Author Archives: Shana Ryberg

2024, animal abuse, Doggie Day Out, neglected pets

Doggie dates help shelter pups like Adalyn find loving homes

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
07
Mar

On Saturday, February 24, my son and I were allowed to borrow a dog from the Aiken County Animal Shelter for a couple of hours. It’s a program called Doggie Day Out. We have enough pets at home that we were not looking to adopt, but wanted to give a shelter dog a great experience (who doesn’t like a break from their routine with a fun field trip?). Once we completed and signed a short form, a staff member introduced us to 7-year-old, 40-pound Adalyn. She is a sweet girl who liked us immediately. The feeling was mutual!

We got to the car and she hopped into the backseat with my son, as if she knew she was in for a fun day. My son loves the park, so we headed for Odell Weeks to walk some laps before going to the playground. Adalyn was the best girl! She absolutely LOVED her walk, with her and my son even jogging at times. She was energetic, enthusiastic, and spirited. She enjoyed drinking from the doggie water fountain, too! Everywhere we went, we encountered men, women, and even toddlers who wanted to give her pets and attention. Adalyn was patient and enjoyed it all.

After the park, we went to a coffee shop to get Adalyn a pup cup. At first, she was hesitant about drinking her pup cup but shortly lapped it up.

Adalyn Got Her Forever Valentine!
Adalyn Got Her Forever Valentine!

We then took Adalyn to Petco because we wanted her to return to the shelter with some toys and treats. Her visit there went smoothly. She did want to jump up and check out everything, and was especially interested in the ferrets and cats. But she listened to us when we corrected her, and then was on her best behavior.

We returned her to the shelter after a full two hours out. It was one of the hardest things for us to do. Whoever adopts Adalyn, will be rich in love and luck! She is the sweetest girl with a big smile.

Because we enjoyed spending time with Adalyn so much, we booked another day to take a pup on a field trip. I hate the idea of the dogs waiting for homes being stuck in their kennels, unable to enjoy a fun car ride, walk, hike, pup cup, or human companionship outside of the shelter. Going on a doggie date relieves them of shelter stress and builds their confidence. It’s also a wonderful program to help introduce shelter dogs to people who are interested in finding a companion to add to their home.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Wendy McDaniel, FOTAS Volunteer

Epilogue:
Adalyn was rescued from a home of neglect and brought to the County Animal Shelter on Jan. 30. Scared and confused, she was passed over by prospective adopters for a month. However, just five days after her doggie date with the McDaniels, a woman in Beech Island adopted Adalyn. Today, Adalyn is doing great, living out her golden years with companionship and love.

If you would like to take a County Shelter dog on a date, just stop by 333 Wire Road or call us at (803) 642-1537, ext.3. You can also email info@fotasaiken.org to sign up for a Doggie Day Out.

2024, adopter feedback, Children, Training

Adopted deaf shelter dog learns sign language

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Ghost (formerly known as Boogie) at his new home with his human siblings.
01
Mar

When cutie-pie Boogie arrived at the Aiken County Animal Shelter as a hungry stray, it didn’t take him long to win the hearts of the FOTAS volunteers and shelter staff. The white, 2-year-old, 40-pound mixed breed made everyone smile with his goofy grin and outgoing personality. A true social butterfly, we thought he would be adopted as soon as he became available.

What we didn’t know when he first arrived is that sweet Boogie is deaf. Being a special needs pet made rehoming him a bit more challenging. However, the staff and volunteers worked with Boogie and taught him some sign language gestures, which he picked up quickly.

It took a month before someone adopted him. Unfortunately, they returned Boogie the next day because their other dog didn’t want to share the house with another pet. So, Boogie waited for another chance.

It took some more time and patience. But after weeks of being overlooked by shelter visitors, Boogie met Brittany Cook and his life changed forever.

“When we saw him on Facebook, we just had to meet the handsome boy,” Brittany said. “From day one, we fell in love with his big personality and were thrilled with how quickly he became attached to me and my children.”

Boogie’s new family renamed him Ghost and promptly took him shopping. The day we brought him home, my daughter Lona and I took him to PetSmart where he picked out his teddy bear that he sleeps with,” Brittany said. “Ghost loves his toys. He still has his favorite red toy that he had at the shelter and all the tennis and rubber balls that a dog can dream of.”

To help Ghost adjust and feel more comfortable in his new home, Brittany and her kids learned American Sign Language (ASL).

“His loss of hearing was an adjustment at first for my younger children,” Brittany said. “But once they picked up on ASL and hand gestures, everyone adapted great.”

