Author Archives: Shana Ryberg

2023, abandoned animals, Adoption

Shelter dogs offering the most love are often overlooked

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
A car likely hit Jax, injuring his leg.
09
Jun

Our intake is currently sky high. Shelter staff members are exhausted, the dogs are super stressed, the mood is not great at the shelter. When there are fifty plus dogs available for adoption and another fifty on stray hold, the adoptable dogs have to be pretty cute to attract an adopter. The thing is, the dogs that often get overlooked are usually the ones that give the most love, do everything they can to please their people and are the most loyal.

Nine-year-old Jax is a skinny 42 pounds (way underweight but he is getting the best food now) and his ears are scarred from fly bites. This boy was found as a stray. Jax did have a microchip but unfortunately the original owner said they gave him away eight years ago. Poor buddy! Did I mention his limp? He must have been hit by a car or injured somehow, so he sometimes holds his rear leg up when walking. Poor Jax doesn’t have much “curb appeal.” However, if you want a dog that is loving, grateful and will absolutely love you forever – this is the dog. He has a kind personality, walks awesomely on leash and appears housetrained. When walking Jax, he will bump your hand with his nose to get you to pet him; and when you do, he softens completely. He is so sweet! Who will be his hero?

Kai is only a year old and the luckiest dog to be alive! His owner surrendered him after a venomous snake bit the poor dog. Kai’s face swelled to twice its size and was this way for a week before Animal Control was contacted. Once in our care, he was given the treatment he needed. Kai was suffering and shut down. Although still recovering, Kai is peppy, happy and snuggly now! We can’t walk by him without him saying hello, a cute little bark with his tail wagging. Kai will be looking for a forever home soon.

One of our volunteers, Casey, found Parker. The poor dog was wandering the streets with a laceration on his neck. When looking closer, Casey saw the imprint of some kind of harness. Parker’s neck had an open wound where it cut into his skin. This dog walked up to her and was as sweet as can be! He is now healing and the friendliest dog ever. Parker smiles all the time, never stops wagging his tail and is home ready!

Parker is so happy now that his neck has healed.

We are so grateful for the Aiken County shelter staff members and the animal control officers who receive call after call regarding lost, neglected and unwanted pets. We are also thankful for the shelter’s veterinary team for the care given to these homeless pets when time is so limited. We are extremely grateful for our FOTAS volunteers and donors who help give comfort and love to each pet.

We need homes for these pets. The shelter is not a home. Maybe you have room for another? Help us help them.

Their lives are in our hands.

by Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2023, abandoned animals, Adoption, Demodex

Local woman rescues stray and turns dog’s life around

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Nova and Jaime arrive for a follow-up exam with the shelter veterinarian.
03
Jun
Jaime Randall rescued Nova and brought her to the County Shelter.
Jaime Randall rescued Nova and brought her to the County Shelter.

Nova arrived at the shelter bald and bleeding. Her skin, ravaged by mange, was red, dry and cracking open. She was also depressed and alarmingly thin.

“I saw her wandering around, scrounging for food,” explained Jaime Randall. “She had a little spot on her head, about the size of a quarter, which was missing fur. But when I saw her just a few weeks later, she didn’t have a stitch of fur on her body. She was in so much pain, she could barely walk.”


When Jaime saw the poor pup in such distress, she decided to get her help. She put her in the backseat of her car and drove her to the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Ten-month-old Nova was taken in as a stray and given a thorough exam, then treated for demodectic mange.

“Demodex” is caused by a mite, a normal inhabitant of every dog’s skin. In low numbers, these mites cause no symptoms and may serve an important role as part of a dog’s normal skin. However, when dogs have a compromised immune system, the mites can multiply unchecked, which leads to demodex and itchy, inflamed skin. The condition, which is not contagious to people or other pets, is common in strays and neglected pets. Normally, it only results in some missing patches of fur. However, untreated, it can get as severe as Nova’s dreadful case. FOTAS funds the treatment for County Shelter dogs suffering from demodex.

After three weeks at the shelter, Nova remained unclaimed by an owner. Within a month, Jaime drove to the shelter to see how the sick pup was doing. When she looked into Nova’s eyes this time, she knew she had to give her a home.

Nova today: happy and healthy in her new home.
Nova today: happy and healthy in her new home.



