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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.

2025, Foster, fostering

Our Wonderful Temporary Guests

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Murphy, as a foster
13
Sep

As I write this, there is a dog on my feet. His name is Murphy and he came to us last week from the Aiken County Animal Shelter as a foster. My husband Brian and I have been foster parents to shelter animals since 2017 and Murphy is our tenth.

Some people have asked me how I am able to just “give them up” once the fostering period is over. They have the idea that somehow fostering is a sad business, but I can tell you from my experience that the opposite is true.

Each one of our temporary residents has given so much more to us than they took. Want to reduce your daily screen time? Foster some kittens! They provide hours of entertainment. Need more exercise? Foster a dog! You’ll enjoy walking so much more. Simply want company to watch tv? Foster a lap warmer – cat or dog! They don’t even care what the program is. Just by getting the animals out of the shelter, you are helping to reduce their anxiety, increase their socialization and you’re giving them a better shot at finding a stable adoptive home.

Murphy in his new home.
Murphy in his new home.


Can you foster if you already have pets? You can! We had a 14-year-old rescue, who we adopted as a puppy from another foster family, and she was great with other animals. Sadly, she passed a couple of months ago and fostering has been a great way to honor her memory and bring a little sunshine back into our quiet house.

Most of the fosters we have hosted have been spoken for. We knew going into it that we were going to have them for a short time before leaving on their transport to meet their adoptive family. Some of our fosters have needed extra attention, like bottle feeding, medication, or have been recovering from surgery, so they wouldn’t be adoptable until they got a little older or healthier. Most of these guys just need a soft place to land while permanent arrangements are made. There is only so much the shelter staff can do.

Can you be a foster and then change your mind? Of course you can! Actually, I should tell you that we’ve decided not to foster Murphy anymore. It wasn’t an easy decision. We’ve been thinking it over since we got him. He’s loving and sweet, a good listener, house broken, and crate trained. He loves to ride shotgun. Sometimes he sleeps upside down with his legs straight up in the air, but most of the time he follows me in search of tasty treats. Why, you might ask, would we no longer want to foster this amazing dog??? To be honest, the reason is purely selfish. We just couldn’t give him up and that’s really the best part of being a foster parent. Sometimes you get to keep them.

Their lives are in our hands.
by Erica Sanders, Foster Mom

2025, abandoned animals, animal abuse, PUPPIES

It’s Been A Cruel Summer

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
It has been a cruel summer for Aiken County unwanted animals.
03
Sep

Sometimes the shelter is hopeful, we can have a great adoption day and we think, this is great! We can take a breath for a minute!

Then the wave crashes in again.

Presley is a sweet boy waiting for his new best friend.
Presley is a sweet boy waiting for his new best friend.

This summer has been a tough one for sure. We have neglect cases, abandonment cases (I am shocked by how many people move away and leave their dogs in their homes or tied in their yards!), puppies and kittens suffering from malnourishment and mange, dogs with scars from fighting or from living on pavement or dirt, leaving scars and skin issues.

The economy is a factor yes…pet food is very expensive and many cannot afford rising care costs.  However, the cases we are seeing are primarily caused by simply not caring.

Have you ever seen a dog cry? A cat so stiff in fear that you can’t get see emotion?  I wish I could say that I haven’t.

Presley came to us as a stray originally, with scars from an embedded collar.  We were thrilled when he was adopted!  Presley recently came back to us after being found wandering. His owner could no longer care for him and gave him back to the shelter. He was covered in fleas, his elbows and feet raw and red from living on hard surfaces. He cried when he came back. This skinny, sweet boy was broken. Thankfully staff member Peggy brought him a big bed and he curled up and kissed her.  This is the sweetest boy on the planet!  He needs a home of his own. He adores other dogs, he is as gentle as a dog can be.

Jada was found with a lock and chain around her neck.
Jada was found with a lock and chain around her neck.

Jada wandered up to someone’s yard with a lock and chain around her neck. A thirteen-pound dog needed a chain? Thankfully she made it to a kind person that brought her to the shelter. Jada was so frightened as you can imagine. She had an open wound on her neck. Once healed she picked a very nice man that she wanted as her owner. She just hopped into his lap and he knew he had to save her.

We are eternally grateful for those that stop and help dogs that are in distress, that are hungry and unloved.  We are constantly frustrated that there are people in our community, neighbors, that chain their dogs in their back yards. That don’t give water or food to their pet. Those that can’t even give an animal shade.

The shelter cannot keep up with the numbers coming in. We need people to adopt.

Yes, we always need foster homes but that is a temporary fix.  