Ghost’s favorite place for napping is on one of the children’s beds under the blankets with his toys. He has had no accidents in the house and is a big mama’s boy. He loves mealtime and waits patiently while his food is prepared.

“Ghost is always getting extra cuddles from the children, and he’s become part of the family,” Brittany said. “We couldn’t be happier and hope to adopt from the shelter again in the future.”

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

.

2024, abandoned animals, animal abuse

Calling all humans! Volunteers needed!

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Whitney, the Magnificent
24
Feb

Every dog has a story, and for most of my pals here at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, those stories are sad. Take me—Whitney. My last humans dumped me. I thought we were going for a ride (I’m a sucker for car rides), but then they stopped and opened the door. I thought, “Oh boy, a car ride and a romp in the woods!” I jumped out and to my surprise, they drove off! Without me! I thought it had to be a mistake, that they’d come back, but no-go. I wandered around for such a long time—lost, lonely, and weak with terrible hunger. By the time the animal control guy in the uniform and the white van stopped and waived some food in my direction, I forgot all about my distrust of strangers in uniforms.

Then there’s Scotty. Now here’s the thing about Scotty, he had a home—for, like, forever.

Scotty, the happy dog
Scotty, the happy dog

He loved his humans. Then one day, they dropped him off here at the shelter like he was going to the vet or something and just walked out. No ‘atta boys. No goodbyes. No nothing. Scotty was such a terrible scared, stressed-out mess, we all feared for him.

Here’s the point. The how’s and why’s of how we all got here are different, but our stories are all the same: Humans let us down. Big time. We were abandoned and dumped like so much garbage, and we never saw it coming.

So, imagine our surprise to discover the humans here at the shelter are first rate, top notch, the best—especially the volunteers! I never even met a volunteer before I came to this place—and take it from me, you need to get one. They show up every morning and take us for walks or just sit out in the yard and talk to us—not in a mean way like we’re used to—but in a soft, sweet way. They bring us treats and throw balls. It’s the best thing ever! Who knew humans were capable of such world-class belly rubs? Go figure!

But here’s the thing: there aren’t enough of them—volunteers, I mean. It takes a long time in the morning to walk all us dogs, so if we’re lucky, we only get maybe 15 minutes of me-time. That might not seem like a lot to you, but for us dogs? It’s everything.

Plus, there’s no one to walk us in the afternoon. Do you know how hard it is, if you’re a gal me like me who would never mess in her kennel, to only get one chance a day? It’s a misery.

So, please! All you humans reading this, I’m begging you: join FOTAS. Be a volunteer! You’ll have a great time with all the other volunteers, and we dogs will show you a good time, too. Like Scotty, who’s now a superstar thanks to the volunteers. He excels in playgroup, walks on a leash, and sits on command. He’s a happy guy. And when you stop by the shelter, look me up—Whitney. They say I’m magnificent! Not sure what that means, but it sure sounds good!

So please, spread the word: we’re all ready to be adopted and be someone’s new BFF.

Our lives are in your hands.
Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice-President

2024, animal care education

FOTAS Educational Program off to a fast start in 2024

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Belvedere Elementary students enjoy the company of adoptable dog Whitney.
15
Feb

Our calendar is bursting with school visits, and we could not be happier!
We started this year with the cutest group of preschoolers from First Baptist Church in Aiken.

First Baptist Church preschoolers deliver donations to the County Shelter.
First Baptist Church preschoolers deliver donations to the County Shelter.

These kiddos and their teachers are so kind, and their families have donated much needed items from our Wish List.

We visited their preschool with some puppies in January to kick off their donation drive. Volunteer Kathy Samaha and I visited each classroom, and the puppies loved every second! The school’s young readers then came to the shelter two weeks later to deliver donations, read to the dogs and spend some time learning about the pets. So fun!

Belvedere Elementary students enjoy the company of adoptable dog Whitney.
Belvedere Elementary students enjoy the company of adoptable dog Whitney.

FOTAS also had an invitation from Belvedere Elementary. I was so happy to take adoptable dog Whitney to visit their students to kick off their donation drive! The kids are working hard to support the shelter. They were so well behaved, so attentive and I was so impressed by their school. Whitney had the best time. She walked around and let every student give her some attention. She would even stop and sit on certain students’ feet!

The Kiwanis Kids group and Builders Clubs also visited the Aiken County Animal Shelter to learn more about what the shelter does and how we want to be a resource for our community, not a destination for unwanted pets. During their tour of the shelter, the young people learned about our high intake, saw how we take care of the animals and met the amazing homeless pets.