Now Nova is one year old and doing great – all of her fur has grown back! Jaime’s young son Jaiden, who usually doesn’t have much interest in animals, fell in love with Nova right away and plays “chase” with her. Nova also plays with the family’s other dog, Princess, a Chihuahua, and gets along well with their three female rescue cats – Lucy, Lacey and Ollie. Nova and Lucy even cuddle with each other.

“This dog was dealing with tremendous hardship, then had her whole world flipped upside down when we brought her into our home,” Jaime said. “But you would never know it. Nova is fitting right in and doesn’t hold any grudges for what happened to her.”

There are many more wonderful cats and dogs at the County Shelter who need loving homes. Please go to fotasaiken.org to see them or stop by and visit them at 333 Wire Road. Dogs and puppies are $35, and cats and kittens are only $10.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2023, Adoption

Today: Children’s Book signing, waived adoption fees at County Shelter

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Diesel cuddles with a FOTAS volunteer.
26
May

FOTAS is hosting a book reading and signing event for Colton & Casey Mason’s first printing of “I Just Want to Snuggle” today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. The beautifully illustrated children’s book is about Cooper, the sweet black and white mixed breed they adopted from the County Shelter in 2020.

Cooper will be with Casey, ready to snuggle with attendees while she signs books. Books will be available for purchase at the event, with a portion of the proceeds donated to FOTAS.

Following today’s book reading and signing, visitors can create their own storybook ending from 1:00 to 4:30, as all adoption fees will be waived during this time period. That’s right. You can adopt your own dog who “just wants to snuggle” for $0!

The shelter is full of terrific, adoptable pets but please be sure to visit our canine residents who have been here the longest, including:

Bam Bam is a big couch potato.
Bam Bam is a big couch potato.

Bam Bam. One of the shelter’s largest dogs up for adoption, six-year-old Bam Bam weighs in at 73 pounds. He walks well on a leash and is cuddly. If you’re looking for a couch companion, Bam Bam is your guy.

Senior dog Faith loves children
Senior dog Faith loves children

Faith. Sweet, senior mixed breed Faith loves people, especially children. Nine-year-old, 51-pound Faith has tagged along with FOTAS during school visits and each time she behaved like a rock star. She would be great as an only pet or possibly with a calm, larger dog.

 

 

Butler likes car rides and being on the go.
Butler likes car rides and being on the go.

Butler. Handsome, four-year-old. 45-pound Butler is a playful dog who loves being with people and would be a great companion. With his big personality and athleticism, he is a great dog for an active person or family.

Diesel cuddles with a FOTAS volunteer.
Diesel cuddles with a FOTAS volunteer.

Diesel. Mixed breed Diesel stands out not just due to his white coat but also because he is quite a character and appreciates every bit of affection he receives from people. This three-year-old, 38-pound pup would love a fenced-in backyard to play in.

 

Dipsy Doodle. This sweetheart is our smallest long-term resident and loves to fetch tennis balls. With her cuddly personality, this four-year-old, 51-pound mixed breed will make a wonderful pet for a single person or couple.

Dipsy Doodle wants to be your one and only pet.
Dipsy Doodle wants to be your one and only pet.

 

Suzie. Nicknamed “Super Suzie,” this wonderful pup loves other dogs. She is a tad shy at first, but quickly warms up to you. Three-year-old, 45-pound Suzie loves to play in water and go on walks.

Suzie loves other dogs and kiddie pools.
Suzie loves other dogs and kiddie pools.

 

Their lives are in our hands.

 

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2023, Adoption

Adoptions bring joy and save lives

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Senior dog Chip is as sweet as they come.
18
May

After pets are adopted from the Aiken County Animal Shelter, staff members follow up to see how they are doing in their new homes. Here is some recent feedback from our adopters.

Hutch loves his new home and family

Hutch and his new best friends.
Hutch and his new best friends.



Hutch, who we renamed Scout, is definitely part of the family now. He’s really good with our kids and loves his new home. We are curbing some habits and getting used to his big energy! We all enjoy playing fetch and taking him for walks. He’s a really good boy.
Rachel Carter

Beagle Angela is the perfect addition to this family

Thank you all for being so wonderful and making the adoption process a joyful occasion. I adopted the sweetest little Beagle girl, Angela. Last night she slept on the bed along with her three brothers. She is still a little shy, but I know she is the perfect addition to the family. Thank you all again for always making the Aiken County Animal Shelter the best place to adopt.
Linda Burros

Sweet Clementine even likes the cat!

Clementine is doing very well.

Clementine snuggles with her new mom.
Clementine snuggles with her new mom.