Adoptions are what save lives. Adoptions are the key to emptying kennels, curing sadness and creating hope.  

If you have saved an animal and provided them a kind home, tell everyone! There are still far too many people going to breeders to get puppies. We know, we take them all in when they are older and not ‘cute’ anymore.

Forgive my frustration, but my friends have four legs and live in cages. It hurts not being able to take them all home. As a community we can provide homes. We can share love.

Please don’t look the other way, they need us.

Their lives are in our hands.

by Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2025, animal care education, PUPPIES, Spay/Neuter

FOTAS: The tragedy of unwanted puppies

Posted on by Shana Ryberg

Puppies, puppies, puppies. Everyone loves puppies—their warm, soft, little bodies, their playful antics, their happy, goofy faces, and furiously wagging tails. Those little guys are entitled to a full happy life, but the future of puppies born from indiscriminate breeding is far from certain.

In Aiken County, those puppies are most likely abandoned on the road, in a dumpster or, dropped off at the Aiken County Animal Shelter in the middle of the night by owners who never bothered to spay mama dog and then wash their hands of the consequences. Sometimes they surrender them to the shelter in person, year after year, without a second thought and leave it to us solve their problem. A whole litter of little lives that didn’t ask to be born. They deserve better.

Puppies, puppies, puppies. Hundreds of them in all shapes and sizes. A busy public shelter is not the place for those adorable small fries to receive the proper time, attention, or love to become healthy, well-balanced adults. We work hard to find them a second chance, either locally or out of town, but it’s heartbreaking work. In the summer months, the shelter is woefully overcrowded with adult dogs, too, just waiting for that one person to walk by their kennel, look twice, and take them home to love.

This summer, the shelter’s been overwhelmed with incoming animals, adults and puppies. Transfers to our northern transfer partners are not guaranteed. Many, like the county shelter, have their own problems with limited spay/neuter serves and are overwhelmed as well. Some just don’t accept puppies. Since Covid, the safety nets for homeless and abandoned animals have frayed to the point of near collapse across the country.

We do all we can, but it’s not enough. It will never be enough unless we get serious about providing low-cost spay/neuter services to county residents.

In Aiken County and adjoining counties, public and private low-cost spay/neuter clinics and services are extremely limited. Add that to a nationwide shortage of veterinarians, many of whom don’t provide low cost spay/neuter services to the public, the population of homeless animals grows beyond our ability to care for them. Aiken County is no exception.

The only effective solution is to build a dedicated public spay/neuter clinic to service the citizens of Aiken County, and county council is stepping to the plate. The cost to build a dedicated spay/neuter clinic in the county was included as one of its one-penny tax projects in the current round of funding. We applaud County Council’s foresight and humanity.

This is not an experimental endeavor. Six years ago, Greenville County build a dedicated, state of the art, public low-cost spay/neuter clinic. In those six short years, Greenville saw a 60% reduction in intake. It worked. Apply that 60% reduction to Aiken County, and the county shelter intake reduces dramatically, year after year, to a manageable number. Every adoptable animal will continue to be saved.

Collectively, we need to come together as a community to improve the outcomes for Aiken County’s homeless animals. Together, with the help of a committed county council, we can reduce the suffering of unwanted animals and make our community shelter a resource—not a destination. Go to fotasaiken.org to see how you can help.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice-President

2025, Foster, fostering, PUPPIES

An Important Message from a Dog

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
20
Aug

I’m Ozzy a 7 year old Dalmatian who was adopted a few years ago by my current parents. I know what it’s like to not have a home so I was thrilled when my parents decided to foster dogs from the Aiken County Animal shelter. It gives shelter dogs a chance to experience the wonderful life of a real home even if it’s just for a short time.

After Mom brings the foster pups home and they are ready to meet me, she lets them play on my bed, and then introduces me to them so I help her with the whole process. I play with them, give them love, and even give them a nudge when they need a little correction. They love to play and are real curious in their new environment that provides food and love with peace and quiet.

I love that my mom fosters puppies. FOTAS provides everything she needs during their stay and our mentoring helps make the puppies more adoptable. I still do all my chores and have all my fun like usual but now even my life is more rewarding as I help prepare these puppies for their next wonderful life.

In a couple of weeks these puppies will go on to be adopted. I know my mom loves the total experience and although we know other fosters who don’t have a dog of their own, I know she couldn’t have done it without me!

Why don’t you ask your mom if you can start fostering dogs? Trust me, you’ll be glad you did. Please email info@fotasaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands.

by Ozzy Dawson-Ekeland

2025, Volunteer

Why Do I Walk Dogs at the Shelter?