The Spanish Honors Club from South Aiken High School visited bringing treats and towels, socialized our puppies.
The Spanish Honors Club from South Aiken High School visited bringing treats and towels, socialized our puppies.

The Spanish Honors Club from South Aiken High School visited as well, bringing treats and towels and spending time socializing our puppies. Next week, we have University of South Carolina Aiken students coming for volunteer training and we have upcoming visits scheduled to New Ellenton Middle School, Trinity Preschool and Tall Pines Stem Academy.

FOTAS volunteers and the leaders of Aiken County are so excited to see educators draw attention to the Aiken County Animal Shelter and our specific needs. Education is the key to lower intake, pet responsibility, and helping the homeless and neglected pets in our community.

If you are an educator in Aiken County and you want to join our humane education program, please contact info@fotasaiken.org.

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

2024, Adoption, SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media angel saves pets by telling their amazing stories

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Martha Anne Tudor is a wordsmith with a strong Facebook following whose posts of pets in need usually result in adoptions.
20
Jan

Martha Anne Tudor’s name is mentioned at the Aiken County Animal Shelter each and every day by adopters and volunteers (her fan club).

A gifted writer and true professional, Martha Anne donates her time and talents to us whenever she can. Thanks to her effective social media posts and vast network of Facebook followers, she helps us save countless Aiken County Animal Shelter animals in need each year.

“If it’s true that your calling is where your deep gladness and the world’s deep need meet, then this is mine,” she said.

Martha Anne has a strong Facebook presence. Her page has a following that ranges over continents. She is respected and followed by a network of followers that includes medical professionals, news anchors, writers, rescues, animal advocates and thousands of animal lovers who share her posts. FOTAS checks in with her daily and we ask her to help with specific shelter animals that urgently need homes.

“My specialties are the ‘unadoptables’ — the old, blind, deaf, and amputated with the odds stacked against them,” she said. “But these posts upend those odds, and nearly every longshot I post gets a home. It’s the details of their stories that open hearts and homes.”

When we give Martha Anne homeless pets to promote, she asks me and the staff questions regarding their personality, their health, their ideal home, etc. — and then she eloquently tells their story in Facebook posts. These posts can sometimes receive hundreds upon hundreds of shares.

It is not unusual to get calls and emails from states all over the country from people who want to know more about these pets. Whether they remind them of their own or connect with the picture or the story, her posts usually get a big response.

“Without the soul-stirring photos taken by volunteers and staffers, my posts would never get read,” she said. “But what makes my words leap off the page are the poignant details of each animal’s story. Maybe a starving mama dog was found protecting her puppies in traffic during a storm; or a 10-year-old family pet is shaking and vomiting in his kennel from being disowned; or a kitten with a mangled leg is heard crying by her dead mother.”

Martha Anne’s friendship with FOTAS began in 2016, when she inquired about a County Shelter dog she wished to help: Wink, a one eyed, heartworm positive pooch. Her Facebook post reached a woman in Nantucket who flew to Aiken just to adopt Wink! This successful adoption started a cherished and successful partnership with Martha Anne that has saved many canine and feline lives.

Martha Anne works fulltime and is a devoted mother to two young women, also world changers. She answers Facebook messages day and night from people all over the world in regard to the County Shelter’s pets in need.

“In decades of rescue work, I’ve never known a team that compares to FOTAS,” she said. “There’s no time for conflict or arguments. Everyone focuses on common goals, with respect and regard for each other. The incredible results are testimonials to the teamwork, and I’m honored to be a part of it.”

Their lives are in our hands.

By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2023, Adoption, Training

SPOT prepares County Shelter dogs for their forever homes

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
FOTAS Volunteer Malia Koelker works with adoptable dog Whiskey as he figures out a brain game puzzle in SPOT class.
12
Jan

Just over two years ago, FOTAS gave me the green light to start the SPOT program at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. SPOT stands for Shelter Pups with Opportunity Training. Sounds pretty vague huh? Honestly, that is because it is; it is designed to increase the opportunity for a dog to get adopted.

The goals of the program are to help the dogs learn how to learn and to address situations that they may face in a new home. We want to start them on the journey of thinking and processing information as a precursor to moving into an adopter’s home, so they are primed with the skills to figure out their new life, new schedule, new commands, new relationships, etc.

To achieve these goals, we do basic obedience work such as sit, down and come, but we also incorporate agility equipment, working around other dogs, trick training, touch work, and brain games.

