Author Archives: Shana Ryberg

2022, Adoption, senior pets, surrendered pets

Senior pets are loving and home-ready for the holidays

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Senior dog Milburn is sweet and easygoing.
16
Dec

This is the time of year when we enjoy being with our families and resting inside on long, dark, cold evenings. We are getting ready to celebrate the holidays by sharing meals and gifts with loved ones.

That is why shelter staff and volunteers are really hoping to help a group of senior pets that linger at the shelter. These are older pets that get passed over by potential adopters due to their age.

As an adopter of an older dog that was considered a “hospice” dog, I have to tell you that saving an older pet is the absolute best, most rewarding experience! I enjoyed years with a senior shelter pet that sat for months in a kennel. Each and every day she was with us, she showed such a deep love and appreciation. Puppies don’t give you that.

This Christmas season, we would like for you to consider adopting a pet that comes to you already trained, socialized and home-ready.

These three don’t deserve to be in a kennel this Christmas.

Gwyneth. Oh my goodness, we adore this chubby, snuggly and housebroken girl!

Gwyneth dressed as Mrs. Claus.
Gwyneth dressed as Mrs. Claus.

We have to walk her first each day as she would never even consider having an accident in her kennel. Yes, she loves to eat.

But honestly, who doesn’t? She just wants a person or family that will let her sit by them while watching Netflix, and maybe drop a couple pieces of popcorn and give her some love. You will never feel more loved than from our friend.

Milburn. This graying 8-year-old boy (see photo above) was found wandering Beech Island, and he is precious! Calm and sweet, Milburn appears to be blind in one eye. He appreciates the warm blankets that people have donated, but needs a home, not a kennel. Our sweet friend is easy. He doesn’t require trips to the park or a lot of grooming. You won’t even notice him, well except that he will watch you in adoration.

Noah. This Tabby is the chubbiest boy that loves to knead his paws on you or the nearest blanket. At 10 years old, Noah was surrendered to the shelter

Chubby 10-year-old Noah is a love bug.

because sadly, someone in his home became allergic to cats. This big boy weighs 18 pounds! That is the coolest! There is nothing better than a big, huggable cat! I was shocked when I met him in the noisy shelter. He was calm and appreciated me rubbing him and even putting my forehead to his. What more can you ask for?

Senior pets still have a lot of love to give. They are the easiest ones and these three are all sponsored to good homes.

Let’s remember that it is the season of giving. Giving love, not giving presents.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2022, Adoption, Military Veterans, Veterans

Adopted dog helps veteran overcome PTSD and depression

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
09
Dec

When Clade Tuttle visited the Aiken County Animal Shelter three months ago, he had no idea it would dramatically change his life for the better.

He went to the shelter to adopt a small dog for his 5-year-old son, Colton. But Colton found himself drawn to Tock, a 40-pound mixed breed with a mahogany brindle coat. Tuttle reminded his son that they were looking to take home a much smaller pup. But when two-year-old Tock curled up next to Colton and then got on his back for a tummy rub, Tuttle gave in and adopted the affectionate stray.

Tuttle, a marine who saw action in Iraq and Afghanistan, now works from home, so he and Tock started spending a lot of time together. Every morning, they would drop Colton off at school and run errands.

“At first, Tock would ride in the backseat and then he began joining me in the front seat,” Tuttle said. “He’d go everywhere with me.”

Then something happened. Tock began leaning into Tuttle when he felt his new owner was stressed, upset or angry.

“Sometimes I would be tense and he could sense it,” said Tuttle, who has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and fights depression as a result of his wartime experiences. “Tock put his paws on my lap, so I rubbed his head and behind his ears. He wouldn’t move until I calmed down. He does it every time I’m feeling anxious.”

Tuttle said he was in a “dark place” before Tock entered his life. He thinks the unfortunate events that occurred during the United States exit from Afghanistan was the catalyst for his latest bout with depression. He fought in Operation Enduring Freedom but was back home when the U.S pulled out its troops. “We needed to get out of there,” he said. “But the way we did it, it hurt.”

Thankfully, with Tock’s help, Tuttle is feeling better now. And Tock is loving his new life. He just finished a three-week off-leash training course and has a new canine sister, Lexi, a miniature pinscher.

