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News & stories

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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.

Adoption, Dogs, Training, Volunteers

Trainer Helps Prepare Shelter Dogs for their Forever Homes

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Oct

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director and Volunteer

Everyone who adopts a dog or puppy from the Aiken County Animal Shelter receives a voucher for a free dog training session with canine expert Susi Cohen.

Susi is the president of the Palmetto Dog Club in Aiken and has worked with and trained animals for more than 30 years. She volunteers at the shelter twice a week, helping other volunteers and County staff with basic dog training skills and working one-on-one with dogs that need special attention.

We interviewed Susi to learn more about the FOTAS training program at the shelter and why it is so vital to both the dogs and their new owners.

Q. What are the keys to effective dog training and why should I take the time to do it?

A. Training takes patience and consistent repetition with a lot of praise and rewards. It gives the dog good manners, more confidence, and makes him a well-adjusted dog – and a well-adjusted dog is a happy and well-behaved dog.

Q. When I use my free voucher, what training will I receive for my adopted dog?

A. I work with the dog and adopter for about one hour at the shelter. Every owner will have different issues with their dogs. And that’s the beauty of the program – we tailor the training for each individual dog. So if they have a particular issue, we can help them eliminate it.

Q. If I’ve adopted a dog from the County Shelter, can I call you with questions?

A. Absolutely. If you have any issues, I am available to answer your questions and discuss them with you. Every adopter is given my contact information as part of the FOTAS “Ask the Trainer” program. I’m always taking calls. People need to understand that dogs love to be trained. They love to be told to what to do. They love parameters and being praised for behaving well.

Q. How much training do most dogs need?

A. Every dog is different. Some dogs have bad experiences that they have to overcome. Some of these dogs have been mistreated and need to learn to trust again. But the norm is not mistreatment; it’s lack of treatment altogether. They haven’t been given any attention and don’t know when they are acting improperly. Still, despite these challenges, we’ve had great success with adopted dogs.

Q. Can you give us an example?

A. Last season I had Annie, an older German shepherd mix that was insecure and had no confidence whatsoever. We worked closely with Annie and she made a turnaround you wouldn’t believe. She went from a cowering, overly defensive dog to a happy dog that trotted with her tail straight up and exuded confidence. The metamorphosis was incredible.

Q. Has the on-site dog training made a difference at the shelter?

A. Yes, it’s worked well because FOTAS and the volunteers are so dedicated. Like me, they can’t stand seeing good dogs come back after being adopted just because they need some training. The adoption return rate has gone down and I like to think that drop in returns is because the dogs leave with better manners and are more prepared for their new homes.

For more about the FOTAS Dog Training Program and Susi’s contact information, please go to www.fotasaiken.org.

 

Their lives are in our hands…

 

Pets of the Week

GRACE — Border Collie and Hound mix, female, 1 year old, 50 lbs.  — $70

CINDER— gray tabby, female, 7 months old, 6 lbs. — $35

 

By the Numbers

January 2013 – August 2015

FOTAS organized and paid for the spay/neuter surgeries of 699 citizen’s pets and 628 community cats, totaling 1,327 dogs and cats fixed!

Events, Fundraisers

Playing Fore the Pets Golf Tourney Results in Key Funding for Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
01
Oct

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director and Volunteer

One thousand yellow golf balls fell from the sky onto a green at Houndslake Country Club late Monday afternoon at the Second Annual Play Fore the Pets Golf Tournament. Wave after wave of dimpled spheres, each numbered to match a ticket issued for a $10 donation, poured out of a helicopter high above a crowd watching with anticipation. Some landed with a soft thud, while others bounced high into the air before finally resting on the manicured grass, but only one ball, #753, dropped into the hole, making Bill Haynsworth a lucky winner and one grand richer.

The helicopter ball drop, sponsored by Prime Steakhouse, Chesterfield Court, Chesterfield Design and in Memory of Latham C. Burns, was the climactic conclusion to FOTAS’s benefit golf tournament, which also included a four-person Captain’s Choice team golf match, an exploding golf ball challenge, individual skill competitions and numerous raffles for prizes.

Other winners included:

1st place team: Peter Miller, Lito Salatino, Andy Grim and Antonio Galvan

2nd place team: Chuck Easters, Jeff Hennen, Dan Sheehan and Rick Donaldson

Closest to the flag: Eric Holmes (won a two-night stay at the Houndslake Inn)

Longest drive: Chas Masters (won a Yeti Cooler donated by Milton Ruben Toyota)

Playing Fore the Pets was a great success thanks to the co-chairpersons of the event, Sandy and Ross Staiger. They—along with their committee of Sharon Johnson, Karen Loughran and Jim Johnson—started working in March to organize and manage the day-long affair. In addition, a legion of FOTAS volunteers worked together on Monday to ensure all the activities ran smoothly.