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Chuck and Goose
20
Aug

My wife and I have always had dogs during our 40 years of marriage which began in Illinois where our packs numbered from one to 5 or 6 dogs, the first from a puppy through a breeder and the rest adopted dogs of various ages and breeds, most of which were lost or surrendered.

Elise and Chuck
Elise and Chuck

Now in South Carolina, we still have five in our pack of dogs, all foster failures (we fostered and kept). When we moved to Aiken 8 years ago, I was finally retiring from practicing dentistry at the age of 81 and had extra time on my hands. I always like to exercise and be as fit as possible, so I started volunteering at the County Animal Shelter (FOTAS) by walking dogs and fostering puppies.

We had never encountered working at a shelter before. I began to notice that the more the dogs were walked, the more relaxed they became and the easier it was to walk them. So I began to realize that I was walking the dogs for me and the dogs. Then I was walking maybe 2-3 days each week with the dogs and more recently my walking increased to 5 days a week within the last year. Now I am part of a team of walkers in the afternoons – Barb, Sue, Olga, Malia, who share the same goals. Now we walk not only for ourselves and the dogs, but we walk for those people that will adopt the dogs and make them part of their lives. So why do I walk dogs? My answer would be – It is the right thing to do. So if you can and are able, please join us walking the dogs at the shelter. It’s the right thing to do for all of us. I cherish the opportunity to be a volunteer for FOTAS – maybe you will too.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Chuck Cooper, FOTAS Volunteer

2025, Adoption, Pibbles

The Pure Pleasure of Pitties

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
20
Aug

For those who may be missing the companionship of a dog or for others who just want to offer their time and affection, the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s Doggie Days Out program is a fun opportunity to have a dog for an hour, an afternoon or overnight. How lucky are we to have the privilege of a shelter dog for a cuddle, a walk or a movie night at home? The dogs love to show that they have what it takes to be adopted as a forever friend.

There have been a few times since becoming a volunteer at the shelter, that I have taken a dog out for the day or home for the weekend. Before deciding which dog to take home, I feel as though I must trust them in a number of ways. They must be able to get in and out of the car politely. They must be able to walk on the leash politely. And, they must behave in my home (you guessed it), politely.

So it was to my surprise that all of the dogs I have selected for a Doggie Days Out have been Pitties [Pitbull Mix]. Previously, I had no experience whatsoever with Pitties, but they have quickly become my favorites.

We’re all aware of the “bad wrap” Pitties have received through no fault of their own. Whether it is by over-breeding, poor upbringing or lack of training their reputation is by no means a representation of the breed. On the contrary, I have found them to be incredibly affectionate, attentive, empathetic, silly and loving.

Whether it’s hanging out at home or on a long walk in the horse district, each one has proven to be the most wonderful companion. The Pitties are sturdy and strong, but love to have their faces scrunched and smooched. Their smiles will light up your day!!

Pitties are by nature eager for connection. If we could only bottle the pure gratitude they express for any of the experiences we can provide. Pauline was snoring away within minutes of settling into her comfy and quiet “at home” bed, Marley played enthusiastically with his toys, Lexi buried herself into the pillows, Ricky loved exploring on our long walks and Marty smiled ear-to-ear all day.

Pauline, Marley, Lexi, Ricky and Marty have thankfully been adopted. I am left with fond memories of cuddling with them and delighting in their appreciation of a warm comfortable bed to share. Some extra yummy treats didn’t hurt either.

Give a Pittie a chance. You won’t regret it!! Their lives are in our hands.

by Barbara Ambach FOTAS Volunteer

2025, Volunteer

The Gift of a Shelter Dog

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Couch cuddling at the shelter
24
Jul

Since moving to Aiken a few years ago, I have driven by the Aiken County Animal Shelter not knowing if I could take the shelter dogs out of their kennels and then put them back in. I was thinking of my own sadness and guilt when faced with the plight of so many innocent creatures who suffer due to our failing to protect and love them. But once I began to volunteer, walking 8-10 dogs a day, I quickly realized the extraordinary benefits of giving them love and attention while receiving it in return 20-fold.

Every day, they wait, wide-eyed and waggy-tailed [some patiently and some not-so much] for us to loop that leash and take them for their coveted walks and sniffs. Some are anxious to explore every leaf or twig, while others are laser-focused on the journey ahead. Either way, their interest in and connection to nature is a reminder that a whole world exists to them that we can only observe and admire.

Each shelter dog has its own story and its own personality. Of course that goes without saying, but even in the short time I am able to get to know each one, I am surprised by their humor, enthusiasm and hope. We humans have put them in this predicament, yet they are somehow forgiving and generous to a fault.

