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News & stories

Keep up with all things FOTAS! Meet adoptable pets, hear from volunteers, and stay informed about events taking place in your community.

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The numbers tell the story

Posted on by Angel Hartline
20
Oct

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

In the five short years since the new Aiken County Animal Shelter opened its doors, the Shelter has steadily increased the number of animals saved from a meager 29% to a whooping 83% so far in 2017 (despite record high intake during the summer). This remarkable save rate is even more astonishing if you compare it with the save rates prior to 2009, when FOTAS was formed and began its partnership with the County: on average, intake often exceeded 6500 animals a year, only 5% of which were able to be saved.

5% to 83% in 9 years. Is it perfect? No. Is it progress? You bet. Huge progress.

The steady increase of the save rate and the concurrent reduction of the euthanasia rate is no accident. It is due to the ingenuity, hard work and dedication of FOTAS and Shelter staff, working together to make it happen. We transfer animals to sister agencies in the northeast. We work every day with the dogs on the adoption floor to make them more attractive adoption prospects. We exercise the dogs every day, including appropriate dogs in intake to make transition to the adoption floor easier. We give the cats and kittens lots of love, too.

Aiken County Animal Shelter Statistics*
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017**
Total Animals Received 5107 4689 4785 4912 3405
Total Animals Adopted 829 1141 1136 1730 1075
Total Animals Transferred 681 1107 1568 1382 975

Total Cats TNR/RTF

 0 0 0 278 609
Total Animals Returned to Owner N/A N/A 260 243 180
Total % of Animals Saved 29.57% 47.94% 56.51% 73.96% 83.38%
Total % of Animals Euthanized 71.02% 53.91% 39.83% 30.72% 19.79%
*  Since new Shelter opened in 2013                                                     ** Through August 2017

We have a thriving foster program for dogs and cats. We neuter and return community cats to their colonies. We host outside adoption events and run monthly specials on adoptions. We aggressively market our animals in print and social media to reach a wide audience.

We treat and rehome heartworm positive, but otherwise healthy, dogs. We treat dogs with demodex mange and place them in foster homes to allow stress-free recovery. We provide emergency medical care and surgery for animals with life-threatening injuries and find them homes when they have recovered, a task made easier because FOTAS was able to provide a new anesthesia and digital x-ray machine for Dr. Levy. We are building a wellness/isolation pod so that animals with treatable contagious diseases like kennel cough can recover without infecting the larger population.

All of these things have made it possible to save 83% of our animals. However, it is a sad fact of life that until every pet owner spays and neuters their animals to reduce the population of unwanted animals, the need for euthanasia cannot be eliminated in a public shelter legally obligated to take all comers.

In addition, sometimes animals come with such severe physical and emotional damage, they cannot and should not be saved. With respect to owner-surrendered pets, most, say 90%, have excellent adoption prospects. Occasionally the very reason those animals were surrendered—aggressive, unmanageable behavior—creates an urgent and immediate safety issue for staff, volunteers, other animals, and ultimately the public. When that happens, the Shelter cannot and will not risk the safety of people and other animals. Ever.

Their lives are in our hands.

October Adoption Special: cats/kittens $10, dogs/puppies $35

PETS OF THE WEEK

ARCHIE: Mixed breed, male, 1 year old, tan, 44 pounds – $35
ARCHIE: Mixed breed, male, 1 year old, tan, 44 pounds – $35
APOLLO: Domestic shorthair cat, male, 2 months old, black and white, 1.5 pounds - $10
APOLLO: Domestic shorthair cat, male, 2 months old, black and white, 1.5 pounds – $10
Adoption, Cats, Foster, FOTAS

FOTAS fosters and good Samaritans are saving kittens every day

Posted on by Angel Hartline
18
Oct

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

Livie and her sibling were tossed out of a moving vehicle like pieces of garbage. A good Samaritan, driving behind the vehicle, witnessed the hideous crime and slammed on his brakes. He and his wife scrambled out of their car to see what they could do to save the kittens. But as they ran to Livie, a gray kitten, her sibling was run over and killed by a car coming the other way. Horrified, the couple scooped up Livie, blood dripping from her mouth, and sped to the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS).

LIVIE THE KITTEN - NOT LIVVYOnce at Shelter, Dr. Lisa Levy and her vet techs treated Livie. The left side of her face was scraped badly and her left rear leg injured, but she would be okay. Now, the five-week-old needed time to rest and heal.

