical Needs Pets Brings New Challenges, Many Rewards

Posted on by Bob Gordon
19
Aug

This has been a long summer at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS). Kittens thrown from car windows, dogs starved, puppies abandoned in the woods…we’ve seen all these scenarios come through the door again and again.

FELICITY is no long in the shelter but is instead recovering from her condition in a FOTAS volunteer’s comfy, quiet home.

Shelter staff and FOTAS volunteers work so hard to help the many pets that are surrendered or found as strays. But look at the numbers: 500 plus animals per month, forty dogs and cats in one day. Where are we expected to put them? So many of these homeless pets need time to heal properly from neglect and abuse. To save them, we need community involvement. We need foster homes.

Luckily, we have a terrific group of foster volunteers. We just need to add to our team.

Today Gary Ly is picking up Felicity. Gary is one of those special foster dads who gives our medical needs dogs a safe and happy home for a month, or even two. We never even have to ask; he will call and tell us he has time for another long-term foster. How awesome is that!

Thanks to FOTAS Foster Gary Ly, Demodex puppy FELICITY is getting the quiet environment and socializing time she needs to regain her fur.

Felicity is a one-year-old, reddish, medium-sized cutie who longs for attention. She came in mostly bald due to Demodectic Mange or “Demodex”. Demodex is very common to any shelter and we never have enough foster homes to manage all the cases. It’s not contagious, but it can worsen from stress like that caused by being in a loud, strange environment. Felicity just needs a quiet place away from the shelter to heal. When 50 other dogs are barking, it is not an ideal place to recover.

She will go home with Gary and we will provide all her food and medicine while he provides her with love and time. Felicity will come back furry, happy and home ready!

We also had a litter of seven puppies, only a few pounds each. When young puppies are scared and without vaccinations, they are susceptible to getting sick. This litter came in and received their first vaccinations but needed a foster home for two weeks, until they could get another vaccination and be ready for adoption.

Thankfully, Anne Laver was available. Anne is one of those loving people who always has a horse stall free for a litter of pups. After she took them in, they came back so happy and socialized!

When we can’t find fosters, often members of the staff step up and take care of the animals. Gibson, a sweet Tabby kitten, was brought to the shelter with a severe hip injury. His hip is expected to heal but only if he can enjoy some extra TLC in a quiet environment. ACAS Adoption Coordinator Hillary Clark-Kulis, as she has done for so many infant felines, brought Gibson home to nurse him back to health. She has been fostering him for about a week and the hope is that he’ll fully recover from his injuries by the end of the month.

Medical needs kitten GIBSON with his foster mom, ACAS Adoption Coordinator Hillary Clark-Kulis.

Because there is always demand for special needs fosters, we are asking for your help with this specific type of situation. But we also have a need for short-term fosters for healthy animals ready for adoption. If you could just try fostering one time, we think you would see how amazingly rewarding it is!

To give fostering a try, please call FOTAS at (803) 514-4313, email us at info@fotasaiken.org or stop by the ACAS located at 333 Wire Road.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director

2019, adopter feedback, Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Home-to-Home adoption program, kittens, News, Pibbles

Follow-Ups Help Ensure Adopters and Their Pets Are Content

Posted on by Bob Gordon
13
Aug

When you adopt a homeless pet from the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) and walk out the door with your new furry companion, we don’t just file your paperwork, wave good-bye and wish you good luck. We make sure you and your pet are happy and doing well.

FOTAS volunteers and the shelter staff contact new pet owners within a week to 10 days of their adoption to see how they are doing. Is the dog or cat adapting well to his new environment? Is he eating okay? Playing well with others? Adopters also get a chance to share any concerns or questions they have about their new pet.

Kitten Kevin resting in his new home.

Following up with new adopters not only helps ensure they are satisfied with their pets, but also provides us with great stories and information that could help us in future adoptions. The best feedback includes photos of the shelter pets loving life in their new homes.

Here are examples of emails and notes we’ve received from recent adopters (some have been edited for space):

NORA IS ADJUSTING WELL
Nora is doing great! We think she likely had a rough life before the shelter and being adopted. She was extremely terrified of everything. My husband and I could not move without her flinching. She’s been to see our vet now and has gotten some meds and some pointers on how to help her feel more comfortable. It’s working! She’s opening up and becoming so playful and loving. She has such a happy and funny personality. We adore Nora and are so happy to call her ours!

Cassandra Newcomb

COUNTY SHELTER IS THE BEST
Thank y’all for all that y’all do for the fur babies waiting for forever homes. I wish we could have adopted more than just Reuben. Unfortunately, we have a small home and couldn’t accommodate more than the two we now have. I have been raving about y’all to friends and co-workers, for when they are ready to adopt. Your facility is so clean, everyone is so nice, and I feel like the adoption went smoothly and very securely. I am impressed by the background checks done for all adopters and the professionalism displayed was exceptional. Pat yourselves on the back. You all deserve it!

Amiee N. Hinton

Catherine Will with pretty Roo Roo.