“Tock came along when I was in a deep, dark hole,” Tuttle said. “There was a lot of stuff in my head eating me up. But he rescued me. Not the other way around. This dog is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.”

The County Animal Shelter is full this holiday season and has many more wonderful dogs and cats in need of homes. Now is the perfect time to adopt a new best friend and give the ultimate present to this pet — a forever home. This Saturday, Dec. 17, is our Home for the Holidays adoption event. The adoption fee for all available animals will be $0 and Santa will be there to pose for photos with you and your new pet!

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2022, Foster, fostering

Bunkmates

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
01
Dec

It happened again. Last week a new bunkmate came. That’s my name for fosters. I can tell someone new is coming because the second fluffer bed plops down right next to mine. OK, here it goes again. My folks know I don’t even like other dogs. But I give myself a good pump up speech and put on my best welcoming tail wagging. I am a foster family’s best ever dog. So I guess they expect me to do all the work with these newbies. I never thought I would get along with other puppers. The new fosters are every size and shape. I don’t body shame because some of them are very skinny but I do keep my eye on my food bowl. And my bed…but all I hear about my toys are, “share, share.” Oh brother.

I’m the teacher. I walk outside with them to show nifty shady places in the bushes and good squirrel watching spots. After the outside tour we go inside. You will not believe how many of them don’t know about doors or stairs. It helps that I’m super patient. Some bunkmates seem old. They like to sleep and snore and SNORE. I know the shelter is noisy when a dog sleeps for 15 hours straight (15 hours!) I know it’s because it is quiet here. 
 
Have we talked about puppies? I’m a big dog (almost 3 years old!) so I had no idea even what these little fluffers were! Each weighed less than 3 pounds. They slept on top of each other in a crate. They drank a bottle! I don’t think they could see or hear me. After 3 days they opened their eyes and came close. Bonanza! They smelled like formula. I never get milk but I licked their faces where they dribbled. The best part was when my folks saw that they sprinkled more and more. In a short time they pitter pattered over to my bed and then I had to teach them to play. It was follow the leader all day long. And then they took over my bed. 
 
But if a foster mate comes who is my age we zoom and zoom around our yard. We all know the rules. Chase, chase, change direction, chase, chase. At bedtime I teach about walking on a leash, the privacy of food bowls, oh and barking. It’s ok to bark but as soon as my folks say “thank you” I stop barking. My folks are thankful to my alerts because wow I save them from danger! 
 
Oh, and foster bunkmates show me things, too, like how to tilt your head sideways when you want to look even cuter. I picked that one up from a funny looking hound mix. 
 
I only have less than a week with my bunkmates. I must be a great mentor because every single foster dog gets adopted almost immediately after I graduate them. I can sense their last night with me. We both get a special dinner and even more hugs. Sometimes a bath. It does help to smell pretty. That’s the night I pull out my surprises. I drag my bed really close and I tell them about snow, the ocean, rivers, horses, waiting for school buses, mail delivery people and other dogs. I quietly talk about cats. Usually their eyes widen and I have to say, I’m not kidding. 
 
We fall asleep together that night. I remind them to stay off couches unless asked. We go over leashes and staying housebroken. Manners are so important. My graduation rate is 100%. All my mates have forever homes like mine. Some have families waiting. Remember I said I didn’t even like other dogs but now it is me teaching and making new friends. I know their lives are in my paws.

By Scooby Ryberg

2022, Shelter staff, Volunteer, Volunteers

 Dog Walking FOTAS Volunteer Shares Shelter Experience

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
18
Nov

My first contact with FOTAS came after the death of Gabe, our beautiful border collie of 14 years. My wife and I chose then to make a financial donation to FOTAS in Gabe’s memory.

Some months passed before we finally decided not to get another dog. I began looking for a way that I could still be around dogs and offer some meaningful service at the same time. One activity that Gabe absolutely loved was our daily walks. When I learned that the Shelter needed volunteers to walk dogs, the connection was immediate.

I had never been to the Shelter, and didn’t even know where it was. That was easily resolved but I still had many questions. I got answers to them when I attended an informative orientation session for volunteers that was held at the Shelter.