You’re never alone when you are with a dog. They fill your heart til it’s bursting! The dogs insist on your “presence”, which is often a relief from the trials and tribulations of our daily lives. They privilege us with their uncanny ability to connect in a quiet and meaningful way. Their silence speaks volumes saying, “Don’t worry, I’m right here with you and by the way, thanks for being with me.”

The staff and volunteers at the ACAS are truly committed to the health and well-being of these animals. They deserve so much, and I feel tremendous gratitude that we have a facility in Aiken that works to give each one a chance. Their lives are in our hands.

By Barbara Ambach, FOTAS Volunteer

2025, Adoption, senior pets

Two Lovely Dogs Homeless After Their Owners Passed Away

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Boo was brought to the shelter on June 6th after his owner passed away.
18
Jul

Boo and Monroe are two dogs that came to the Aiken County Animal Shelter recently when their owners passed away. They came from separate homes and reminded us that it really is important to have a plan for our pets in case something happens to us.

The shelter is full with so many young puppies and gorgeous dogs right now. Boo and Monroe are older, larger dogs, and those are much harder to find homes for. I wish I knew why? Personally, an older, bigger dog to cuddle with is way more appealing than young, barky puppy!

Boo was brought to the shelter on June 6th after his owner passed away.

He is seven years old, not exactly a senior by any means, but he is past his puppy stage for sure. He had a dog buddy that was quickly adopted and now he is by himself. This has been very difficult for Boo. He is a big hippo and loves to cuddle! He is house trained and knows commands. He is not a fan of the food at the shelter, but he was a little chubby when he arrived! He would love a home where he could get a few table scraps and a soft bed to lay on. Boo is playful for short bursts but then wants to chill on the couch with the volunteers. He hates being alone in his kennel. It’s so noisy right now, we have no kennels open and the non-stop barking is tough on a dog that had a good home for seven years. Boo has big eyes and when you walk by him he makes eye contact, desperately asking for love. It is so hard seeing him there.

Monroe came to us just one day before Boo did, on June 5th.

Photo by Christine Harmel, “Monroe’s Breakfast Face”
Photo by Christine Harmel, “Monroe’s Breakfast Face”

Monroe was found by a neighbor after his owner passed away. This sweet dog is easy to walk and easy to love. He is so gentle and loves to give soft kisses. Never an accident in his kennel, it must be so hard for him to be in a kennel waiting for volunteers to let him out. Monroe may be eleven years old but he still has much to give. He loves to go walking on the trails, he gets excited when we give him treats!

Recently one of our volunteers Christine took Monroe home for an overnight, she has a soft spot for the seniors, “He came for a sleepover last night and he is so wonderful! Cute, quiet, calm, doesn’t mind thunder, loves peanut butter, 80s music and walking.”

If you have considered adopting a pet, please consider Boo or Monroe. These dogs had owners, they were loved, and now they are alone.

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

2025, Spay/Neuter

The Mission Ahead

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
11
Jul

I remember March 2, 2014 as clearly as it was yesterday. On that sunny Spring day, Bobby Arthurs, the Manager of the Aiken County Animal Shelter, and a group of FOTAS volunteers walked every single dog from the dark, crowded old shelter to the newly constructed, large, airy shelter a block away. It was a miracle five years in the making—one made possible by FOTAS, a committed County Council, and the full-throated opinion of the Aiken community that the county’s 6000+ homeless animals must have a humane, clean shelter and a chance for a second life.

So many good things have happened in the eleven years since. The new shelter was the first step—the next step required the establishment of life-saving programs to take desperate, anxious, withdrawn, lonely animals and prepare them, mentally and physically, for a new life.

This was no easy task, but FOTAS got to work. An army of FOTAS volunteers descend on the shelter virtually every day to make certain those animals get out of their kennels, walked, and a little love. In 2018, FOTAS funded a medical isolation building. In 2023, FOTAS funded the PAWS building for training, education, and quiet meet-and-greet room for animals and prospective adopters.

The list of FOTAS life-saving programs is long: additional medical care when needed, medical equipment, heartworm treatments, assisting the county with its Trap/Neuter/Return program to reduce the population of community cats, a transfer program to supplement local adoptions, supplemental funding for the county’s spay/neuter vouchers, monthly pet food drives to help citizens in need, a Home-to-Home Program to help owners re-home rather than surrender their pets to the shelter, and training for staff and volunteers to run organized play groups to reduce canine anxiety.

None of this would be possible without FOTAS and its volunteers, County Council, the terrific shelter staff, and you, the Aiken community. Has it made a difference?