BLESSED TO HAVE ROO ROO IN OUR FAMILY
Roo Roo is doing great! She is an absolute angel. We love her so much! She gets along with everyone, including our cat. We are blessed to welcome Roo into our family.

Catherine Will

BROOKE IS FITTING RIGHT IN
Puppy Brooke is fitting right in with the family! She is growing like a weed and doing well with house training. We absolutely love her!

Linda Duffy

KEVIN IS ALMOST PERFECT
Kevin has been loving his new forever home. He’s a very affectionate and playful kitten. He’s been eating well and growing so fast! My fiancé and I love him so much! We are very glad we adopted him. Other than being rambunctious and a little mischievous sometimes, he’s absolutely perfect!

Marilyn Hall

Beagle Nora stretches out at her forever home.

HOME TO HOME IS A GREAT SERVICE
The new adopter came and met my dog, Midi, and decided to take her home. Home to Home is a great service. Thank you so much! (FOTAS’s Home to Home Program helps pets move directly from one home to another.)

Julie Bean

JOSIE IS BEING SPOILED
Josie is doing great! She’s spoiled and her personality shines more every day. She has started to play with her toys and understands that they are hers and nobody is going to take them. She’s eating well, starting to gain a little healthy weight. She goes everywhere with us and even has her own Instagram account, josietherescueshepherd.

Mary Hanna

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2019, FOTAS, News, Volunteer, Volunteers

FOTAS and Shelter Animals Lost an Angel

Posted on by Bob Gordon
04
Aug

“Every sunrise is an invitation for us to arise and brighten someone’s day.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, Smile Anyway

Every so often in life, we are privileged to know someone whose kindness knows no limits and whose patience is bottomless. Someone whose humanity is so deep, they dedicate their life to helping the lost, the hopeless, and the forgotten. Someone who gives so much and asks for nothing in return.

Nanci Santos with one of her favorites, Bear. Nanci died on July 22, 2019 after a long battle with cancer.

That someone for us was Nanci Santos, a long-time FOTAS volunteer and supporter, who died on July 22nd after a long and brave battle with cancer.

Nanci was a constant and reliable presence at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. She walked dogs, helped with new programs, and assisted with FOTAS fundraisers like Woofstock. She helped develop the orientation process for coordinating and training new volunteers, sharing her own experience and knowledge with warmth and humor.

She had a lot to share, too. Typically, she arrived at the shelter before the other volunteers had finished their daily walks and visits with the animals. She visited every kennel on the adoption floor, performing a last-minute check for the afternoon, doing an occasional clean-up and distributing toys to the dogs—one, maybe two toys, even though we tried to persuade her that one was sufficient. Nanci wasn’t buying it, and we gave up trying to convince her.

Nanci loved spending time with the shelter dogs.

She also made certain that every dog had a blanket (at least every dog that wasn’t a known blanket-eater).

“She had a very high standard for putting down blankets,” says Ellie Joos, FOTAS Secretary. “She didn’t just toss them down. She placed the blankets on the pallets and tucked them in at the corners so they were smooth, sometimes adding a second blanket if she thought this dog or that dog needed some extra cushioning or warmth. That was the thing about Nanci—no matter how many dogs were on the adoption floor, she knew them all and figured out their individual needs.”

On any given afternoon, Nanci could be found sitting on a bench in the shade with a dog beside her.

Nanci gets a kiss from shelter dog Rocky.

“It was usually a dog that only an hour before had been so scared and shutdown, it would tremble in the corner of its kennel and not make eye contact,” says Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director. “She’d be working her magic, stroking the dog and talking in soft tones, and the dog would be lying beside her, head in her lap, totally relaxed and content.”

She had a gift for bringing the hard cases back to life, which in turn made them attractive adoption prospects. Without her intervention, many of those dogs might have shut down completely, spent more time on the adoption floor, and had a harder time adjusting to a new family. She made a real difference in their lives.

The animals made a difference in her life, too.

“As Nanci struggled with the long, ugly battle with cancer, her time at the shelter gave her solace, a reason to get up every day—even on the bad days,” says her husband, Steve. “She loved going to the shelter.”

The truth is, Nanci made a difference in all of our lives. The world will be a slightly dimmer place without her.

Godspeed, dear friend. You will be missed.

–– By Jennifer Miller, FOTAS President
and Joanna Samson, FOTAS Vice-President

2019, Adoption, Cats, FOTAS, injured animals, kittens, neglected pets, News

Mama Jeanne: Suffering and Sacrifice Lead to Cat’s Adoption

Posted on by Bob Gordon
28
Jul

She arrived during the shelter’s cruelest season, a cat whose story of suffering and sacrifice made us all stop just to take it in. Because of all we don’t know about the cat now called Mama Jeanne, what we do know says it all.

She gave birth to four kittens as a starving stray, then got hit by a car when she left them to find food. With a crushed right leg and a broken left hip, she dragged herself back to her babies and kept nursing them anyhow. Animal Control officers found her days later and brought the little family into the Aiken County Animal Shelter. It would be their home for weeks.