Livie is just one of 227 kittens and 8 nursing momma cats that have been received by the County Shelter over the last two months. Some of these kittens are only a couple of weeks old and need to be bottle fed. When they are motherless and so young, they’re vulnerable and need constant care and attention – the kind of nurturing they can only get from a devoted foster family. But as fast as FOTAS recruits kitten fosters, more babies in need arrive at 333 Wire Road. Currently, there are 48 kittens being fostered by volunteers.

Because so many kittens have been received lately, ACAS staff members have taken kittens home to ensure their survival. Adoption Coordinator Hillary Clark-Kulis, Vet Tech Betty Milne-Erikson and Adoption Assistant Mary Calabro have all fostered litters of kittens during the last two months.
“I do it because these babies need to be saved,” Mary Calabro said. “It’s love for the innocent and the love they give back.”

Once the kittens are old enough to be spayed or neutered, they go on the adoption floor. But the fosters are needed to help these kittens get stronger and more comfortable with human touch and interaction.

“Without the foster program, many of these kittens wouldn’t survive,” said Hillary Clark-Kulis. “They are too little to spay or neuter and need constant bottle feeding or, if they’re old enough, have to be weaned from wet to dry food.”

FOTAS Volunteer Peg Seger and her husband, Ron, have been fostering kittens for two years and their latest assignment is a litter of five one-month-old strays. “If you love animals, fostering is a wonderful thing to do,” Peg said.

Jerri Smith just finished fostering three feral kittens for two weeks. By the time she returned them to the shelter for adoption, the six-week-old siblings liked to be held and petted.

“The longer they stayed with me, the less fearful they became,” Jeri said. “I enjoyed seeing them progress and it was fun and rewarding to help them learn and grow.”

Mindy Hand, another foster standout, just completed fostering three kittens that have since been adopted and is now nurturing and preparing two three-week-old kittens for adoption.

“Fostering takes a lot love and patience,” Mindy said. “But it is special knowing these cats are going to find families of their own after you’ve taken care of them.”

With so many kittens flowing into the shelter, FOTAS is in urgent need of more fosters. If you can volunteer, please call 803.514.4313 or send an email to info@angelhartlinedesigns.com

With your help, we’ll have more success stories like Livie, who recovered from her injuries and was put on the adoption floor on Thursday. Discarded like trash, this beautiful, gray kitten now has a second chance at a good life.
Their lives are in our hands.

By the Numbers


August 10 to October 10: The Aiken County Animal Shelter received 227 kittens and 8 nursing cats.
October Adoption Special: cats/kittens $10, dogs/puppies $35

Pets of the Week

Livie was thrown out of the window of a moving vehicle but thanks to good Samaritans, she made a complete recovery from her injuries.
RENO: Bully mix, male, 2 years old, white and brown, 50 pounds – $35
KENT PET OF THE WEEK
KENT: Domestic medium hair cat, male, 2 months old, black with light gray undercoat, 1.8 pounds – $10
Adoption, Bully Dogs, Dogs, FOTAS, Pibbles

Adopted Pit Bull mixes find love and give it back in spades

Posted on by Angel Hartline
30
Sep

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

The American Pit Bull Terrier or “Pit Bull” was America’s dog during World War I and their photos were used in military posters. Because of their popularity, “Bullies” or “Pibbles” were often used in advertising, including the Buster Brown shoes campaign. In fact, the first famous dog to star on TV was a Pit Bull. Remember Petey, the white dog with the black ring around one eye who starred in the Our Gang comedies in the 1930s? Yep, the cute canine who often joined the Little Rascals in their fun-filled adventures was a Pit Bull.

The County Shelter takes in a lot of stray and surrendered Pit Bull mixes, so we’re familiar with the positive attributes of this breed. Smart, goofy, athletic, high-energy and very loving, these are some of the best pets available for adoption.

Unfortunately, starting around the mid-80s, Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixed breeds started to get a bad rap in the media. Dog fighting surged in popularity and criminals chose the breed due to their physical strength. These villains nearly destroyed the rich history of the Pit Bull and sullied the breed’s reputation through their cruel and illegal actions.

But FOTAS and the Shelter are working to help these dogs and reestablish their honorable reputation by prudently preparing them for adoption and finding them loving homes.

Young Raymond and his mother, Darling Rios, fostered Gloria, helping the dog gain confidence before going to the Shelter’s adoption floor.
Young Raymond and his mother, Darling Rios, fostered Gloria, helping the dog gain confidence before going to the Shelter’s adoption floor.