Each volunteer handler is paired with a dog and that dog is “theirs” to work with until the dog is adopted. SPOT class meets every Saturday from 11am to noon and is a chance for handlers to raise questions or issues that they are having. It is also a chance for the dogs to work on their skills amongst the chaos of other dogs being around.

All dogs wear a Gentle Leader while working; both in class and during the week. This training halter gives the handler more control with an ability to turn the dog’s nose toward them while not restricting the dog in any way. As each dog is at his/her own place along the learning path, everyone works on their own tasks during class. A general principle of “no pain, no fear” governs everything with a liberal application of treats.

We have dogs that come to us at every stage of learning and knowledge. A small minority have been through formal obedience classes before and seem to know everything. Those dogs may end up working on tricks or agility or filling in gaps in their education (can they be touched all over while remaining comfortable, can they remain calm while another dog passes by them?). Other dogs come to us with no knowledge or even trust of humans at all. For them, class may just be sitting off to the side on a leash, near their handler and watching the other dogs, while getting treats. Handlers are taught to watch their dogs and let the dogs tell them what is or is not working for each step of training; an exuberant “Yes!” may be perfect for the happy go lucky dog, but scares the shy dog, so the handler chooses a quiet “good job” instead.

So, yes, the acronym SPOT is vague, but intentionally so. The program is designed to address many aspects of what it takes to get adopted and successfully transition to that new home. And to be fun, always fun!

Their lives are in our hands.

By Jennifer Jotblad, FOTAS Volunteer

2023, abandoned animals, adopter feedback, Adoption

The story of how Groot became a family’s best Buddy

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Groot (now named Buddy) gets goofy with his new owner, Trish Wilcher.
05
Jan

He arrived at the Aiken County Animal Shelter in mid-June, terrified and confused. Rescued from an abandoned home by a county animal code enforcement officer, the black and white, four-year-old, 45-pound, mixed breed was starving and thirsty. Yet, even in this extremely stressful situation, you could see the sweetness in his eyes.

The shelter staff named him Groot, after the kind and loyal character in the movie, Guardians of the Galaxy. Once Groot realized the staff and volunteers were not going to hurt him, but instead were there to help and comfort him, he became more trusting and sociable.

Group play helps Groot reach his potential

When Groot first joined the shelter’s morning playgroup sessions, he was a bit too sensitive and over assertive with other male dogs. However, within a week, he became comfortable in group play and ultimately became a superstar, greeting newbies and even showing other dogs how to play well with others.

Buddy sleeps soundly in his new forever home.
Buddy sleeps soundly in his new forever home.

Group play enriches our shelter dogs’ quality of life while they wait to be adopted. It provides them with exercise and interaction they can’t get from a simple leash walk. The vigorous play tires them out and reduces their kennel stress.

FOTAS introduced playgroup sessions to the shelter in 2016, when the Dogs Playing for Life (DPFL) organization, led by founder Aimee Sadler, visited the shelter to train the staff and show employees how to run effective playgroups. DPFL helps ensure dogs engage more positively with potential adopters, transition more easily to a new home, and interact appropriately with people and other dogs in the community.

This was certainly true in Groot’s case. Group play gave him confidence, improved his manners and helped him to bloom into a wonderful canine companion.

Finding his forever home

Trish and Max Wilcher adopted Groot on Nov.9, providing him with a loving home he shares with two cats. The couple renamed him Buddy and now consider him a cherished family member.

“We had lost our dog to cancer and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to adopt again,” Trish said. “I was following posts about him on your Facebook page, and then I had the photo of him in the hat with that smile of his on my computer. I knew I wanted him.”

Trish works half days, so when she gets home in the early afternoon, she says he is ready to get out of the house for some exercise.

“Buddy has been great for me,” she said. “He’s brought me energy. He goes running with me and loves to play fetch. When I get home, he says, ‘Mom, we’ve got to get going,’ and then gets me out the door exercising.”

The Wilcher home has two fenced-in yards, where Buddy can play with his toys, watch the squirrels or just lie in the sun. He also enjoys frequent visits from Trish and Max’s grandkids and their Basset Hound.

“When we left the shelter with Buddy, everyone came up to him and hugged and congratulated him for finding a home,” Trish said. “I tell everyone I know that the County Shelter is the place to get a pet. You can feel the love there from the volunteers and staff. Y’all really care about the animals.”