It has. Prior to that memorable moving day in March, the shelter took in 6000+ animals/year and euthanized 95% of them. Last year, every adoptable animal was saved. Shelter intake was 5022; 90% were SAVED.

But our work is not done. The high save rate is based on a fragile animal welfare system that depends on generous donations, available county funding, reliable transfer programs, and lots of unpaid volunteers. If a serious natural or financial disaster occurs that significantly affects any one of those things, the 90% save rate will be in jeopardy so long as the shelter’s intake numbers are so high.

What’s the best way to protect the system from future failure?

Reduce the number of animals coming into the shelter. Period. Full Stop.

How do we do that?

Build a dedicated spay/neuter clinic to serve Aiken County. That’s the only way.

Why? Because Aiken county—like everyplace else in the country—is experiencing a critical shortage of low cost spay/neuter is services.

Ambitious?

Yes—but forward-thinking Aiken County Council is meeting the challenge. Using the proceeds from the one-penny sales tax, the County intends to construct and operate its own clinic to make critically needed spay/neuter services easily accessible and affordable for all county residents.

Hallelujah! Stay tuned as the planning and development of the clinic evolves. We’ll keep you posted.

Their lives are in our hands.

Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice Chairman

2025, animal abuse, animal care education, ANIMAL CRUELTY

We must protect the vulnerable and defenseless

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Adorable kitten Marcel has three legs, but he is still a super active boy. So many dogs and cats are getting hit by cars this year because citizens are allowing their pets to wander off their property.
27
Jun

The Aiken County Animal Shelter receives thousands of animals per year. They arrive for many reasons through no fault of their own and come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. Most make amazing adoptable pets, and they all deserve a chance.

However, nearly every day the shelter takes in stray pets that have been through hell. You can see the pain in their eyes. Some are injured as a result of being strays and confronting the dangers of the streets; some are fighting for their life because they’ve had no vet care or vaccinations. Then there are the little ones who are struggling because their mothers were hit by a vehicle while seeking food for them. But the worst cases are the pets who have been neglected or abused by their owners. Imagine being one of these poor pets thinking they’ve found their forever homes only to discover that the people they trusted most betrayed them in the worst possible way.

The consequences of irresponsible pet owners
Too many pets are still not fixed, and the shelter is experiencing a huge inflow of puppies and kittens this spring. While many are healthy, too many babies arrive sick and dying. We have three kittens losing eyes due to severe upper respiratory infections. One kitten, an orange and white, 2-month-old male named Marcel, is now a tripod kitty because a car shattered his front left leg and the limb couldn’t be saved. Heat stroke has claimed other little ones found lost and unprotected from the sun.

Dogs are also arriving at the shelter bloodied and broken. Blue-eyed Miles is a sweet one-year-old tan and white mixed breed who arrived here with a hole in his chest. He was shot with a .22 and the bullet entered his chest and exited his right side. Miraculously, the bullet didn’t hit any bones, arteries or organs. Miles recovered fully and was just adopted.

Puppy Tinkerbell is lovely and is expected to be available for adoption soon.
Puppy Tinkerbell is lovely and is expected to be available for adoption soon.

One-year-old, tan Retriever mix Kobe is a stray who was severely mauled by another dog while wandering loose. His front legs were torn up, and he has a long recovery ahead of him. Poor Tess, a cute one-year-old, black mixed breed with white paws, was found on the side of the road with her rear left leg in pieces. She is doing well now as an active tripod pup and should be ready for adoption soon. We also have Tinkerbell, a 7-month-old chestnut colored Retriever mix who arrived with a broken left hind leg. The cause of the injury is unknown, but our vet team is hoping a splint will help heal the clean break.

Nine-year-old, gray and white Boxer mix Phyllis arrived at the shelter alarmingly thin from being overbred. She looks like she recently had pups even though she’s a senior. Despite this abuse, she is one of the sweetest dogs you’ll ever meet.

We can do better, we must do better
Featuring these medical cases is not just to highlight these wonderful pets who need better homes. It is also to illustrate how we are seeing too many cases of injured and sick animals – some of them as a result of neglect and abuse. We have to do better, not just in our community, but around the nation.

You can help reduce the number of these cases by notifying us if you witness animal abuse or neglect. Call Aiken County Animal Code Enforcement, 803.502.900, extension 3704.

You can also help by adopting our shelter dogs and cats who need extra TLC. On June 21, we are holding a Summer Paw-ty adoption day. All adoption fees will be waived during this special Saturday event, even for puppies and kittens! Then from June 22 to 28, we will be participating in the Pick Me! SC adoption event. During this week-long statewide event, our adoption fees will be reduced.
Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director