Mama Jeanne could barely stand when she arrived, but pushed through excruciating pain to keep being a mom. Amazingly, her hip healed while she nursed. Her kittens grew healthy and were adopted. But Mama Jeanne’s crushed leg did not respond to treatment and had to be amputated. So, as a newly three-legged adult cat with no pedigree and little promise, she was left to compete for a home in a shelter so crowded it’ll take in 1,500 animals May through July. The shelter’s vet, Dr. Lisa Levy, was worried about Mama Jeanne’s chances and asked me to post her plight on social media.

Young cat Mama Jeanne was badly injured when a car hit her — but she kept caring for her kittens.

Meanwhile, Irene Marie Ortega was working nights as a nurse at the burn center in Augusta, GA. For several months, she spent time between shifts scrolling through websites of shelters as far away as New York looking for the right cat.

“They were cute, but I didn’t feel a connection.” Then, on July 10, she saw Mama Jeanne’s post on Facebook. “I was so touched with her story. After just one reading, I was sure she was The One.” She traded shifts with another nurse to adopt Mama Jeanne that day.

Three-legged cat Mama Jeanne with her new “mom,” Irene Marie Ortega.

Because, in many ways, Mama Jeanne’s story is hers too.

Ortega’s three children were tiny when she became a single mom. A native of the Philippines living in Chicago, she had to find the courage and persistence to make a new life. She moved to the Atlanta area and then Augusta, where she worked nights in nursing homes, spent days in nursing school, and in-between gave it all to care for her children.

“No matter how hard the struggles were, I endured everything just to give the best to my kids,” says Ortega, whose children are now grown and pursuing their own careers in nursing and medicine. “I felt the pains of Mama Jeanne. I’m a single mom, too. I want to give her the life she deserves after all she went through.”

Mama Jeanne was adopted not despite her broken story, but because of it. Social media can be a lifeline for animals otherwise lost in the crowd of overflowing kennels. Like it was for the mama cat who gave her all.

“We love Mama Jeanne so much. She’s safe now,” Ortega says.

Their lives are in our hands.

– By Martha Anne Tudor

BY THE NUMBERS

From May 1 to July 27, the County Animal Shelter received more than 1,500 strays and surrendered pets.

PETS OF THE WEEK

HECTOR

Mixed breed, male, 2 years old, 55 pounds – $35

RODRIGO

Domestic Shorthair Tuxedo, male, 2 months old, 1.5 pounds – $10

2019, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Dogs, fostering, FOTAS, kennel stress, News, Pibbles, Training

Amazing Dogs Struggle to Find Homes Due to Kennel Stress

Posted on by Bob Gordon
22
Jul

Last week I walked over to see the new dogs on the shelter’s intake wing. When I see the dog in kennel 8, my heart breaks. He is so scared. He is a larger dog, white with a gorgeous brown spot on his eye. He can’t make eye contact with me; he just turns and tries to hide.

RAMSAY is having a tough time adjusting to life in the County Animal Shelter.

The fans are blowing – cooling the kennels – and he is clearly unsure of the noise. He has a ring around his neck where the long chain was taken off of him. He was dragging it along the ground when found lost and confused by a shelter volunteer. I step into the kennel and he jumps back. When I sit down, he tries to bury his head between my back and the wall. Each sound frightens him. He looks around nervously trying to figure out what is happening. I decide he needs some time, so I lie down with him in the kennel and he finally closes his eyes. I am now invested and must find a way to help this poor boy.

Imagine you live all your life outside on a chain and now you are confined. It has to be a struggle. Over the next couple of days, he gains confidence with each leash walk but frantically digs at the concrete floor when put back into his kennel. A large, donated Nylabone helps him calm down. The right toys can be hugely comforting.

Now on adoption and named Ramsay, he is being overlooked because he is so uncomfortable in the kennel space. If adopters could only take him out and see how incredibly sweet he is! He’ll melt against your leg just wanting to be loved.

LUKE is such a sweet dog away from the shelter.

Fosters Yvonne and Colin Brookes have been working with a dog similar to Ramsay, a beautiful boy named Luke. Luke struggled in the kennels, so the couple started taking him to the park. They noticed that he relaxed as soon as he left the shelter but needed some training as no one had ever had him on a leash or taught him any obedience.

He has been in foster with them for weeks and now knows so much! Great with other dogs, he is crate trained and loves to go to Dunkin’ Donuts and sit on the bench. Colin rides his bicycle and Luke trots right next to him; it’s his favorite exercise.

When Luke comes back to the shelter for adoption opportunities, he reverts back to his old behaviors. He starts jumping, barking and chewing at the leash as soon as he gets out of the car. It is so painful for Yvonne and Colin to see the dog they know is so great away from the shelter turn into a completely different creature when he hears the barking of the other homeless dogs. He is almost frantic.

LUKE enjoys going to the park with FOTAS foster volunteer Colin Brookes.

There are so many amazing dogs that struggle to find homes due to kennel stress. If we could only encourage adopters to look at the dog outside of the kennel and not judge them by their behavior while in confinement. Trust me, we would not be ourselves if we were in that position.

Please spread the word about these amazing dogs and take a chance on the underdog. You will find that no pet ever loved you as much as they do.

Their lives are in our hands.

— by Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director