Author Archives: Bob Gordon

2020, Bully Dogs, Chained dogs, Dogs, kennel stress, neglected pets, News, Pibbles

The Forgotten Aiken County Shelter Dogs: Colt, Loki & Lucy

Posted on by Bob Gordon
31
Aug

The Aiken County Animal Shelter has enjoyed some amazing adoptions in the past few months. People were home on quarantine, and it was the perfect time to adopt. But now adoptions are slowing down and the shelter has some cuties that have been waiting for homes for way too long. These sweethearts are in urgent need of good homes.

Colt meets a boy while on a Doggie Day Out.

Colt is a loving boy who has been on the adoption floor the longest. He has gone home with volunteers for overnights and we have learned that he is housetrained and grateful for all kindness given to him. Colt came to the shelter with bullet fragments in him! We don’t know why someone would want to shoot this sweet guy. We only know that he is lovable and very ready to find his forever home. He is beginning to show signs of depression from being in a kennel too long. This boy wants to be your TV-watching couch buddy.

Lucy is a squishy and sweet Boxer mix. Poor Lucy is afraid of thunderstorms, which we have had many of this month. We really need to get her into a home and make her more comfortable. She is the first dog walked by volunteers each morning as she is very housebroken (and like all the others listed) will not eat her breakfast until she goes out for a walk. When you make a kissing sound, she will sit and give you a kiss!

Loki arrived at the shelter starving.

Loki came to the shelter looking skeletal. He was so sad and hungry, and grateful for receiving our care. When the staff first brought him a large bed and a bowl full of food, in all honesty I think he was smiling. He is just the sweetest boy, and he will appreciate whoever gives him a good life! Dogs who have been neglected show such incredible love to those who save them.

Boxer mix Lucy desperately needs a home.

You may notice a theme here…there are no 10-pound dogs sitting at the shelter. The dogs who desperately need homes are on the larger side. You can be a grouchy, small dog and still find a home. But our medium to large dogs who often have the best manners and show so much affection, are the ones who seem to sit in kennels the longest, waiting to be chosen and adopted. Please help us find loving homes for these forgotten dogs.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2020, Can I Crash on Your Couch? Program, coronavirus crisis, DOGGIE DATES, Doggie Day Out, Dogs, FOTAS, News, Volunteer, Volunteers

Pure Bliss: Take a Shelter Dog on a Short Field Trip or Sleepover

Posted on by Bob Gordon
28
Aug

Pure bliss. That is what a shelter dog feels when he gets a chance to spend time away from the shelter for a night, a weekend or even just a couple of hours.

So, three years ago we launched the FOTAS Doggie Days Out program, which allows citizens to take a dog from the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) for a few hours to go for a walk, a trip to the park or another exciting activity. The program is especially beneficial to dogs who are anxious or suffering from kennel stress.

Shelter dog COLT enjoys some deep sleep while crashing on a volunteer’s bed.

“It’s a fabulous program because the dogs get to go on an adventure with you and they get excited by the new sites and smells,” said Valarie Trapp, a local teacher who has taken many different ACAS dogs out this summer. “It’s also a great way to help socialize the dogs — by nurturing, loving and getting to know them.”

“Doggie dating” at the shelter also helps promote the dogs and expose them to a larger audience. Adam Poore and his mom come to the shelter every Friday to take a dog out for a few hours. When Adam walks them or stops by a restaurant to buy them a snack, he takes photos and makes short videos of the experience. One of his videos of handsome, gray and white Harrison was posted on the FOTAS Facebook page and caught the eye of Ashley Harris, who adopted the sweet dog.

“Some people might be apprehensive about spending time with the shelter animals because they think it will make them feel bad when they bring them back,” Poore said. “But it doesn’t make you feel bad; it makes you feel really good. With your help, these dogs have gotten away from the shelter noise, enjoyed a snack and had a good time.”

Wendy Hirsch enjoyed her first doggie date last week and posted photos of her time with older dog Graham on Facebook.

“I like the fact that it is so easy to sign up,” Hirsch said. “You just complete a one-page form, the staff makes a copy of your driver’s license, and you take the dog out for a trip downtown, Citizens Park or just a calming car ride.”

WYNONA enjoys some couch time after a Doggie Day Out with FOTAS Volunteer Valarie Trapp.