For example, Gloria, a 2-year-old Pibble who arrived at the Shelter scared and shy, was fostered by Darling Rios and her family. At first, Gloria was too scared to leave the house. But slowly she began to trust her foster family and learned to relax and play by interacting with the other dogs living at the Rios household.

“All we did was give her love and provide a place where she felt safe,” Darling said. “Gloria built confidence after weeks of attention and came out of her shell.”

Once she was put on the adoption floor, Gloria didn’t last long. She was adopted by Shannon Wilhelm of Graniteville and is doing great!

Gloria is adopted from the County Shelter by the Wilhelms.
Gloria is adopted from the County Shelter by the Wilhelms.

Another Bully mix was adopted by Jude and Kerwin Iglesias of Aiken. They took home one-year-old Doxter, a white and brown cutie who is very protective of his new family. When he thinks they have been swimming for too long, the young dog gets worried and dives into the family’s pool, gently gripping them by the hand to pull them out of the water!

 

Ripley at home with his adopter, Amanda Brown of Augusta.
Ripley at home with his adopter, Amanda Brown of Augusta.

Ripley, a fawn and white Pibble, arrived at the Shelter as a stray and tested positive for heartworms. Bo and Amanda Brown fell in love with the big boy and adopted him, FOTAS paid for his treatment and now he is expected to be heartworm free by next month.

claressa at home
Newly adopted Claressa makes herself at home on Corbin Goodwin’s bed.

And then there’s Claressa, a 10-month-old, tan and white Bully mix. She was shy and having difficulty dealing with the noisy environment of the Shelter. But Brian and Gina Goodwin of Aiken adopted her and turned her life around. 

“At first, she was terrified of everything!” said Gina. “But after about three days, she was a completely different dog. We love her so much and I’m pretty sure she feels the same.”
The County Shelter always has some wonderful Pibbles available for adoption, and this week is no exception. Three standouts include Bailey, Ranger and our dog of the week, Toffee. Come visit them!

Their lives are in our hands.

 

By the Numbers

Jan. through Aug.:
FOTAS organized and paid for the spay/neuter surgeries of 292 community cats and pets owned by citizens in need of financial assistance.
October Adoption Special: Cat and kittens $10, dogs and puppies $35

 

Pets of the Week

 

TESSA: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 4 months old, Tortoise shell, 3.6 pounds - $10
TESSA: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 4 months old, Tortoise shell, 3.6 pounds – $10
TOFFEE: Pibble mix, female, 2 years old, gray and white, 46 pounds – $35
TOFFEE: Pibble mix, female, 2 years old, gray and white, 46 pounds – $35
Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Foster, FOTAS

In their own words: the joy and satisfaction of fostering County Shelter dogs

Posted on by Angel Hartline
22
Sep

 

By Toni Urben, FOTAS Volunteer and Foster Family

My husband Gary and I are a foster family for dogs from the Aiken County Animal Shelter that were not adopted locally and have been accepted for transfer to a sister agency in another part of the country. I can’t recall what got us started, but we have been fostering for FOTAS for four years, and it has been a truly satisfying journey. These sweet animals often come to us scared and anxious, and we have cried tears of sorrow at their condition and plight. As dog lovers, we cannot conceive how someone could have abandoned, abused or surrendered them in the first place.
Back to what we do as fosters and what we receive in return. We commit to care and love these dogs for approximately six days. In that short time, we give them a chance to relax, eat well, and exercise, and they learn to trust and love—we watch them come back to life. Our foster dogs truly teach us the meaning of forgiveness, resilience and adaptation.

Our most recent fosters were two older pups who had each recently had a hind leg amputated by Dr. Levy, the Shelter veterinarian, because they had arrived at the Shelter with such severe injuries, their lives were at risk. After a month at the Shelter, they needed a chance to adjust to their limitations. We helped them adjust and relax; we watched them get stronger on their short walks. It is hard to express the joy we have received from these two brave souls, who harbored no resentment toward mankind for their predicament. I cried tears of joy

Gary with Chance and Belinda
Gary with Chance and Belinda

when they left to begin their new life in a loving home, but by letting them go, we are able to foster two more dogs and prepare them for a fresh start.

Another foster we will always remember was Blue, an adult house pet who was extremely depressed at being abandoned by his owners. Blue moped about the dog room or laid at the glass door for long periods of time, just staring sadly into space. He didn’t want to leave his crate—we often had to pull him out just to walk and eat. He was so depressed, we did not think he was ready for transfer, so we asked to keep him for an additional three weeks. FOTAS agreed.