I learned that at any given time there are 34 dogs ready for immediate adoption. Therefore, dog walkers have lots of dogs to choose from for walking. Our choice. There are all sizes, all ages, and many different breeds/mixed breeds. At first I was hesitant to walk any dog that had pit bull features. I soon discovered that these were among some of the most loving, affectionate dogs at the Shelter and my hesitation vanished.

I learned to slip a leash over the head of any dog, including those that would sit patiently and easily accept the leash to those that were excitedly moving and jumping. The Shelter is located in a nicely wooded area and we walk the dogs on trails that wind around and through the woods. A typical walk time depends on the walker; for me it is from 15-20 minutes. The pace of each walk varies with the dog and can range from slow and leisurely to the excited, full-speed ahead of the “pullers.”

The Shelter gives every dog a name. Just last Thursday I walked Faith, Isaiah, AJ, Misty, Hutch, and Boone. Being an “oldster” myself I have a fondness for the older dogs; Faith is one of them.

In my nearly three years as a volunteer I have taken over 1,000 walks with hundreds of different dogs. I have developed attachments to many of them. Such relationships form naturally when you share the love and compassion you feel for these formerly homeless and abandoned dogs. They will return your affection many times over.

This year the Shelter’s save rate is over 90% and every adoptable animal received has been saved. My greatest satisfaction comes when I go to Zeus’s kennel, for example, and there is a different dog in it. Where’s Zeus? “He was adopted Saturday.” My heart celebrates every time I hear that. And it’s extra-special when a dog like Zeus had been in waiting for a long time for his forever family to find him.

Finally, I have had the pleasure to get to know many of the wonderful Shelter staff and other volunteers. Being affiliated with such friendly, dedicated, caring folks has been an added blessing to my experience.

Please go to fotasaiken.org to learn about more volunteer opportunities. Their lives are in our hands.

Written by Ernie Ness FOTAS Volunteer

2022, Adoption, Military Veterans, Veterans

Veterans can adopt a pet for free at the County Animal Shelter 

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
11
Nov


This past Friday, November 11, was Veterans Day, an important holiday that honors U.S. veterans for serving and protecting our country.

FOTAS strongly supports our armed forces and recognizes the benefits that veterans and active military personnel can experience from the company of a shelter cat or dog. We launched our veterans adoption program on Nov. 11, 2015 and it continues today. U.S veterans and active U.S. military personnel can adopt a dog or cat from the Aiken County Animal Shelter for no charge, year-round.

It is our small way to show gratitude to the people who serve our country and make sacrifices to defend our freedoms.

Vietnam veteran Bill Redfield adopted mixed breed Amos from the County Shelter seven months ago, and the 3-year-old, 55-pound dog has proven to be an outstanding companion.

“I take him to Odell Weeks every day and people stop to pet him and watch him do tricks,” Redfield said. “Sometimes they even take a selfie with him.” Amos is a charmer who can sit, shake hands, high-five, roll over and give kisses on command. When he rolls over, he usually gets a nice tummy rub from his admirers.

“He’s just a big mush,” Redfield chuckled. “I’ve always had small dogs like Yorkies. But when I met Amos at the shelter, I knew he was coming home with me.” Redfield said he was surprised and honored when FOTAS paid his adoption fee, but still insisted on donating $50.

Nicolas Whitt, who is in the National Guard, adopted Lucky after he helped rescue him. He and his cousin found him in the woods. The poor dog had been hit by a car. But despite two broken legs and losing blood fast, the butterscotch mixed breed found the strength to drag himself from the road to safety. Whitt called for help and a County Animal Code Enforcement Officer picked Lucky up for emergency treatment at the shelter.

“He wagged his tail when he saw us” Whitt said. We gave him some water and tried to stop the bleeding. He was such a trooper.”

It was touch and go for a while. Lucky’s left rear leg was shattered and had to be amputated but his right rear leg was saved by using pins to set the bones in place. Whitt called the shelter nearly every day to see how Lucky was doing. When he got the good news that Lucky was going to recover, he and his wife, Debra, decided to adopt him.