This year, FOTAS introduced a program that allows citizens to take a shelter dog home overnight or for a weekend. With this “Can I Crash on Your Couch?” program, shelter dogs get to spend time in a real home so they can get much-needed sleep and one-on-one attention. A shelter, no matter how nice, can be a stressful place with barking and other environmental elements making it difficult for pets to sleep. When a shelter dog returns from an overnight, he is full of joy. This experience helps them become better prepared for their future family.

If you would like to participate in the Doggie Day Out and/or Can I Crash on Your Couch? programs, please call the ACAS at (803) 642-1537, option #5, or send an email to info@fotasaiken.com. Or just stop by the shelter, 333 Wire Road, and we’ll get you started!

Our homeless dogs will be waiting for you.

Their lives are in our hands.

.
— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director


2020, Cats, FIV positive felines, FOTAS, News, Shelter staff, Volunteers

Simba: Unforgettable Tabby Cries for Hugs from Shelter Staff

Posted on by Bob Gordon
20
Aug

Last year, 4,000 animals arrived at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) and it can be overwhelming to remember them as they are adopted to new homes or reunited with their owners. But there are certain pets in need that are such loving, charming characters, they steal your heart and become etched in your mind forever.

Simba, a chubby-cheeked orange Tabby who is currently available for adoption, fits in this special category.

Simba, an FIV+ orange Tabby, loves getting attention from the Shelter staff and volunteers, and they love hugging him.

Besides being cute and charismatic, Simba acts more like a dog than a cat. He often cries when people walk through the shelter lobby, past his cat condo. Eventually, a staff member or volunteer will open his kennel door to give him some attention. After 30 seconds of getting petted, Simba puts his paws on their right shoulder and climbs into their arms. Simba has a low meow that sounds like a grunt and when he’s happy, he purrs and meows repeatedly. Then his eyes become half-closed and he gently bumps his face into their chin to show his appreciation.

Most everyone is a bit affected by COVID-19 anxiety these days, and the shelter staff is no exception. So throughout the day, employees stop by Simba’s cat condo to say hello or pick him up for a warm hug. A quick cuddle with fluffy, 10-pound Simba is a real stress reducer.

Super Simba arrived at the shelter about three weeks ago. His owner surrendered the 3-year-old kitty because he didn’t get along with her other cats. Simba doesn’t like to share his humans.

After the medical staff treated, examined and tested Simba, they discovered he has Feline Immunodeficiency Virus or FIV. FIV infection is transmitted primarily by deep bite wounds. It is not transmitted sexually or through casual contact with another cat.

Simba will be missed and remembered by the staff and volunteers long after he’s adopted.

Infected cats like Simba can live a completely normal and long life. However, there’s a chance he may at some point succumb to the feline virus, which attacks the immune system and allows him to become vulnerable to other infections. Also, FIV positive cats should be kept indoors to prevent them from being exposed to other diseases. Simba will be a perfect indoor-only cat since he loves the luxuries of life and being with his humans.

Simba is a special cat. He’s one of those rare homeless pets that we will miss and remember long after he’s adopted. But he desperately needs a loving home where he can be the only cat and start living life away from the shelter. He needs a family of his own.

If you would like to adopt Simba, please make an appointment to see him by calling the ACAS at (803) 642-1537, option #5, or email to info@fotasaiken.com.

In the meantime, the volunteers and staff will take turns giving him hugs.

Their lives are in our hands.


— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2020, Dogs, FOTAS, hero pets, News

County Shelter Dog Matilda Saves Her Adopter’s Life

Posted on by Bob Gordon
12
Aug

When Carol Winn adopted sweet brindle and white Terrier mix Matilda from the Aiken County Animal Shelter, she had no way of knowing this cute, young dog would save her life one year later.

Carol Winn with her canine heroine, Matilda.

But that’s exactly what happened. On June 24, Winn woke up startled to see Matilda shaking her bed.

“She doesn’t sleep with me, she has her own bed,” Carol said. “At 5:45 in the morning, when she woke me, I was having a heart attack. I fell out of the bed, and she stayed by my side until the ambulance got to me.”

Superhero dog: Matilda at home in 2020

Carol’s phone was in the living room, so she had to crawl from her bedroom to call 911. Matilda crawled along with her and would not let her out of her sight.

The University Hospital doctor who treated Winn said that had Matilda not shaken her awake, she would have likely died in her sleep.

“I feel that God sent Matilda to me just for that reason,” Carol said.” Fur angels are real, God works in mysterious ways. Thank you for allowing me to adopt my sweet Matilda. Thank you, God, for using my sweet Matilda to save my life.”