Gary and I were on a mission to bring Blue back to life. We leashed him and kept him with us as we sat in the family room and went about our daily life. Eventually he relaxed and wagged his tail; light came on in his gorgeous eyes. FOTAS worked their network. When they couldn’t find him a local home, they were able to transfer him to a northern partner. We were later contacted by the woman who fostered Blue for that shelter, and to our delight, she adored him so much, she kept him. She often posts pictures of Blue on the shelter’s Facebook page, so I can still look into his warm eyes and know he is loved and safe.

Yes, fostering can be a challenge, but deep satisfaction is the guaranteed outcome. FOTAS is in urgent need of more fosters—they need your help.

Their lives are in our hands.

By the Numbers
January to July:

The County Shelter’s Trap Neuter Return (TNR) Program, supplemented by FOTAS, recorded 500 community cats fixed and returned to field!

 

Pets of the Week

JENIVEVE: Mixed breed, female, 3 years old, white, 50 pounds – $35
JENIVEVE: Mixed breed, female, 3 years old, white, 50 pounds – $35
HILTON: Domestic Shorthair kitten, male, 3 months old, orange and white Tabby, 2.9 pounds – $10
HILTON: Domestic Shorthair kitten, male, 3 months old, orange and white Tabby, 2.9 pounds – $10
Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Spay/Neuter

Hurricanes and crowded shelters

Posted on by Angel Hartline
16
Sep

By Joanna D. Samson, Vice President of FOTAS

The destruction wreaked by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma over the past weeks is almost unimaginable: hundreds of thousands of homes severely damaged or destroyed, tens of thousands of people in temporary shelters. As of the day I write this, there are still 6.5 million people in Florida and Georgia facing 80- to 90-degree temperatures without power.

While the impacts on people are catastrophic, the impacts on animals are equally heart-breaking. Some human shelters made arrangements for household pets, but thousands of people were forced to flee their homes without their pets. Owner surrenders at animal shelters skyrocketed as the storms crawled ashore. As heartbreaking as it is to imagine turning a beloved companion over to a shelter, it was a far better choice than abandoning them to the elements.

In anticipation of the storms, many of the animal shelters in the affected southern states made a desperate effort to transfer their animals to shelters in other parts of the country so they could make room for the inevitable deluge of abandoned and surrendered animals. Here in Aiken, for example, the SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare took in an additional 28 dogs.

The effort and resources needed to conduct rescue operations and to handle that many additional animals are enormous: hundreds of dedicated volunteers, substantial amounts of food, thousands of extra crates, and medical supplies. Many private vehicles were pressed into service to haul the animals to safety. Already overworked shelter staff worked overtime to accommodate the influx of extra animals. It’s exhausting, time-consuming and stressful work.

Although superstorms like Katrina, Harvey and Irma seem to be increasing as the earth’s temperatures rise, at least the hurricane season is limited to three months out of the year, and thankfully not every year produces a storm of these magnitudes. However, at large public shelters in the southern climes like the Aiken County Animal Shelter, intake skyrockets during the spring and summer months every year, creating the same strain on resources, funds and manpower as an extraordinary weather event.

This summer has been no exception. From May 1st to August 31st, the County Shelter took in 1,920 animals. Over a period of sixteen days in May, the Shelter took in 376 animals, that’s 23 a day. In a single week in August, the Shelter took in 186 animals, that’s 31 animals a day. Those are hurricane-like intake numbers at the Shelter without the hurricane.

The County Shelter is a public facility, obligated by law to take all animals, even when full. Staff and FOTAS volunteers shift into overdrive to accommodate these numbers. It’s an exhausting, time-consuming and stressful time. Superstorms may wreak havoc every couple of years, but super summer intake at the County Shelter happens every year, and it will continue to do so until every County pet is fixed.

The dedication and generosity of the animal rescue communities and their citizens during these recent tragedies has been remarkable. Thank God, because there’s nothing more heart-wrenching than bewildered, scared, suffering animals left homeless through no fault of their own.

We know. We see it week-in and week-out, day-in and day-out, every month during the spring, summer and early fall months. Your County Shelter needs your help all the time—not just for the occasional emergency.

Please, volunteer, donate, adopt. Their lives are in our hands.