“He’s still recovering but doing well,” Whitt said. “He’s gentle with our four-month-old son, Jackson, He licks his feet and cuddles with him. I think the way Lucky entered our life, it was just meant to be.”

If you are active in the military or a veteran, please take advantage of your complimentary adoption. The shelter is at full capacity and there are so many wonderful pets desperate to find loving homes.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director


2022, animal care education, Spay/Neuter

FOTAS: Helping Aiken County pets get fixed

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
04
Nov

Since the onset of the pandemic, almost every industry has struggled to attract and keep qualified staff, and veterinarian clinics have been no exception. The result, among other things, has been a critical shortage of clinics in Aiken County that perform low cost spay/neuter surgeries.

Pawmetto Life Line is a top-notch vet clinic in Columbia that provides low cost spay/neuter surgeries to the public. In addition, we are pleased to announce that Pawmetto has agreed to partner with FOTAS and Aiken County to honor Aiken County vouchers for pay for spay/neuter surgeries for county residents who qualify for financial assistance.

All of this is great news, because fixing your pet is good them, for you, and for the community. Here’s why.

Your pet will live longer. Spayed and neutered animals have significantly less health problems than their unfixed counterparts. Pets do not get fat and lazy as a result of spaying and neutering—only a bad diet and lack of exercise will do that.

Spayed and neutered animals are less likely to roam away from home. That means they are less likely to catch diseases from other animals, get lost, fight with other dogs, or get hit by a car (85% of dogs hit by cars have not been fixed).

Spaying your female before she is 6 months old means you can avoid the messy, noisy heat cycles that typically occur twice a year. It also means you can avoid the messy, noisy, smelly crowd of male dogs or cats hanging out in your yard while your pet is in heat.

Neutering your dog decreases potentially aggressive behavior to other animals and people. Particularly children, who are—by far—the most frequent victims of dog bites.

Your cat or dog will be a better pet and family member. Fixing your pet eliminates unpleasant spraying and marking in your yard, on your rug, on your furniture.

Fixing your dog will not make him less protective. Dogs are naturally protective by nature, particularly if you love and feed them.

Fixing your pet is cheaper for the community. Public shelters are funded by taxpayer dollars. If everyone fixes their pets, the number of homeless and abandoned animals at the shelter will be dramatically reduced, as will the amount of public funds needed to care for those animals.

Because Pawmetto provides low cost spay/neuter service, the cost to you has never been more affordable. To see if you qualify for financial assistance for the County spay/neuter voucher program, call the Code Enforcement Office (803-502-9000 ext 3357) . The vouchers are distributed at the Aiken County Government Center 1930 University Drive at the Code Enforcement office. In addition to the voucher, FOTAS and Aiken County will also pay for pain medications and rabies vaccinations for those citizens, if needed.

Call Pawmetto Life Line today at (803) 465-9100 to schedule your pet’s spay/neuter surgery. Convince your neighbors, friends, and family to spay and neuter their pets, too. There are so many loving, deserving animals in the Shelter who need a home – why bring more animals into a world where their safety and care is so uncertain?

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, Vice-President, FOTAS

2022, Adoption, making care-giving arrangements for pets

DeeDee: one special dog who needs a home.

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
28
Oct

In late September of 2019, I wrote an article for FOTAS about a young dog who was picked up by animal control in the sizzling heat of July and brought to the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Her condition was shocking. Aside from being terrified, starving, and dangerously dehydrated, she was completely hairless and bleeding from the sores covering her body. As I said at the time, DeeDee (as we subsequently named her) was hard to look at without grimacing with heartbreak and outrage—someone cared so little for this sweet little dog that they failed to provide medical care when she needed it, and when her condition became critical, they dumped her on a county road in the dead of summer to die.

The thing was, as angry as I was, DeeDee wasn’t mad and disappointed at all. She was grateful and forgiving, cheerful and kind. She never stopped wagging her tail. She loved people, children, and other dogs. She was a volunteer favorite.

FOTAS was determined to fix her ailments and find her a good home. We treated her for Demodex mange, which is not contagious, and found a kind foster to help her recover in a less stressful environment. We successfully treated her for allergies. She recovered beautifully, and not long after we published the article about her, she was adopted by a wonderful gentleman who loved and adored her and renamed her Steely. It was one of those success stories that brought tears to our eyes. I was humbled by Steely’s courage and willingness to love and be loved, as well as her adopter’s depth of care and concern.