Winn was in the hospital for two days and tests confirmed she had a 100 percent blockage in an artery. Her doctor put in a stent and prescribed medication that she will have to take for the rest of her life. She was also instructed to take time off from work for two months, which resulted in her losing her job.

When Carol Winn saw this photo of Matilda on Facebook the evening of June 18, 2019, she rushed over to the shelter the next morning. “I got there an hour before the shelter opened and as soon as the doors opened, I went straight to her and she licked my face, and we were just meant to be,” she said.

“It’s fine, though,” Winn said. “Everything will work out. I have Matilda watching over me. She loves me and I love her just as much.”

The Aiken County Animal Shelter has many more dogs and cats needing homes and wanting to be your new best friend. Please call the shelter at (803) 642-1537, option #5, if you would like to make an appointment to see some of them!

Their lives are in our hands.


— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director


PETS OF THE WEEK


HARRISON
Mixed breed, male, 6 years old, gray & white, 65 pounds – $35


SIMBA
Domestic Shorthair, FIV+ male, 3 years old, orange Tabby, 10 pounds – $10

2020, Cats, Donate, donations, FOTAS, Fundraisers, News, shelter construction, Volunteer

Ernie Wolf: FOTAS Volunteer Makes Houses for a Good Cause

Posted on by Bob Gordon
06
Aug

It has been my honor to be one of the founders and President of FOTAS since 2009. Before FOTAS was founded, I saw a stray animal problem in Aiken County and didn’t know what to do about it. I began to advocate for the homeless animals in the county and was joined by an unexpected and wonderful cohort who also cared deeply about the fate of those animals: Ernie Wolf.

I met Ernie, a retired mechanical engineer, in the early days. Ernie and I didn’t understand the magnitude of our undertaking when we began a campaign to help the animals. FOTAS was formed in 2009, and Ernie was one if its original volunteers. Ernie loves cats. His former cat, Murphey Brown, and his current cat, Murphy Wolf (adopted from Aiken County Animal Shelter), were and are his best friends and the apples of his eye. Ernie swears each cat is (and was) the most intelligent cat he’s ever met and could outsmart any dog.

Ernie Wolf, one of the pioneers of FOTAS, designed the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s cat facility

Ernie was instrumental in the construction of the first FOTAS project at the Aiken County Animal Shelter—a place to house adoptable cats. He designed, organized and lead the efforts to build the much-needed Cat House. (By the way, Ernie hated it when we referred to the facility as the Cat House because it is a euphemism for a brothel. That gave everyone, including the cats, a big laugh).

The unique design of the Cat House provides for both indoor and outdoor space for the cats, which allows them to move about freely among multiple play and perch areas. Volunteers and prospective adopters have a place to visit and sit with the cats in a more natural environment, which is a win/win for everyone.

When the shelter moved to the new facility in 2014, the Cat House was moved as well. Last year FOTAS refurbished and updated the Cat House, and today it is still a wonderful, unique, and successful adoption facility for the cats.

Ernie Wolf is selling his latest creation, a decorative birdhouse, and donating the proceeds to FOTAS.

Fifteen years ago, Ernie met Linda Soyars when she was walking her dog outside his home. They became intimate friends and enjoyed a loving relationship until she recently passed away. Linda shared Ernie’s passion for animals and became a cherished FOTAS volunteer herself. She was a special, kind person who will be missed by all of us.

In memory of Linda, Ernie has built another house in her honor, this time an exquisite, handmade bird house to be displayed as an indoor decorative piece. Ernie wants to sell this extraordinary, beautifully crafted Birdhouse and donate the proceeds of the sale to FOTAS. (Please call the FOTAS Hotline, (803) 514-4313, if interested.)

Ernie is not done developing building plans for FOTAS. Just shy of his 92nd birthday, he is assisting FOTAS with the conceptual drawings for two much-needed meet and greet adoption rooms and an indoor training area at the shelter. Stay posted for coming updates!