Eating well and getting along with everyone and everything…even the cat. We go to the dog park regularly and she is a favorite there.
Judy Sweeny

Pretty Millie loves being with the kids and other dogs

Millie is such a love, and really enjoys being with the kids and the other dogs in our pack. We have a huge yard and she loves finding fun sticks and pinecones to chew! Her ears are still deciding if they are both going to stand up or not, ha-ha! Thank you for bringing us together!
Sarah Roudsari


Bonded pair of kitties are becoming more confident

Bonded cats Pearl and Penelope cuddle.
Bonded cats Pearl and Penelope cuddle.


Pearl and Penelope have adapted well to our house! They have really opened up and are becoming much more energetic and social, but they’re still exceptionally well behaved.
Bradley Raley

Arlo is settling in wonderfully

I cannot say enough good things about Arlo. He has settled in super with my family and our animals. He loves his older “brother” Doobie, and they play well together!

Arlo with his new little brother.
Arlo with his new little brother.

He is so well behaved and I take the two dogs hiking every morning. He walks well on his leash and even off it, never leaving my side.
Alicia Coviello

Chip might be the sweetest dog ever

Mister, now Chip, is doing wonderful! We love him so much and he has to be the sweetest dog ever. He plays with a plastic bowl outside and sleeps by my bed at night. The cats are almost used to him, but he still wants to bark at the donkeys! But it’s fine. He just has to be on a leash at the barn.
Debra Waters

The County Shelter has so many more wonderful animals available for adoption. Please come and meet them at 333 Wire Road in Aiken.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2023, Volunteer

Dogs Change our Perspective

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
At 73 pounds, Bam Bam is one of the shelter’s larger lap dogs available for adoption at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.
13
May

I am a lifelong movie hound who has been influenced at times by heroic narratives and timeless courtships. I learned about first dates and opening car doors from watching A Bronx Tale. The classroom in Dead Poets Society helped me discover a love for literature and teaching. Die Hard taught me about resilience and to pack proper footwear if invited to a Christmas party.

Movies can influence us in establishing cliches and stereotypes that often take time to unlearn. X really doesn’t mark the spot. Doctors aren’t inherently egotistical, nor are all lawyers stripped of a moral compass. The stereotype at the Aiken County Animal Shelter is that pit bulls automatically need to be feared. Not true.

And yet, by and large, we do fear them. We’ve been conditioned to see the breed as foaming, devastating creatures, more akin to furry Terminators than giant, red companions or athletically gifted retrievers. Instead, they are the unsavory character’s intimidating bodyguard. They are junkyard defenders, just a choke chain or spiked collar away from certain disaster. They are the reason cameras linger on Beware of Dog signs.

That would have been me too had it not been for the Aiken County Animal Shelter. I’ve always crossed to the other side of the street, or given a wide berth to these dogs, leashed or not. A pit bull as a pet? No way. I believed they were dangerous and uncontrollable. Why? Because I believed the cliches.

The shelter is at capacity now and over half of them have various amounts of pit bull mixed into them. They last longer in the kennels than other “gentler breeds.”

I volunteer for FOTAS and spend many days walking the dogs outside their kennels. I literally cannot avoid these pit bull mixes now and I am so happy I get to walk them. They are all begging for affection and exercise and can’t wait to see me when I show up.

I walk Suzie who is a medium-sized, black pitty mix with white paws, a contagious smile and soulful eyes. She likes most every dog she meets and is usually the first one to jump in the shelter’s kiddie pool during playgroup. Suzie also insists on getting a hug when you return her to her kennel.

I also look forward to spending time with Butler, a sleek black boy with a white highway divider between his eyes. He’s got those stereotypical bear trap jaws but I don’t hesitate to let him crawl up and nibble at my beard.

And I never leave without watching Bam Bam and his massive ivory head jiggle with anticipation as we enter the woods, the simple joy of life and love powering him, and me, into another hopeful day.

These three, along with the rest of the animals at the shelter, all exude this infectious sort of hope. Theirs, to find a loving, loyal family. Ours, that perceptions can be changed, that harmful cliches will be forgotten.

Like pit bulls and treasure maps, Hollywood often gets something else wrong. In life, not everyone gets a happy ending, but with your help, either walking, cuddling, or taking them home, maybe these incredible animals will.