Sadly, life has thrown the lovely Steely (ne DeeDee) an unfortunate fast ball. Several weeks ago, the gentleman who adopted Steely died, leaving Steely and three other household dogs without a home. All four dogs were brought to the County Shelter, and in short order, three of those dogs found new homes. But not Steely.

That breaks our heart. Not only is Steely grieving the loss of her beloved human, she is doing so in a strange place without her canine buddies, and the stress of it all has caused her allergies to flare up—she began to scratch herself to distraction. The shelter vet, Dr. Rodriquez, is watching her closely and monitoring her care.

Bottom line? Steely needs a home, fast. She is as sweet and affectionate as she always was. She adores people, children, and other dogs. She is now 4 years-old, weighs 48 pounds, is heartworm negative, housebroken, and easy to walk.

Steely is, quite literally, the perfect dog, and we want her to find an owner who will shower her with the same love she showers on all humans. Will it be you?

Please don’t wait. Call the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS vice president

animal care education, Proper Pet Care, veterinarian

Amazing medical magic at the County Shelter

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
21
Oct

Why has the Aiken County Animal Shelter been so successful in saving so many adoptable animals? The credit goes to Aiken County Council, dedicated shelter management and staff, an army of FOTAS volunteers, and the generosity of the Aiken community.

But the bedrock of that success depends on one important factor—that shelter residents are healthy enough to make good pets when their time comes. That’s why the quality of medical staff at the County Shelter is so critical, and in that regard, the homeless animals of Aiken County are singularly lucky. For eight years, shelter residents have been evaluated, vaccinated, spayed, neutered, treated for mange, fretted over, and patched-up from injuries large and small by the shelter’s full-time veterinarian, Dr. Lisa Levy, whose outstanding expertise and big heart have made the difference between life and death for so many animals.

Recently Dr. Levy passed the full-time baton for the shelter’s medical program to an equally exceptional veterinarian, Dr. Nancy Rodriguez. Nancy is no stranger to the high-paced, high-stakes practice of shelter medicine; she has practiced at other public facilities in the CSRA for most of her career. She is also no stranger to empathy; for years she was one of two consulting veterinarians with Lap of Love, which provides in-home pet euthanasia, consultation, veterinary hospice, and pet loss support services. There’s a special place in heaven for people like Nancy, who help the rest of us cope with the seemingly unbearable loss and heartbreak of our pets. (She continues to be particularly attuned to the needs of senior dogs at the shelter, who are often overlooked by adopters.)

Dr. Rodriguez brings all that expertise and big love to the shelter, where every day brings different medical issues calling for quick solutions. Many of the animals picked up by animal control or surrendered to the shelter are in various states of physical distress, from routine neglect to heart-stopping abuse or injury. They may be covered with fleas, ticks, or mange. They may be desperately hungry—so thin you can see their skeletal structure. They may have broken bones from abuse or circumstance (like being hit by a car). They may be heartworm positive. The large percentage have most likely never had basic health care like vaccinations or flea, tick, and heartworm prevention meds. “I enjoy the element of surprise,” Nancy says, “the challenge of working through medical emergencies of all sorts.”

Nancy is impressed at the quality of the medical program at the shelter. “It’s wonderful,” she says, “to see all the good that can be done when there are sufficient resources to truly care for the animals.” Amen. FOTAS takes great pride in working with the county to make certain the appropriate medical equipment and services are available for every animal—everything from laboratory analysis, to x-ray machines, to heartworm prevention, to specialized care when needed, to medical foster services for recovering animals.

It takes passion, patience, expertise, and resources to care for Aiken County’s homeless animals, and the County Shelter has all that in spades. The shelter’s remarkable success rate is possible thanks to the accomplished medical care provided by Dr. Levy and now by Dr. Rodriguez. We thank them for their incredible service.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

2022, Adoption, SOCIAL MEDIA

Young people’s compassion portends positive future for FOTAS

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
14
Oct

What a FUN week! So many young people flooded the Aiken County Animal Shelter this past week to learn more about our adoptable animals.