Behind the scenes Ernie has dedicated countless volunteer hours to FOTAS. Thank you, Ernie. We also remember Linda and her devotion to shelter animals. Volunteers are the lifeline of FOTAS. They make it possible to help so many animals in need at the shelter, and we are deeply grateful to them all.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Jennifer Miller, FOTAS President

2020, Adoption, donations, FOTAS, Have a Heart, Save a Heart, Home-to-Home adoption program, News, Spay/Neuter, TNR Program, Transfer, Volunteers, Where your donations go, Where your donations go

FOTAS and 11 Years of Progress at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Bob Gordon
30
Jul

On July 29, 2009, the South Carolina Secretary of State officially approved FOTAS as a charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to the care of the homeless, abandoned, and abused animals consigned to the County Shelter, kicking off the beginning of an extraordinary public/private partnership with the county and a new, comprehensive approach to caring for homeless animals. It was a massive undertaking. At the time, more than 6,000 animals a year passed through the doors of the county’s tiny, antiquated shelter. Only 5% made it out alive.

FOTAS helps fund the TNR program, which has been so effective in curbing community cat overpopulation in the Aiken County

All of that has changed in the past 11 years. With the opening of the new shelter in 2014, the FOTAS/county partnership solidified and blossomed. FOTAS volunteers are an integral part of the shelter’s operations (it is estimated that FOTAS volunteers provide the equivalent of ten full-time positions). FOTAS donations supplement the shelter’s budget and programs and provide supplies such as leashes, toys, flea and tick prevention, and medicine for heartworm positive dogs. FOTAS has created a network of transfer partners in other parts of the country (where kennels are empty because everyone fixes their pets) where we send dogs (and pay the incurred transport costs) who could not find homes locally. The transfer program saves thousands of animals every year.

We also attack the problem of overpopulation of homeless pets. FOTAS supplements the county’s spay/neuter financial assistance program for county residents who need it, as well as funds to support the TNR (Trap Neuter Return) program to address the problems of community cats. We hire a mobile spay/neuter van to go to hot-spot areas around the county (the FIDO Fix-a-Pet program) to provide free spay/neuter surgeries for citizens who need financial assistance.

Tiffy is adopted following mouth surgery. This poor kitten was rescued after being thrown from a moving car.

Our Home-to-Home program allows folks who can no longer care for their pets to use the power of our social media to find loving homes without subjecting their beloved pets to the trauma of surrender to the shelter (it’s been a huge success during the COVID crisis!) FOTAS works with Animal Control to provide dog houses and humane runners for dogs who are tethered to chains, as well as dog food and other supplies to help folks in a bind.

Biz and Eddie Mann adopted Snowflake (now named Keaton) from the ACAS in July.

FOTAS also helps with the improvement of the physical facilities at the shelter. In addition to funding the medical wellness and isolation pod for animals with curable infectious ailments, plans are currently underway for a building that will house two, much needed adoption rooms and a training area.

In 2017, FOTAS was one of ten (out of 14,000) charitable organizations to be awarded the Angel Award by the Secretary of State, which recognizes the most efficient and effective nonprofits in the state. Plus, for the second year in a row, FOTAS and our signature event, Woofstock, received the Aiken Standard Choice Best of Aiken Award.

We have managed to do all of this with only one paid staff member and an army of volunteers. Has it worked? You bet it has. For the past two years, FOTAS and the county achieved their goal of not having to euthanize any adoptable pet.

None of this would have been possible without you, the generous Aiken community, who have donated your time and money and welcomed shelter animals into your hearts and homes.

Thank you and God Bless. Stay safe.


–By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

2020, animal abuse, ANIMAL CRUELTY, Chained dogs, Dogs, FOTAS, neglected pets, News, SOCIAL MEDIA

Frightened, Sad Shelter Dog Reminds Us We Can Still Make a Difference

Posted on by Bob Gordon
23
Jul

At a time when we might feel helpless in a world out of control, Kai’s story reminds us we can still make a difference.

His fear also hits home. There’s a lot of scary going on.

Maybe that’s why this traumatized dog with a broken heart became a social media celeb in just one day. More than 68,000 people around the globe shared his post. Another 25,000 offered tears, donations, and prayers.

KAI was saved by a rescue that specializes in helping dogs traumatized by abuse.

As one reader in Virginia put it: “The comments under Kai’s post restore my faith in humanity at a time when I need it most.”

At the time of our first post, Kai was a sad frightened dog in the corner of his kennel. Fear like we haven’t seen in a long time. When he heard a noise while eating, food fell from his mouth.

Now, through your sharing, Kai can rest peacefully in the lap of his foster hero Jessica, with Southern Tails for Precious Paws Rescue in Charleston, SC. She is an expert in healing dogs who’ve been beaten and abused.

When this photo of ACAS dog KAI was posted on Facebook along with his sad story, more than 68,000 people around the world shared it. Within hours of the post, KAI was rescued by an expert who specializes in healing dogs traumatized from abuse.