By Drew Attana, FOTAS Volunteer

2023, Therapy Dogs

Sharing the Love of Dogs

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
FOTAS brings sweet, calm shelter dogs to Cumberland Hills Assisted Living Facility.
05
May

It is hard to get motivated some days, especially on a dreary, rainy Friday morning. However, when David and I volunteered for FOTAS by bringing two Aiken County Animal Shelter dogs into the Cumberland Hills Assisted Living Facility, we were greeted so warmly by the residents that we quickly forgot that the sun wasn’t shining.

This was not our first visit to the facility, and it was so wonderful seeing the faces of our friends who enjoy the pups each month.

There are so many dogs at the shelter, but we wanted to bring two that would not be too playful or overly affectionate for those we were visiting. We decided on a small shaggy, neglected little dog (he found a home later that day thanks to our small dog wait list) and Enzo, a three-month-old pitty puppy.

One of my favorite residents always greets us in a wheelchair. She comes to see us before the others, and we talk about the pets she has had over the years and her daughter’s love for dogs. I was sure she would prefer the small shaggy dog but nope, she said the pitty pup was more her type. It was so cool to watch her stroke this puppy and his little tail would not stop wagging!

The director, Sky, told us that some residents couldn’t make it down the hall to see us, yet they were the biggest animal lovers. She led us to their rooms.

The first woman we met was lovely and she had a room FULL, I mean FULL, of photographs of her past dogs and horses. She brightened up when she saw the pups. This graceful woman enjoyed petting the dogs and thanked us for the visit. She reminded me to not put my face directly into the face of a dog as it can make them uncomfortable, and I could get bitten. I wonder if she was a teacher. I will ask her during our next visit.

The woman we visited next really broke both of our hearts. She was so pretty in all coral, laying down in a chair. She warmly welcomed us in. She touched the dogs and began to cry. She said her pets were just taken the day before to her family in Pennsylvania, since residents cannot have pets. You could see the pain in her eyes and she choked up. She started to pet the puppy and told him that she loved him and asked us to visit again soon. I am so looking forward to seeing her in a couple of weeks with more dogs.

As pet lovers, we cannot imagine living without our furry companions. It must be lonely without them. The men and women we meet at Cumberland Hills understand that they cannot have animals where they live. The joy we see in their faces when they are able to connect with a shelter dog or puppy is pretty spectacular.

We meet so many kind people and it is always rewarding and yet always hard to leave. The shelter dogs love to visit and they appreciate the love, attention, and the kind words softly spoken from the residents.

I am counting the days until our next visit.

By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2023, Adoption

Ten reasons why you should adopt a black dog

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Smokey, a three-year-old black Lab mix, who is medium-sized and super affectionate.
29
Apr

Black is beautiful. Yet, black dogs statistically wait at least four times longer to be adopted from shelters than lighter coated and more colorful canines.

It’s known as “Black Dog Syndrome” and we are currently experiencing this unfortunate phenomenon at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Attractive, friendly and smart black dogs are languishing at 333 Wire Road because prospective adopters are not selecting them. Why? We’re not sure. Experts claim that superstitious people see black dogs as dangerous or evil. Others theorize that their facial expressions are harder to see, especially in the shadows of their kennel, so people don’t connect with them as easily. Still others speculate that black dogs don’t photograph as well, so when they are featured on social media pages, they don’t catch the eye of prospective adopters.

Frankly, the whole Black Dog Syndrome seems silly to us — but we can’t ignore it. Not when the shelter is filling up with dark-coated dogs who can’t find homes.

  1. Therefore, to counter these negative tropes, here are ten reasons why you should adopt a black dog:
  2. Black dogs are chic and always in fashion.
  3. Black dogs never look dirty.
  4. Black dogs make you look thinner.
  5. Black dog hair blends into your dark pants, dress or coat.
  6. Black dogs are just as loyal, playful, and loving as other canines. Maybe more so.
  7. Black dogs are always ready for a formal occasion.
  8. Black dogs are cute and smart. Breeds like Labrador Retrievers, Spaniels, Shepherds and Terriers are some of the smartest dogs and often have black fur.
  9. Black dogs are easy to accessorize. They look great in any color.
    Black dogs look tough even when they are sweet pushovers.
  10. Adopting saves lives. By adopting a black dog, you will not only be saving their life, but will open up a spot for another dog to be rescued.