By the Numbers
May- August:

1,920 dogs and cats were received at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

September Adoption Special:

Cat and kittens are $10, dogs and puppies $35

Pets of the Week

LINZY: Terrier mix, female, 3 years old, black & white, 47 pounds – $35
x LINZY: Terrier mix, female, 3 years old, black & white, 47 pounds – $35
AGATHA: Domestic Shorthair kitten, female, 3 months old, black & gray Tabby, 3.4 pounds – $10
AGATHA: Domestic Shorthair kitten, female, 3 months old, black & gray Tabby, 3.4 pounds – $10
Adoption, Cats

Blind cat Ray and his adopter are companions for life

Posted on by Angel Hartline
08
Sep

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

I’ve seen a lot of animals arrive at the Shelter with injuries and handicaps. These animals always stand out – not only due to their obvious physical challenges but also because they seem to be extra sweet and blessed with extraordinary character.

Most of their injuries are caused by neglect or abuse, and sadly I’ve seen my fair share of stray animals arrive at 333 Wire Road with one eye, a missing tail, or a leg so shattered it must be amputated.

But until a grubby, black and gray fluff ball named Ray came to the Shelter in August, I’d never seen or been around a blind animal. Named after the famous soul singer-songwriter,

Ray was a favorite at the Shelter before being adopted on Clear the Shelters Day, August 19.
Ray was a favorite at the Shelter before being adopted on Clear the Shelters Day, August 19.

Ray Charles, this 9-year-old stray cat instantly won the hearts of the staff and FOTAS volunteers. Although his eyes are caved in, probably due to a severe eye infection at some point in his life, Ray uses his sense of smell and touch to find his food and his litter box. His favorite activity is to climb on your shoulder and grip you tightly while purring loudly in your ear. Once you sit down, he eventually moves to your lap, begging to be petted some more.

Yes, falling in love with Ray was easy; finding him a home was a bigger challenge. Being a senior cat with no sight, he needed to be with someone who knows and loves cats, and who would spend a lot of time with him. But he also needed to be the only pet since other animals scared him.

Jonathan adopted Ray, a blind cat who was brought to the County Shelter as a stray.
Jonathan adopted Ray, a blind cat who was brought to the County Shelter as a stray.

That’s when Jonathan Martindale of Evans, GA came to the rescue. Jon’s friend, Grace Bellmer, knew he was looking for a cat and she and her mom, Liz, saw Ray’s picture on Facebook. Once they shared that photo and Ray’s story with Jon, he knew it was a good match. He adopted Ray on August 19.

“Ray’s probably the sweetest cat I’ve ever had,” Jon said. “He is just so thankful to have a good home and we’ve bonded and already have our own routine down.”
Part of their routine includes Ray taking naps on Jon’s shoulder and stomach when he gets home from his teaching job at Lakeside High School. Ray also likes to join Jon in front of their 55-inch flat screen while he watches sports or a movie on Netflix.

“Ray pretty much runs the place,” Jon said. “His handicap really isn’t a factor. He moves so well, sometimes I forget he’s blind.”

When Ray first arrived, he walked slowly around Jon’s two-story house and sniffed it out, getting his bearings in the new environment. Now, he seems to have memorized the layout of the home and knows where everything is so he can navigate easily throughout his new digs.

“He’s a great companion, a good soul, and I love him to death,” Jon said. Even though I’ve only had him about a month, I honestly don’t know what I’d do without him.”

Their lives are in our hands.

By the Numbers


September Adoption Special:

Cat and kittens are $10, dogs and puppies only $35

Pets of the Week

RUFUS: Retriever mix, male, 1 year old, yellow, 48 pounds – $35
RUFUS: Retriever mix, male, 1 year old, yellow, 48 pounds – $35
NIKOLAS: Domestic shorthair cat, male, 2 months old, black and white Tabby, 1.3 pounds - $10
NIKOLAS: Domestic shorthair cat, male, 2 months old, black and white Tabby, 1.3 pounds – $10
Donate, FOTAS

Medical Equipment Donations Making a Big Difference

Posted on by Angel Hartline
01
Sep


By Dr. Lisa Levy, ACAS Veterinarian

The Aiken County Animal Shelter has received some amazing donations in the last few months and I am pinching myself to be sure it is real! FOTAS received an email from Lisa and Ken Kasper asking if we would be interested in a slightly used x-ray machine that they were willing to donate. They had heard about FOTAS from Dr. Kathy Bissell, a local veterinarian who was instrumental in starting FOTAS’ Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) program in the county.
A free x-ray machine! Are you kidding me?