Adoption, Dogs

A Tribute to Harry

Posted on by Angel Hartline
01
Oct

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

“Love doesn’t need reason. It speaks from the irrational wisdom of the heart.”

Deepak Chopra

Ellen Priest knows all about the “irrational wisdom of the heart.” When she first learned about the sad young coonhound tied to the railing at the old Aiken County Animal Shelter in 2007 with a wire wrapped around his mouth and embedded into his skin, the last thing on her mind was another dog. She was in the process of transitioning from her job in Aiken to Summerville. Her family already had three dogs. Her life was busy and temporarily unsettled.

So Ellen arranged for the Aiken Standard to cover the plight of this poor animal in the local news, certain some kind-hearted soul would take him home, and moved on to her new job in Summerville. But still, she could not stop thinking about him. When she called to check on his progress, she learned, to her dismay, that there had been no takers for the sweet bewildered dog with the tragically scarred face. His time was up. He was to be euthanized the next day.

“I called my husband Jeff, sobbing,” says Ellen. “I said, ‘Please, please, just one more dog.’ The dog had suffered so much and deserved so much more—I just couldn’t let him go.”

And so it was that Harry the Goober Dog, as he was nicknamed by their son Greg, slobbered and loped and loved his way into the hearts of the Priest clan. At first it wasn’t easy. Perhaps because Harry’s previous experiences with the human kind hadn’t worked out so well, he escaped from the yard countless times, taking off for parts unknown. Each time, Ellen, Jeff, Greg and daughter Jayme brought him home and loved him more. Slowly Harry learned to trust his new humans, and because real love is patient, he eventually learned to love, too—probably for the first time in his short unhappy life.

Two weeks ago, Harry the Goober dog died on his way to an emergency clinic, likely as a result of the cancer that had almost killed him three years earlier. But in the preceding 8 years, Harry had loved and been loved by the Priest family, giving as much joy and comfort as he got and probably more.

Dogs are like that. They reflect back to us the best part of ourselves, without hesitation or expectation, in exchange for the simple pleasures of life: a warm place to sleep, something to eat, a good scratch behind the ears, a ride in the car, a romp in the woods—if a pesky squirrel happens to wander by, why, so much the better. If it’s true that dogs live in the moment, then all we can hope is that we’ve given them a lifetime of good moments, maybe even some great moments, in exchange for the love they’ve given us.

Farewell, sweet Harry. Your courage, resilience, forgiveness and love are a model of the humanity we often find lacking in ourselves. We will honor your memory by loving the next goofy, slobbering, loping, abused and helpless animal that crosses our path with the same happy abandon that you showered on those around you.

Help FOTAS and the County save the thousands of Harrys that find themselves in the County shelter each year: donate, volunteer, but most of all, adopt. Their lives are in our hands.

Children, Volunteers

Young FOTAS Volunteers Making a Difference at County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
22
Sep

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director and Volunteer

On Diana Haltiwanger‘s tenth birthday, she did something unusual to celebrate the big day. She took her birthday money as well as food, leashes, toys and other treats to the Aiken County Animal Shelter and personally delivered the generous donation to FOTAS.

“I just love animals,” Diana said, “and I thought it might help make a difference in their lives.”

Diana’s selfless gesture is just one example of children steadily becoming a force in fulfilling the altruistic goals of FOTAS and the County Shelter.

Although the majority of community members who support the shelter are retirees and other adults, more kids are getting involved in assisting the orphaned dogs and cats at 333 Wire Road. Some children donate their time by participating in FOTAS events like the Dog Ears Reading Program, Dog Day Crafternoons, Woofstock, and other fundraisers. Others get involved through clubs, Scouts, and their schools (prime examples are the South Aiken High School Chapter of the Serteen Club and the Aiken High NJROTC). And some kids just decide to become FOTAS volunteers on their own.

Volunteer Holly Heiens became a volunteer after she did a report on shelter animals for school last year. Ever since learning more about their hardships, the driven 10-year-old has donated her time to animals in need.