What’s more, three other struggling dogs got homes too, from the 500 plus emails the Aiken County Animal Shelter woke up to that morning, all asking to adopt Kai.

Please take a minute and take it in. You saved four dogs by sharing one post. That’s power. That’s goodness. That’s the love that changes everything.

Whatever you may think about social media, at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, where over 4,000 unwanted animals were received last year, this communication tool and the sharing of our Facebook posts (especially during this chaotic time) has been a blessing in helping us to continue to save so many lives. Your sharing of a FOTAS Facebook post could be the one that saves that shelter pet’s life.

Thank you. Their lives are in our hands.

— By Martha Anne Tudor, FOTAS Volunteer

2020, coronavirus crisis, Dogs, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, News

Focusing on Foster Fun and Happiness During COVID-19 Isolation

Posted on by Bob Gordon
14
Jul

Times are so complicated right now and many are struggling with depression and anxiety. Even children are feeling the effects of social distancing. Summer break is normally a time filled with vacations, camps, sleep overs…all things that have been put on hold. Being away from friends and others in their age group can be so lonely.

As the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise in our area, that isolated feeling seems to be getting worse. Yet families that have fostered shelter pets during the pandemic have benefited from the experience.

Charlotte and Savannah Collen sandwich Aiken County Animal Shelter dog Hachi in their home.

Look at Savannah and Charlotte Collen, ages 11 and 5. Their family decided to start fostering this spring and what a difference it has made in not only in the lives of the dogs they have fostered, but in the children’s lives.

When fostering their first shelter dog, a large mixed breed named Joseph, mother Kamillah said, “We are having a wonderful time with Joseph. He follows the girls around pretty much all day. We feed him twice each day, and he is getting plenty of exercise and love. He’s pretty spoiled and they are learning responsibility. It’s a win-win.”

Charlotte and Hachi wear matching crowns.

Kamillah just emailed us pictures of their most recent foster, Hachi, noting, “I think he’s having fun!” These pictures brought tears to my eyes! Large, high-energy dogs like Hachi are not always seen as family dogs. But the photos showed him sleeping on his back on a rug, wearing a Princess crown with Charlotte, going on a dog walk with Savannah – and enjoying every second of it!

The great thing is that Hachi has a home waiting for him; he just needed a place to stay until we could get him there. So when the girls say goodbye, they know that he is going to another home filled with love. They don’t have to be sad; he just had the best vacation from the shelter with them. Plus, there are more homeless pets that need help. Maybe their next foster dog will be smaller and fluffier, or maybe one that wants to catch tennis balls.

Some families even keep scrapbooks with pictures of each foster pup, kitten or dog they help. It’s so fun to look back at all the lives made better, thanks to your family.

Hachi and Savannah go on a nature hike.

Whether you prefer kittens, puppies or adult dogs, we would love your help. The Aiken County Animal Shelter is currently undergoing a construction project which has us 30 kennels short for the summer. Now more than ever, we need foster homes so that we can create room for more homeless animals in need.

FOTAS provides food for foster pets as well as crates, if needed. The pets are flea treated and come with everything they need. All we ask is that you give them a safe place to stay and a little love.

Contact info@fotas.org or find our foster application on our website at fotasaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands.


–By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2020, Can I Crash on Your Couch? Program, DOGGIE DATES, Doggie Day Out, Dogs, FOTAS, kennel stress, News

Give a Dog a Short Break from Shelter Noise, Stress

Posted on by Bob Gordon
06
Jul

Scrappy, a lovable and social dog, exhibited a new behavior that worried us at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS). This dog, who loves people, stopped coming to us in the play yard. We called him but he just ran away and sat as far from us as possible. You can imagine how this would make a potential adopter feel (totally unwanted). But then the volunteers and staff realized Scrappy wasn’t being anti-social at all. He just didn’t want to go back in his kennel. He was tired of watching and waiting for his turn as other dogs played in the grass and fetched tennis balls. So, he was trying to dodge us!

The Williams family takes adoptable dog ACE for a Doggie Day Out on July 4th.

I decided that he needed time away. So, I walked to the gate closest to my car and said “Scrappy, car ride!” He ignored me until I started my car and opened the door. He got excited and ran to me. We drove around and he lay down on the back seat, still holding the tennis ball in his mouth. He relaxed and dropped the ball, put his head down and closed his eyes. How sad! He was exhausted from the stress at the shelter (loud barking, trucks and cars in the parking lots, kennel doors closing).