Here are just some of the County Shelter’s terrific black dogs who need and deserve good homes:

  • Malone, a mini black Lab mix who is four years old, easygoing and enjoys the company of other dogs.
  • Dipsy Doodle, a cute, four-year-old cuddle bug who enjoys car rides.
  • Butler, an athletic, four-year-old Retriever mix who wants to be your one and only.
  • Suzie, an active and athletic three-year-old mixed breed who is a proven superstar in playgroup.
  • Smokey, a three-year-old black Lab mix, who is medium-sized and super affectionate.
  • Kenobi, an active, three-year-old mixed breed who can’t get enough human attention.
  • Arabell, an adorable, one-year-old mixed breed who plays well with other dogs.

Please stop by the shelter to meet these black beauties and cuties. The County Shelter is at full capacity and these dogs need to find loving homes soon.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

Photo caption:
Kenobi likes toys, car rides and cuddling with his favorite humans
Malone is easygoing and often sunbathes on his back in his kennel.
Dipsy Doodle is an active girl who wants to be your one and only pet.

Butler is athletic and loves to go on walks.
Suzie is a wiggle butt and enjoys wrestling dogs her size or larger.
Smokey loves tummy rubs.

2023, Volunteer, Woofstock

Woofstock Festival Rocks!

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
20
Apr

On Saturday, April 15th FOTAS held its 10th Annual Woofstock event at Citizens Park. It is a festive day, one designed to bring the community and its four-legged animals together with all kinds of activities—contests, races, and pet-owners showing off their dogs.

But I have to make a confession. I was nervous. What if only a small group of people come to support the event? Would the vendors and sponsors be disappointed? What if only a handful of folks show up for the races or contests? Would all the hard work by the teams of volunteers who helped plan and run the event be just a waste of their precious time?

I expressed my concerns at the Park on Saturday morning to Ellie Joos, the Secretary of FOTAS and designated emcee of the event. She immediately said, “Jennifer, look at the hundreds of people making their way to the event, and look at the number of entries in all of the contests.”

Ellie was right. The response was overwhelming. More than 500 people came—the most successful Woofstock ever!

Some highlights:

  • Kenny Ray, our DJ extraordinaire, volunteered his services and set the mood for the day with excellent music. Kenny says next year he will make it even better. (Hard to imagine it could be any better!),
  • All our sponsors and vendors appreciated the great exposure; many have already committed to participate next year. ‘
  • When Buzz Rich stood in line to buy a t-shirt, the person in front of him was short of cash. In keeping with the generosity and good feeling of the day, Buzz bought that person a t-shirt as well as his own.
  • There was a parade for past shelter dogs adopted and for shelter dogs currently available for adoption. The crowd gave them a standing ovation. Marnie Munger, a long time FOTAS supporter, texted, “It was a blast! Such a good turnout and positive vibe.” Amen to that, Marnie.
  • County Council members in attendance included Chairman Gary Bunker, assistant council chair, Andrew Siders (who sang the national anthem), assistant county administrator, Brian Sanders (who participated in the parade with his shelter adopted dog), assistant county administrator/chief development officer Joel Duke, and Paige Bayne, the director of code enforcement. Paige, who oversees the shelter, attended with her adopted shelter dog and her husband, Jason. Both Paige and Jason donated their time as EMTs.
  • Two new County Councilmen, Ron Felder and Mike Kellems, attended as well. Councilman Kellems sponsored an adoption fee for some lucky canine looking for a home.

The Aiken County Animal Shelter still receives way, way too many strays and surrendered animals every year. Although progress on reducing overpopulation has been painfully slow, no adoptable pet has been euthanized at the shelter for over five years. That’s a big deal, made possible only by the hard work of shelter staff, volunteers, county council, and the support from you, our supportive community.

Woofstock is a celebration of the effort, generosity, and commitment of everyone who works to save the County’s homeless and abandoned animals.

See you at Woofstock next year, I can’t wait!

Their lives are truly in our hands.

By Jennifer Miller FOTAS President

2023, Therapy Dogs, Volunteer

Bridge Building

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Drew and Kenobi enjoying each other's gifts.
06
Apr

First, there was Handsome. This combination of rippling muscles and tenderness, like the canine reincarnation of André the Giant, took me for a long hike around the grounds of the Aiken County Animal Shelter and introduced me to this new world.

Then, I met Kenobi, more of a base jumper than a Jedi, who leaps and pirouettes in his kennel like a furry tornado, yet when he gets to the wooded trails, ambles along with the calm contemplation of a country gentleman.