In the past, when an animal needed to be x-rayed, it required them to be transported to a local animal hospital. My previous employers, Drs. John and Jennifer Hurd of Silver Bluff Animal Hospital, were gracious enough to allow me to use their x-ray machine whenever the need arose and never charged anything to do so. Despite their amazing generosity, I felt I needed to pick and choose my cases so as not to take advantage of them.

And there was the issue of transportation. I drive a Mustang, so for a cat or small dog it was no problem. But I could not fit a big dog in a crate in my car. Since I am technically not a county employee, I cannot drive a county vehicle, so a shelter employee (most often Randy Bush, our head kennel technician) had to drive the shelter van.

So now, thanks to the Kaspers, the shelter has its own high-quality digital x-ray machine. They donated the machine, the cassettes, the computer, and even the lead gloves and aprons needed to safely take the x-rays. FOTAS volunteers Peter Miller, Bill Joos, and Dr. Mike Wells drove to Lexington to pick up the equipment. After deciding where to locate the equipment, Paige Baine, head of Code Enforcement, and Bobby Arthurs, Shelter Manager, coordinated with county services to upgrade the electrical system. FOTAS paid for the installation, registration with DHEC, and training.

Ken and Lisa Kasper donated a digital x-ray machine to FOTAS.
Ken and Lisa Kasper donated a digital x-ray machine to FOTAS.

Last week, on the day of installation, I took my first x-ray! It was of a super sweet husky that had been hit by a car. I could feel that she had a pelvic fracture but I did not know how badly it was broken. The x-ray revealed two breaks, but neither involved the hip joint, so she should heal fine with just rest. She will be going into foster care for several weeks to recover before she is adopted.

Also last month we received a donation of an autoclave, a machine that sterilizes our surgical instruments, from Augusta Urology Surgicenter. This was made possible through a connection with Erica Lowe, a veterinary technician at North Augusta Animal Hospital. We had one autoclave which can sterilize four surgical packs at once. Since we started the TNR program for the feral cat population in the county, the number of packs used in a day has doubled – so this donation could not have come at a better time.

I am so grateful for the Kaspers, Augusta Urology, and FOTAS for contributing to the care and well-being of all the animals that pass through the shelter on their way to forever homes. It truly does take a village!

 

Pets of the Week

PENELOPE: Shepherd mix, female, 4 years old, red with white, 71 pounds - $35
    PENELOPE: Shepherd mix, female, 4 years old, red with white, 71 pounds – $35
CLIO: Domestic Shorthair kitten, female, 2 months old, gray and black Tabby, 1.8 pounds - $10
CLIO: Domestic Shorthair kitten, female, 2 months old, gray and black Tabby, 1.8 pounds – $10

By the Numbers


September Adoption Special:

Cat and kittens are $10, dogs and puppies are $35

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Volunteer

Clearing the Aiken County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
25
Aug

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Last Saturday, people started lining up at the County Shelter around 10:00 in the morning. FOTAS volunteers and County staff were manning the sign-in desk, cleaning up the yards, walking and grooming dogs, drying off kittens, organizing paperwork, plugging in gigantic fans, directing traffic and icing down the water bottles. The morning was bright and hot. By 11:00, the mercury had risen to 87 degrees, and the line of people snaked around the building.

What would possess so many good citizens to stand patiently in line in the brutal heat? They were waiting to adopt their new best friend and be part of the national Clear the Shelters Day, an annual pet adoption initiative in which 900 shelters across the country participate. The collective goal? To find a home for every single resident of all 900 shelters in one day, including the 63 cats, kittens, dogs and puppies at the County Shelter.

The doors opened promptly at 11:00. The next three hours were a flurry of frenzied, but well-orchestrated, activity. “It was an unbelievable team effort,” said Jennifer Miller, FOTAS President. “All hands were on deck, including Ashley Jacobs and Brian Sanders, the Assistant County Administrators, Bobby Arthurs, the Shelter Manager, and Dr. Lisa Levy, the Shelter veterinarian, who spent her day off at the Shelter answering questions about the animals and moving cats and kittens from the intake wing to the Adoption Floor.”

And it worked. By the time the dust settled and the Shelter doors closed at 4:00, every kennel on the Adoption Floor was empty, and 37 dogs and 26 cats were on their way to a new family and a better life.