“When Holly wants something, she goes after it,” said her mother, Kari, who volunteers with her daughter every Saturday. Kari said that even though there are lots of social events and parties on Saturdays, they work around them so she and her daughter can meet their weekly commitment to the shelter animals.

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Events, News, Volunteer, Volunteers

Young FOTAS Volunteers Making a Difference at County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
21
Sep

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director and Volunteer

On Diana Haltiwanger‘s tenth birthday, she did something unusual to celebrate the big day. She took her birthday money as well as food, leashes, toys and other treats to the Aiken County Animal Shelter and personally delivered the generous donation to FOTAS.

“I just love animals,” Diana said, “and I thought it might help make a difference in their lives.”

Diana’s selfless gesture is just one example of children steadily becoming a force in fulfilling the altruistic goals of FOTAS and the County Shelter.

Although the majority of community members who support the shelter are retirees and other adults, more kids are getting involved in assisting the orphaned dogs and cats at 333 Wire Road. Some children donate their time by participating in FOTAS events like the Dog Ears Reading Program, Dog Day Crafternoons, Woofstock, and other fundraisers. Others get involved through clubs, Scouts, and their schools (prime examples are the South Aiken High School Chapter of the Serteen Club and the Aiken High NJROTC). And some kids just decide to become FOTAS volunteers on their own.

Volunteer Holly Heiens became a volunteer after she did a report on shelter animals for school last year. Ever since learning more about their hardships, the driven 10-year-old has donated her time to animals in need.

“When Holly wants something, she goes after it,” said her mother, Kari, who volunteers with her daughter every Saturday. Kari said that even though there are lots of social events and parties on Saturdays, they work around them so she and her daughter can meet their weekly commitment to the shelter animals.

“It isn’t really hard work when you are there to help the animals and brighten their day,” Holly said. “It’s more like fun work.”

Noah Jacobs is another junior volunteer who juggles a number of responsibilities. Sports, school and hanging out with his friends are important to the 10-year-old, but he spends as much time as he can at the shelter with his mom, Kathy. The Jacobs family also fosters shelter animals at their home, helping them get prepped for adoption.

“I talk to my friends about it. I think more kids should volunteer,” Noah said. “Some of my friends are nervous about volunteering but they shouldn’t be. Even the big dogs are nice.”

Alex Robinson helps out at the shelter every weekend with his father, William, and sometimes his grandfather, Charles. One of the reasons the 12-year-old volunteers at the shelter is because he loves dogs but can’t own one where he lives.

“It has taught Alex responsibility,” William said. “I am impressed how quickly he picked up on what to do at the shelter. Overall, it’s been a very positive experience for him and we’ve met a lot of great people there.”

The County Shelter is always looking for more young volunteers to help out and work with the animals. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. If you are interested in volunteering and making a difference, please contact FOTAS at (803) 514-4313 or volunteer@angelhartlinedesigns.com.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

Adoption, Dogs, News, Volunteer

Overpopulation, abandoned animals and the miracle of Poppy

Posted on by Angel Hartline
09
Sep

 

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

When Aiken County Animal Control picked up Poppy roaming a County road on the blistering hot Tuesday after the July 4th holiday, she was thirsty, stressed from the heat, and very, very pregnant. A finely boned, black lab cross, she was collarless with a string tied around her neck – some wretched owner’s pathetic and cruel attempt to tie her to a stationary object and abandon her to the elements.

There are so many things wrong with this story, I don’t know where to start. I’m stunned that someone would abandon a pregnant mama dog in the heat of summer rather than take responsibility for the dog they should have spayed in the first place – that a family pet could be abandoned with such callous disregard, like litter tossed out on a road.

Do I sound angry and indignant? I am.

Poppy was one of 50, that’s right, 50, animals taken into the Aiken County Animal Shelter that Tuesday – a heartbreaking record for a single day, even in the summer. And despite FOTAS and the County’s notable successes over the past two years to find forever homes for more animals through special programs, increased adoptions and transfers to no-kill sister rescue agencies in other parts of the Country, the euthanasia rate will never be reduced to acceptable levels until every citizen, every friend, every family member, every neighbor spays and neuters their pets.

We have a responsibility to care for these animals, individually and as a community. They cannot take care of themselves. FOTAS Fix-a-Pet and FOTAS’ Lenny’s Brigade program (our trap-neuter-release program for community cats) have been in overdrive this year, especially during these long, hot summer months. We are particularly grateful to Dr. Holly Woltz (Veterinary Services), Dr. Cindy Brown (Aiken Animal Hospital), and Dr. Charles Groover (Aiken Veterinary Clinic) for their much-needed assistance with our spay/neuter programs. We couldn’t do this without them.