Scrappy woke up when we pulled up to McDonald’s for a treat. Between us, I don’t think our amazing veterinary team would appreciate me getting him chicken nuggets. But would a couple of nuggets really be that big of a deal? I explained to Scrappy that what happens in my car stays in my car – and no throwing up the evidence. I laughed, he drooled.

When we got back to the shelter, he happily went to his kennel to drink some water and take a nap. What only took me a half hour made his entire day better! Now when he sees my car, he pulls me to the door. I can’t give him junk food every time, so we go to Citizens Park for a quick walk or a car ride with the windows down. The point is, he doesn’t care where we go. He just wants one-on-one time away from the shelter.

We call this our Doggie Days Out program and we are asking you to try it. If you live in Aiken County, call the ACAS to make an appointment to pick up a dog, (803) 642-1537, ext. 5. When you arrive to pick up the dog, we have a super short form to fill out.

Adoptable dog SCRAPPY enjoys a Doggie Day Out.

Even better, how about a Doggie Night Out, also known as “Can I Crash on Your Couch?” You can borrow a shelter dog for an overnight and let them catch up on real sleep. It is so rewarding! If you don’t have a pet or you don’t have time for one, this is perfect! All it takes is completing an application and we will give you a flea-free, sweet, and grateful dog.

Please take an hour out of your week, or even a night, and make a shelter dog happy!

Their lives are in our hands.


— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2020, animal care education, Cats, Dogs, fireworks and pets, FOTAS, News

July 4th Celebrations Can Result in Terrified, Lost Dogs & Cats

Posted on by Bob Gordon
04
Jul

On the Monday following July 4th weekend, the phones at the Aiken County always blow up with calls from citizens who have lost their dogs or cats because the animals panicked and ran from the flashing skies and booming explosions around their yards.

“I can’t stress enough how important it is to bring your pets inside if you expect evening fireworks in your area,” said Aiken County Animal Shelter Manager Bobby Arthurs. “Animals can panic and feel like their lives are in danger, which results in them running from their homes, getting lost and going missing.”

To a cat or dog, the sound and flash of July 4th fireworks can seem like the end of the world.

A frightened dog may scale a fence they would not attempt under normal circumstances or might try to dig out of a pen in a panic. A terrified cat might jump out a window or even through a window screen.

Aiken County is not unique. Nationwide, more pets go missing July 4-6 than any other time of year. According to PetAmberAlert, a lost pet finder that helps four-legged family members find their way home, animal control officials across the nation report a 30%-60% increase in lost pets each year between these dates.

The following are some tips for preparing your pets for fireworks activity taking place near your home:

1. Be sure your pet is microchipped and has your contact information on his collar in case he runs away.

2. If your pet is inside, close the curtains/blinds and play soothing music to mask the outside explosions.

3. Provide a hiding spot for your pet that they have access to at all times. Examples: under furniture, in crate, in quiet corner

4. If your pets must remain outside, stay with them and comfort them.

5. Walk your dog during the daylight hours and keep dogs and cats indoors when the fireworks are likely to be set off

6. Some dogs are calmed by “thunder shirts” and you can also reduce your pets’ anxiety with pheromone diffusers

7. Feed your pet a solid meal an hour or two before the fireworks are scheduled to start. He will feel more relaxed and content, like you do after a big meal.

If your panicked pet does bolt from your home and goes missing, be sure to post their photo, description, and when and where they went missing on Aiken Pets Reunited’s Facebook page. This site is consistently monitored by shelters, rescues and other animal advocates. Many pets have been found and reunited with their owners through this excellent website.

Pets can panic and bolt from their homes when fireworks go off nearby.

You can also call the Aiken County Animal Shelter and SPCA Albrecht Center to see if your pet was brought in as a stray. At the ACAS, you can fill out a lost pet report.

“Please secure your pets at home this holiday weekend and keep them on a leash if you take them out in the evening,” Arthurs said. “We would love to see less lost pets brought into the shelter this year and more dogs and cats remain happy and safe with their families.”

The ACAS is located at 333 Wire Road in Aiken, and open for adoptions Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, the ACAS will be closed for the July 4 weekend – both Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4 – reopening on Monday, July 6.

For more information, contact the ACAS, (803) 642-1537 or reach out to FOTAS at info@FOTASaiken.org. The FOTAS website is www.FOTASaiken.org.

— FOTAS Press Release