On Thursday, we had the Senior English Class from Horse Creek Academy visit with their arms full of donations! They sat with our longest resident dogs and then wrote about each and why they think they should be adopted.

“Do you want a calm and loving dog?” wrote student Weslyn Bernard. “Boone just might be what you’re looking for. He is a beautiful black and white boy…Boone absolutely loves scratches and cuddles. Boone loves to give hugs. He’s been here over 3 months and would really love a home.”

On Friday, we had over thirty students from Tall Pines Stem Academy come to the shelter for community service hours. Each student was required to serve our community for two hours. Those who chose our shelter were in different groups reading to dogs, cleaning and organizing the shelter, making toys, dog walking and some even took dogs to the park. We had so much fun!

Each student spent an hour at the shelter and then had the opportunity to earn an extra hour by writing about a shelter dog they met that day. We paired each student with a dog needing some attention. This program is called, “Be Their Voice.” We ask students to spend a few minutes talking with a dog, petting the dog, looking into their eyes and then write a little about why someone should adopt them. We got some great responses!

Student Gabby Whisnant was partnered with Tink. She took a pic with her phone and wrote the following about this wonderful dog: “Hi, my name is Tink. I am 51 pounds and great with kids. I need lots of attention because I get lonely. I have soft fur and love hugs and kisses. Please adopt me!”

Check out what Jimmie Baynham wrote, combining a selfie with the followig text: “I got assigned to Scotch, a newer dog at the shelter found as a stray. People see him as a big, obnoxious dog but he really is just a calm little puppy and gets excited to see people like a normal puppy would. Even if you got a puppy from a breeder, they would act the same way. Scotch is a tannish color and a very calm dog. I know some people don’t like big dogs, but he would be a perfect bigger dog…he is very aware of his size and overall is a great puppy. I know he hasn’t been at the shelter the longest, but he deserves a good home. He really is a great puppy so please someone adopt my bud, Scotch.”

We are so grateful for our educators in Aiken County that encourage young people to make a difference in our community.

During a period when our adoptions are slower than ever, the time these teens spent with the pets showed love, compassion and encouraged all of us that things will get better.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2022, adopter feedback, Adoption

We love success stories but many pets still need homes

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
07
Oct

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.

Batman adoption goes smoothly

Batman is doing terrific. He has made himself right at home. I appreciate you making the (adoption) process so smooth when my son and I visited, and thank you for checking in on our sweet dog. Claudia Wiseman

Kenna has a new name and new siblings

Hazel (Kenna’s new name) is doing wonderfully and is such a happy girl. She’s fitting in perfectly. Everyone gets along and she’s behaving really well. We love her! Kelly Galvarino

Riff is 42 percent Coon Hound, 100 percent loved

Coon Hound Riff now lives in Pennsylvania.


Riff is now named Rusty Rhoades. He lives with my niece in Pottsville, PA. I adopted him for her. According to his DNA, he is 42% Tree Walking Coon Hound along with two other strains of Coon Hound. He is a very welcome addition to our family. Dave Zimmerman

Jack has his own Facebook page

Little Tug, who is now officially named Jackson “Jack” Tug Danko, is a delight and a wonderful, much-loved addition to our family. He’s absolutely perfect for us. In fact, he’s quite a little celebrity and even has his own Facebook page. You are invited to like and follow his “You Don’t Know Jack” page to keep up with all of his antics and adventures. Lance Danko

Mikey the cat is in perfect shape

Gary & his new kitten Mikey have bonded.


Mikey, Stinker (2-year-old male tuxedo cat), Virginia and I are all doing great. I isolated Mikey in my home office for 10 days with me, so he had only brief exposure to Stinker. They played paws under the door during that time. Mikey follows me around the house like a dog and is already my lap cat. The two cats sleep together in the cat tree in the hallway. Mikey saw the vet last week and is in perfect shape. He has gained 1-1/2 pounds in the last month. All is well and life is good. Gary Ikens

It’s great to know these adopted pets are doing well in their new homes. But there are so many more wonderful dogs and cats at the County Shelter who need a second chance for a good life. Please go to fotasaiken.org to see our available pets or just 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