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

By the Numbers
In 2023, Aiken County Animal Shelter received more than 4,600 animals and more than 92% were saved. FOTAS, working with the county shelter, saves more animals than any other 501(c)(3) organization in the CSRA. For the past six years, every adoptable animal at the shelter was saved.

2023, County Animal Control, Volunteers

Celebrating the folks who make it possible at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
FOTAS volunteer Melinda Gleaton with shelter dog for adoption at Aiken Steeplechase.
22
Dec

The Christmas season is upon us. It’s a time of festivity, bright lights, family, goodwill, and faith. It’s also a time to count our blessings. As we at FOTAS look back over the past fourteen years, it’s also a time to express our profound gratitude for our friends and supporters in the Aiken community.

Since 2009, our life-saving programs have expanded to include not only helping with the care and re-homing of every adoptable shelter animal, but to initiatives to help folks keep their animals at home (like augmenting the County’s Spay/Neuter financial assistance for citizens-in-need, sponsoring pet food drive up’s and pet food donations to community food banks, including our partnership with ACTS and Senior Service-Meals on Wheels, sponsoring free pet microchip events, and providing humane runners for dogs who have been tied to a chain all their lives). In addition, we also have implemented programs to help folks avoid surrendering animals to the shelter in the first place, like our successful online Home-to-Home initiative and the TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) for community cats. Just this year, the new P.A.W.S. building opened to great acclaim, providing opportunities for quiet meet & greets, training sessions, and a new catio (indoor/outdoor cat patio).

This time of year is also a time for FOTAS to celebrate those who have contributed to our successes.

Thanks to Aiken County Council Chairman, Gary Bunker, and County Council for making it possible to save the lives of thousands of homeless animals in the County. Our partnership grows stronger with each passing year.

Thanks to Brian Saunders, Aiken County Administrator; Paige Bayne, the County’s Enforcement and Animal Services Director; Bobby Arthurs, the Shelter Manager; Dr. Nancy Rodriquez, the Shelter’s veterinarian; and all the Shelter staff for their commitment to increase the opportunities for each adoptable animal to find a forever home.

A huge shout-out and thanks to the army of volunteers who make the work of FOTAS possible – everything from manning the front desk, walking and socializing dogs, helping with canine play groups, working special events and fundraisers, fostering dogs, organizing transfers, manning off-site adoption events, working on publicity, social media, and financial record and bookkeeping responsibilities.

And finally, thanks to you, the Aiken Community, for your extraordinary generosity and support. You have made it possible for FOTAS to help the County provide the best possible care and outcome for its shelter animals.

All that effort has paid off: for the past six years, the shelter has been able to save every adoptable animal. That’s a big deal, especially since the shelter’s intake is over 4000 animals/year.

Sadly, right now, the shelter is in crisis. Intake numbers have exploded nationally, and the County Shelter is no exception. The shelter is shockingly full for this time of year. Animals are doubled-up in the kennels. Staff and volunteer resources are stretched to the max. Why? Blame inflation; COVID, FLU, and RSV outbreaks, burgeoning development and population growth in the County; chronic shortages in spay/neuter services; and increased pet restrictions in rental properties. At this rate, the shelter’s ability to save every adoptable animal in 2024 is in jeopardy. That’s a heartbreaking prospect.

God bless you and your family during this holiday season, and may God bless the County’s homeless animals during these difficult times.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

2023, adopter feedback, Adoption

Successful adoptions bring joy and save lives

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Purrfect pair Maverick & Goose
01
Dec

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.

Tulip is a cuddle bug.
Tulip is a cuddle bug.

Jasmine FKA Tulip is spoiled every day
Jasmine aka Tulip is doing very well. She takes her heartworm meds like a champ. She loves to snuggle and doesn’t like storms. Jasmine and her older sister love to play tug of war with their toys. She doesn’t like walking on a leash, but we are working on that. We tell her every day that God brought us to her and that we love her and nothing will happen to her. She’s perfect and getting spoiled every day.
Cora and Mark Carrico

Van the man.
Van the man.

Mixed breed Van is the man
We are in love with Van! He is so sweet. He was timid at first, but he is a wonderful addition to the family. He is such a cuddler and we love it! We are planning to adopt one more. Thank you so much for making the adoption process easy! We have two older Rottweilers, and whenever we stated that, everyone was turned off to letting us adopt. Van and our other two dogs get along well and even play with each other. We love him!
Shannon Dayton

Kitty Maverick is a champion fetcher
Kitten Rusty is now Maverick and Batman is Goose. They adjusted well to our home and have stolen our hearts! It took no time for them to settle in. Both are healthy and very playful. Maverick is a champion at fetch, better than any dog.
Allison Hayes

Bam Bam went on family vacation to Florida

Bam Bam loves his new family.
Bam Bam loves his new family.