FOTAS desperately needs your help to continue to provide this much-needed service at the current rates; through July, we organized and paid for the spay/neutering of 349 pets and community cats, and every week we are barraged with requests for spay/neuter help. Please take a moment to donate to the cause either through the FOTAS website – www.fotasaiken.org – or mail a check to POB 2207, Aiken SC 29802.

As it turns out, Poppy was one of the lucky ones. She was so pregnant, the Shelter staff and FOTAS moved quickly to get her into a foster home, calling the Conger-Wolcotts (who, by the way, had been pressed into puppy-birthing foster service non-stop for 6 months) for help. One week later, Poppy gave birth to 9 puppies. Next week, those 8-week old puppies will be transferred and placed in their forever homes. Poppy, who is heartworm positive, will remain in foster care while FOTAS funds her treatment and finds her a loving, responsible owner. Her days of neglect are over.

Please help. Their lives are in our hands.

 

Adoption, News, Volunteer, Volunteers

Local Volunteers Are the Lifeblood of Aiken County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
09
Sep

 

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director and Volunteer

The power of volunteering cannot be overstated. Not only is it rewarding and uplifting to the people donating their time for a good cause, but it also makes it possible for organizations to achieve more than they possibly could through their limited budgets and staff.

Nowhere is this truer than at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

“Volunteers are our lifeblood,” said Nanci Santos, FOTAS volunteer coordinator. “We are so very grateful for the wonderful core group of volunteers that return daily or on committed days to walk dogs, socialize the animals, and act as reception desk ambassadors.”

Besides the daily tasks of walking the dogs and manning the front desk, volunteers also help with the FOTAS transfer program, manage and promote special events, help maintain the shelter grounds , aid with general administrative duties, assist with FOTAS spay/neuter programs and foster dogs and puppies.

Susie and Wally Huiet are a couple that volunteers for multiple shelter duties: dog walking, fostering and helping with the transfer program. Susie also takes photos of the dogs available for adoption and posts them on social media.

“When you give your time and your love to these dogs and enable them to be adopted or selected for a rescue transport, it is a great feeling,” Susie said.  “Every dog you can get adopted or rescued really means you are saving two lives, because one goes onto a new home and another is able to leave the intake building and get their chance on the adoption floor.”

Paula Neuroth has been juggling a number of volunteer responsibilities for years. She and her husband, Rod, have been fostering puppies and their mothers at their Aiken home since 2010. Paula also helps manage and coordinate FOTAS Fix-a-Pet, a spay/neuter program financed through private donations.

“There never will be a big enough staff at the shelter because of budget restrictions,” Paula explained. “But we as volunteers can provide support that helps the shelter achieve its goals and fill the gaps, and FOTAS helps fund programs that otherwise could not be realized.”

Peggy Babineau works the front desk every Monday afternoon, greeting and assisting shelter visitors with their adoption needs. She and her daughter, Becca, also foster new dogs each week, getting them socialized and more prepared for their eventual forever homes.

“Volunteering is rewarding beyond words,” Peggy said. “You can get attached to the dogs in your care. But you just have to focus on the goal of getting them ready to leave for a better life.”

As a result of the dedicated efforts of all our volunteers, FOTAS and the County are saving the lives of more animals than any time in the shelter’s past. But every day is a challenge and more help is always needed. If you are interested in volunteering and making a difference, please contact FOTAS at (803) 514-4313 or volunteer@angelhartlinedesigns.com.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

 

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, News

Adopted County Shelter Cats Adjust Beautifully to Their New Homes

Posted on by Angel Hartline
25
Aug

 

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director and Volunteer

Linda Knox McLean didn’t choose Tommy when she went to the Aiken County Animal Shelter to adopt a cat – it was the other way around. Tommy, a stocky, three-year-old, brown tabby chose her.

“I walked into the cat adoption room to check out the cats, and right away, Tommy hopped up on my lap, climbed all over me, put his two paws on my shoulders and gave me a love bite on the neck,” Linda says. “That sealed the deal. I took him home.”

Linda has three foxhounds and an 18-year-old tabby at home, but that was no problem for Tommy. He adjusted quickly and easily to his new surroundings.

That’s the thing about cats: in addition to being affectionate, they are adaptable, self-reliant, and easy to care for – the perfect companion for folks who don’t have the time or energy to attend to the constant needs of a dog. That’s why cats are the most popular pets in the world, outnumbering dogs three to one.