Like Gil, a large muscular dog who was adopted by a kindhearted older couple. Or Archie, who had the unfortunate distinction of being the longest-term resident of the Shelter. Or Ripley, a large brown dog with a gray muzzle with scars and filed-down teeth—evidence of abuse as a “bait” dog in an illegal fighting ring. Or Poppy, a black and white mamma dog whose puppies had been born and weaned in foster care. Or Ray, a blind senior cat; or Mindy and Marietta, two kittens from the same litter with a deep bond; or Nina, the last lovely lady taken home at the end of the day.

The list goes on and on. All of these animals were in the Shelter through no fault of their own, and they all needed someone to give them a chance to love and be loved. The Clear the Shelter Day gave them that chance.

It couldn’t have come at a better time. The Shelter is packed to capacity during the summer months—two weeks ago, a staggering 186 animals were admitted to the Shelter in a single week. Now that there is room, all of the animals in Intake can move to the Adoption Floor for their second chance to find a home with people to love. The work goes on and on. We cannot let them down.

Finally, the response of you, the Aiken community, was nothing short of breathtaking. We are profoundly touched by your commitment and your compassion. Thank you and God Bless.

Their lives are in our hands.

By the Numbers
From August 1-23, 400+ dogs and cats were received by the County Shelter.
Through Aug. 31, cats and kittens are just $10, dogs and puppies $35.

 

Pets of the Week

olive potw august 27

OLIVE: Shepherd mix, female, 9 years old, tan, 23 pounds – $35

Dax POTW August 27MEL: Domestic medium-hair kitten, male, 2 months old,

gray with white, 2 pounds – $10

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS

The endless flow of homeless animals at the County Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
20
Aug

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Yesterday, the Aiken County Animal Shelter participated in the National Clear the Shelter Day for the second time. By all accounts, the day was an awesome success, and for a few short moments in the afternoon, the Shelter was blissfully empty and quiet.

It won’t last. It can’t last. Summer intake is out of control. In a single week this month, 186 animals were admitted to the Shelter…186 animals! Do the math. At that rate, thirty-one animals a day, every day, need to be adopted to keep up with that staggering intake. Not likely, not in a community this size.

Summer is always tough at the County Shelter. While the rest of the world settles into the sleepy tempo of summer, FOTAS volunteers and County staff shift into hyper-drive to address the inevitable onslaught of puppies, kittens and owner-surrender animals that crowd the intake wing and stress county resources.

These animals come primarily from the County, and generally intake is roughly equal between strays and citizen-surrendered animals. In the summer months, however, the number of citizen-surrendered animals doubles between the people who surrender their pets to the Shelter when they go on vacation and the people who didn’t fix their pets and dump the puppies or kittens at the Shelter for the rest of us to take care of. Unspeakably sad, unthinkably heartless, but true nevertheless.

Over the past year, the County and FOTAS, with the help of the community, has made great strides in saving more animals and reducing the euthanasia rate, but until rampant overpopulation is checked and the horrifying intake numbers come down (a 10-year proposition under the best of circumstances, according to most experts), our goal of never having to euthanize another adoptable animal is out of reach.

In the meantime, the County Shelter, with the help of FOTAS, is responsible for the care and disposition of the 4600-5000 unwanted animals each year. Paid for with taxpayer dollars, the County Shelter has a legal obligation to accept all comers – it cannot refuse to accept an animal because there isn’t enough room.

It’s like sweeping back the ocean with a broom, especially during the summer months.

How can you help?

First and foremost, spay or neuter your animals, and urge all the people in your universe—friends, family, and people you come into contact with at work, at the grocery store, and at the drug store—to spay and neuter their animals. If you or they cannot afford the cost to spay/neuter, you may be eligible for County or FOTAS financial assistance.

Help us take care of the animals – volunteer at the shelter.

Become a short-term foster for dogs selected for transfer or a long-term foster for mama dogs and their puppies and mama cats and their kittens until they are weaned and rehomed.

Make a tax-free donation to the cause at www.fotasaiken.org.

Most of all—adopt! For every animal you adopt or foster, you save two lives – every time an animal moves out of the Shelter, another animal can be moved to the adoption floor.

Call us at (803) 514-4313 or email us at info@angelhartlinedesigns.com and see how you can get involved. You won’t be sorry.

Their lives are in our hands.