Bam Bam’s (now Zeus) fur has grown in and he is so pretty right after a bath. We’re learning together, he has some behavior issues, but I would expect as much from an older dog that maybe wasn’t always treated right. He loves the kids and is super protective of them! He went to Florida with us and did fantastic in the car and at the Airbnb.
Misty Arthur

Pixie (on left) is a cuddle bug
Pixie (on left) is a cuddle bug

She drove from Indiana to adopt little Pixie
I was the crazy lady who drove over 23 hours to and from Indiana to adopt Pixie! We cannot thank you enough for allowing us to adopt our sweet and spicy baby girl. She fit into our household almost immediately! She is still learning that new people are okay and that even the neighbor dog isn’t so bad. We are lucky to have her be a part of our home! We can’t thank you guys enough for doing what you do. You are making a difference!
Megan Alberts

Many more wonderful homeless pets at the County Shelter need a second chance for a good life. Please go to fotasaiken.org to see them or stop by and visit them at 333 Wire Road. During our Empty the Shelters adoption event, which continues through Dec. 16, dogs and pups are just $25, while cats and kittens are only $10. All of our adoptable pets are vaccinated, microchipped & spayed/neutered.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2023, Donate, donations, Where your donations go

Giving Tuesday: making a difference for the County’s homeless animals

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Jen with Gertrude at adoption station.
25
Nov

This Tuesday, November 28th, is Giving Tuesday, which kicks off the annual Christmas-giving season with a world-wide celebration of selfless generosity. If you are charitably inclined, how do you decide which of the many worthy local charities are worthy of your generosity?

If you’re an animal lover (and I know you are) and you want your hard-earned dollars to make a difference, then FOTAS, the private partner of the Aiken County Animal Shelter, is an excellent choice for your charitable urges. Here’s why.

  • FOTAS, working with the county shelter, saves more animals than any other 501(c)(3) organization in the CSRA. Period. Full stop. For the past FIVE years, every adoptable animal at the shelter was saved, and FOTAS has kicked into overdrive to do the same this year.
  • FOTAS AND AIKEN COUNTY fund more spay/neuter pet surgeries for folks in financial need than any other charitable organization in the CSRA.
  • FOTAS AND AIKEN COUNTY fund more TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) surgeries for community cats than any other charitable organization in the CSRA.

     

  • FOTAS saves more heartworm positive (HWP) dogs than any other charitable organization in the CSRA.

     

  • FOTAS supplements adoption fees for active military personnel and veterans.

     

  • FOTAS helps county animal control take dogs off the chain by funding humane runners for distribution to county residents.

     

  • FOTAS GIVES OUT MORE PET FOOD TO AIKEN COUNTY PET OWNERS IN NEED THAN ANY OTHER CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION IN THE CSRA. This critical assistance makes it possible for folks to feed (and, thus, keep) their animals in hard times.

     

  • FOTAS also funds the costs of flea medication, toys, leashes, and pet food supplements, as well as subsidizing equipment and extraordinary medical needs at the shelter.

FOTAS is 100% supported by private donations, and we need your help now more than ever. The shelter, like all public shelters post-Covid, is overwhelmed with shockingly high intake. More people are abandoning their animals than adopting new ones. Here in Aiken County, the problem is compounded by an explosion in population growth (I’m sure you’ve seen all those housing developments springing up all over the county!), and a severe shortage of veterinarians and low-cost spay/neuter services. This means more and more animals are joining the ranks of the unwanted and the homeless—a heartbreaking tragedy after so many years of progress.

But, you ask, have all those private donations to FOTAS really made a difference

Absolutely! An incredible difference! In 2009 (the year that FOTAS was created) 95% of the animals consigned to the shelter were euthanized. Today that number has been turned on its head. From 2018 through this year, 2023, every adoptable animal at the shelter was (and will be) saved. That’s over a 90% save rate. 

Our success is your success: FOTAS’ ability to save so those thousands and thousands of shelter animals is the direct result of your generosity. From our hearts to yours, thank you and God bless.

Please send your much-appreciated donations to FOTAS, PO Box 2207, Aiken SC 29802, or go to fotasaiken.org to make your donation online. By the way, when you donate to FOTAS, you can be certain that 90% or more of every dollar of your donation will go to our life-saving programs. 

Their lives are in our hands.
By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice-President