Alice Hester of Warrenville adopted two cats from the shelter during last month’s special: Russell and Patches, a pretty, muted calico. “I changed Russell’s name to Thor immediately,” says Alice, “because when he jumps down, he sounds like Thor’s hammer.” The big, five-year-old, orange tabby has made himself at home in her sewing room and shares the house with two dogs and two other cats, including Patches.

Jill Fertig of Williston saw the Channel 12 News story about the alarming summer overcrowding at shelter and the ad in the Aiken Standard about the July special.  When she and her husband, Bill, arrived at the shelter, Marbles, a six-year-old, tortoiseshell cat, climbed up on Jill, wrapped herself around the back of her neck and started purring. “She definitely claimed me,” says Jill. “Marbles is affectionate, smart and totally fearless. When our two Chihuahuas line up for treats, Marbles lines up with them.”

Tommy, Thor, Patches and Marbles are just a few of the many successful adoptions that resulted from last month’s free shelter cat promotion, where 81 cats found forever homes. That’s a shelter record.

Thank you to everyone who adopted orphaned cats in need last month. Because of your tremendous response, we currently have more dogs than cats at the shelter, which is a highly unusual situation – especially in the summer months. It has been estimated that theoretically, one unspayed female and one unneutered male, in the course of just seven years, can produce nearly 800,000 kittens, with the assumption that their offspring also are not spayed or neutered.

Those are daunting numbers. It also explains why, across the nation, the euthanasia rate for cats in public shelters with open admissions is significantly higher than the euthanasia rate for dogs.

There is only one humane answer: Fix your pets! There are a number of local programs available to help with the costs of spay/neutering. Please check them out at fotasaiken.org or call the shelter for more information at (803) 642-1537.

Their lives are in our hands.

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, News

There’s Nothing Like Puppy Love and Now You Can Get Two for One

Posted on by Angel Hartline
25
Aug

 

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Volunteer and Communications Director

“Happiness is a warm puppy.”  ― Charles M. Schulz

There is nothing cuter or more loving than a puppy. Everything is new and exciting for pups, their eyes wide with curiosity, their tails perpetually wagging, and their hearts filled with unconditional love.

Like all infants, puppies also demand a lot of time, work and responsibility. But the reward of watching them grow and develop into adults is well worth the extra effort and expense.

Currently, the Aiken County Animal Shelter is nearly overrun by canine cuties that need forever homes. Witnessing the despair of such innocent, defenseless animals that have been picked up as strays or surrendered by their owners is heartbreaking. The solution to this crisis is not easy but it starts with getting pets spayed or neutered and finding homes for as many of them as possible.

That’s why FOTAS and the County Shelter just launched its first ever “Puppy Love 2 for 1” promotion. With this first ever offer, if you adopt a puppy at regular price ($70), you can get a second puppy from the same litter for free. This promotion, valid through Aug. 31, is not only a good deal but also boosts the chances for siblings to be adopted together to the same forever home. The adoption fee includes worming, vaccinations, neutering/spaying and micro-chipping.

A look at some of the available litters:

Leroy, Tabitha, Vicky and Tonya. These nearly identical brown Retriever mix pups are a sight to see when they play together. Leroy is easiest to spot with his white back, chest and feet. But his sisters look like they could be identical triplets. Tabitha has a white chest and some white on her nose; Vicky just has white on her chest; and Tonya is slightly darker than the others. All are sweet and highly capable of licking you to death.

Marissa, Monique, Nora, Rambo, Marco and Roman. This retriever/collie mix brood likes to stick together. The adorable family is just 10 weeks old, with all of them black or chocolate in color with white chests.

Jasmine, Zooey and Chester. These Shepherd mix siblings are still getting used to their new surroundings. Jasmine is caramel brown with white on her chest; Zooey is brown and black with slashes of white on her neck; and Chester is a little darker than his sisters with nearly equal black and tan markings.

Other puppies available include Allison, a white Hound mix who has a deep affection for tennis balls; Cletus, a feisty, tan Shepherd mix; Hershey, a sweet-faced, chocolate brown Retriever mix; and Arthur, a tan Labrador Retriever mix, who loves to play tug of war (and usually wins).

So come visit the shelter and find a warm puppy or two to adopt. The more puppies that find homes, the more new candidates we can move to the adoption floor, and the better our chances of giving them all a wonderful, long life.

Their lives are in our hands.