By the Numbers
August adoption specials: Cats/Kittens $10, Dogs/Puppies $35

 

Pets of the Week

IRMA: Terrier/Beagle mix, female, 1-1/2 years old, white with black, 22 pounds – $35
LOUIE: Domestic Shorthair kitten, male, 1-1/2 months old, gray and white, 2 pounds - $10
LOUIE: Domestic Shorthair kitten, male, 1-1/2 months old, gray and white, 2 pounds – $10
Children, Donate, FOTAS, Fundraisers

Kids today, they’re so generous to shelter animals in need

Posted on by Angel Hartline
11
Aug

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

We’ve all heard and read the negative comments about today’s youth. Kids are lazy these days! They’re more interested in their iPhones and video games than the world around them. They’re not as engaged with society and care more about taking selfies than reaching out to others.
But despite such negativity and the glut of news stories about today’s children being more selfish, we are not seeing it. In fact, just the opposite. More kids than ever are donating time to the shelter and FOTAS has received a wave of donations from children who want to do something special for the homeless animals at 333 Wire Road.
In many cases, the kids leverage their birthdays to raise donations for the animals. Seven-year-old Marli Cook is a great example. Rather than receiving traditional birthday presents, she asked her party guests to instead bring animal food donations. Ten-year-old Christina Proctor did the same. So did Harper Still on her fifth birthday.

Seven-year-old Marli Cook with the donations her guests brought to her birthday party.
Seven-year-old Marli Cook with the donations her guests brought to her birthday party.

Audrey Dietzel even hosted her eighth birthday at the shelter last year and did the same on her ninth birthday, donating all of her cash gifts to the animals. Thanks to her asking for donations and the generosity of her party guests, FOTAS received $300 from Audrey last Saturday.

Birthday girl Audrey Dietzel (holding cash donation) hosted her birthday party at the Coun
Birthday girl Audrey Dietzel (holding cash donation) hosted her birthday party at the Coun

“We gave Audrey other options for parties – the girly spa, a pool party, Air Strike, the Great Wolf Lodge – but she loves the animals and the shelter,” said Audrey’s mom, Wendy. “That’s where her heart is right now.”
Most recently, three very young but enterprising friends from Wagener sold lemonade and used the full $100 they raised to buy food and other goodies for the shelter’s animals.

Three young friends from Wagener sell lemonade to raise money for FOTAS.
Three young friends from Wagener sell lemonade to raise money for FOTAS.

Eight-year-old Hayden Collum and his 6-year-old brother, Colton, joined their 6-year-old pal, Natalie Tyler, to raise money for the FOTAS donation. Natalie asked for a lemonade stand on her birthday and her mother, Nikki, obliged.

The three musketeers who raised money to buy food and other gifts for the County Shelter animals: Hayden Collum, 8; Colton Collum, 6; and Natalie Tyler, 8.
The three musketeers who raised money to buy food and other gifts for the County Shelter animals: Hayden Collum, 8; Colton Collum, 6; and Natalie Tyler, 8.

“As a parent, I think it’s important to get the kids out there doing something besides playing video games and watching TV,” Nikki said. “Learning responsibility is important and Natalie enjoyed working and giving goodies to the shelter animals.”

The three kids had a great time and informed their customers that all the proceeds from the lemonade sales were going to FOTAS.

Lynn Collum, Hayden and Colton’s mother, always encourages such altruistic actions from her boys. “A lot of kids have enough these days,” she said. “In my family, we were taught to give back to the community and raise money for other causes.”

Children don’t always wait for their birthday to give money or food to the animals. Nancy Bates and her two daughters Rheney, 10, and Robbie, 7, donated $120 to FOTAS when they adopted Cotton, a beautiful cream-colored kitten. The girls donated $60 of their own money to the Shelter animals, and their mom matched their donation.

Sisters Rheney and Robbie Bates donated their own money to FOTAS and adopted Cotton.
Sisters Rheney and Robbie Bates donated their own money to FOTAS and adopted Cotton.

Thank you to all the children who have been so generous to FOTAS and the Shelter animals this year! With the large intake of animals each month, these donations are crucial to the well-being and comfort of the felines and canines forced to spend time in the County facility. To donate to or learn more about FOTAS, please go to FOTASaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands.

BY THE NUMBERS

In the first week of August, the County Shelter received 186 animals.

PETS OF THE WEEK

MONTI: Retriever mix, male, 1-1/2 years old, black with white, 59 pounds - $35
MONTI: Retriever mix, male, 1-1/2 years old, black with white, 59 pounds – $35
RAY: Domestic Shorthair cat (blind), male, 8 years old, silver black, 9 pounds - $10
RAY: Domestic Shorthair cat (blind), male, 8 years old, silver black, 9 pounds – $10