And finally, Suzie—the wiggling heartbreaker, who bears dozens of deep scars on her prancing legs and soft muzzle, the product of an unconscionable backstory, but in spite of this, radiates warmth and eyes that have chosen hope over sorrow. Since those first walks, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and playing with countless others. The shelter on Wire Road is often in flux, a revolving door of new additions and residents who’ve found forever homes, but there is one constant: the folks of FOTAS who dedicate themselves to improve the quality of life for these stray and surrendered animals. From square meals, to rollling in the play yard, to scratches behind the ears, many of the animals’ faces take on a peaceful glow, maybe for the first time in their lives.

Since I began volunteering, I’ve fallen in love with all of those faces, but I harbor
a secret. I wish they knew how selfish I am. I wish they could understand that whatever small measure of help I give them, what I receive in return is, conservatively, tenfold.

Long ago—funny how the older we get, the more we measure time in adages rather than round numbers—I was diagnosed with severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Most of the time, I’m able to manage symptoms through therapy, but I do have periods where my condition becomes nearly debilitating, especially with major life changes.

Recently, my wife accepted a position teaching English at Aiken Tech and we moved here from Costa Rica. As an English professor myself, I’m lucky enough to work fully online, but suddenly, I found myself in an unfamiliar town, without friends or any physical place I needed to be. Free time and an idle mind aren’t great bedfellows for someone with my mental proclivities, so I needed to find a sense of purpose. Fast.

I’d avoided shelters before. As a man who blames errant eyelashes for tears during a Sarah McLachlan commercial, I assumed I’d be broken by the longing stares of pitifully lost dogs. The first few steps with Handsome, Kenobi, and Suzie changed everything. They aren’t lost, but in transition. FOTAS is a bridge, and I’m thankful to now count myself as one of the many girders that support these animals as they move from a closed chapter to the new, loving family waiting on the other side.

I urge you to experience this yourself. Come meet the FOTAS folks and tumble
with their fuzzy friends. Consider adopting or volunteering. Their lives are in our hands.

And remember: whatever comfort you give them, they just might provide you the same, if not more, in return.

By Drew Attana, FOTAS Volunteer

2023, Be Their Voice

Be Their Voice program teaches local students how to help homeless pets

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Graniteville Elementary students play with puppies from the Aiken County Animal Shelter.
30
Mar

One thing that we truly love is the opportunity to visit schools and speak to young people about the work that is done at the Aiken County Animal Shelter and with FOTAS. We want to teach them how they can help.

In January, second grade teacher Jordan Barrett invited me to bring a dog to Graniteville Elementary to meet second grade students who were given the assignment of writing a persuasive essay to try and encourage people to adopt the pets from the shelter. This is reflective of our FOTAS Be Their Voice program that we have introduced as an opportunity for older students to earn service hours.

These second graders were incredibly respectful, eager to learn and truly special kids! The Aiken Standard met us there along with Channel 12 reporter Will Volk.

I brought an adoptable dog named Nova with me and pictures of all the adoptable pets from the shelter to pass along to the students.

The following week I returned to the school, this time with puppies! The students were so patient the week before and didn’t get much hands-on time with the dog I brought, so as a reward all the students were able to meet and love on two little puppies. They had their writing assignments ready for pick up and they blew my mind! These second graders wrote better than some middle schoolers! They were so kind, loving and encouraging in their descriptions of why each pet was special in their own way and why they should get adopted. They were beautiful!

These fabulous second grade educators are doing something really important with their students. They open their eyes as to how they can help others, those without voices.

Miss Barrett reached out to me again and asked if I could bring puppies to their school as an incentive for students to reach their goals. I told her that I would LOVE to!

Last week I brought two female puppies to meet the students and the puppies were in absolute heaven! The children were gentle. They not only wanted to pet the pups, but they wanted to show them their reading books as they giggled and socialized with them.

The funniest part was when Miss Barrett fell for the one puppy. The sweet little black and white baby crawled onto her lap and wouldn’t leave. The pup was in love! Another teacher came to visit and had the same experience with the other puppy.

Later that day, both teachers contacted me that they chose to adopt. Both puppies are now truly the teacher’s pets!

Thank you to educators that bring us into their schools and let us partner with them. We want students in Aiken County to grow up knowing us. Young people need to recognize us as community helpers and understand the work we do.

If we ever want a solution for animal overpopulation and the countless stray animals wandering our roads, it is vital for this generation to learn about pet responsibility and caring for those that need help

Their lives are in our hands.
By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator