Category Archives: 2019

2019, Dogs, Foster, FOTAS, News, Volunteer

FOTAS Volunteer and Her Four Adopted Dogs Always Make Room for More

Posted on by Bob Gordon
06
Nov

I have had a long and rewarding relationship with the Aiken County Animal Shelter and FOTAS—not only do I foster dogs on a regular basis, but I have also adopted many dogs from the shelter over the past 10 years. Right now, four outstanding shelter dogs of all shapes and sizes rule the roost at my house, and I adore every one of them. These four canine pals have made my fostering duties not only possible, but easy.

Rosie (far right) joins Sam Cato’s pack.

My pack teaches each new foster about the rhythm and the rules of living in my home much faster and more effectively than I ever could. They teach the new dog about the schedule and protocol for feeding, walks, and going out to do their “business.” They teach them about playtime, bedtime, and how to get on all the best furniture.

Best of all? My foster dogs learn to make friends with my friends and their dogs! The love and appreciation I get from them in return more than makes up for the time and effort I put into them.

Recently, the county shelter has had an influx of older dogs whose owners had no way of caring for them any longer. They need homes. It’s particularly hard for these dogs, who wait anxiously for their owners to return for them. It’s heartbreaking.

Rosie in the ACAS play yard.

Jennifer Miller, the president of FOTAS, called and asked me if I could help. Everyone who knows me knows I am always begging my friends and family to adopt from the shelter. I called my neighbors who in the past have adopted shelter dogs, but now that they are older, they worry leaving their dogs behind when they are gone.

Herein lies the beauty of adopting older dogs. Plus, there is none of the chewing and housebreaking that goes with raising a puppy.

One of my other neighbors recently came through and adopted a sweetheart of an older girl with a heart murmur, and she fits in beautifully with their other two adopted dogs.

There is a tea towel hanging in my house that reads, “There is always room for one more dog.” That’s how I live my life. That’s how and why Rosie came to live with us. Her life had been hard; she had lived on a chain for most of it. In fact, her top and bottom front teeth are missing from trying to chew her way to freedom. She has already had a litter of puppies, and she is heartworm positive. Potential adopters walked right past her at the shelter, and she became depressed.

Rosie gets into the fall holiday spirit!

Rosie came home with me and settled in right away with my pack, who accepted her without a hitch because they are so used to foster animals coming in and out of our lives. Rosie is so grateful for a home that she follows me from room to room and lies down next to me wherever I go.

Guess what? Now my pack is five and we couldn’t be happier.

Please consider adopting one of these wonderful older dogs into your home. My pack and I can attest that you won’t be sorry.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By FOTAS Volunteer Sam Cato

BY THE NUMBERS
In October, the Aiken County Animal Shelter received 467 strays and surrendered pets. Please spay/neuter your pets.

PETS OF THE WEEK

DIXIE
Mixed breed, female, 6 years old, black w/white, 68 pounds – $35

CARRIE
Domestic Shorthair kitten, female, 2 months old, gray Tabby, 1.5 pounds – $10

2019, awards, Board of Directors, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Events, FOTAS, News, Shelter staff, Spay/Neuter, Uncategorized, Volunteers

It’s a Party! FOTAS Celebrates Ten Years of Saving Lives

Posted on by Bob Gordon
28
Oct

On Saturday, November 2nd, FOTAS will host a party at the Aiken County Animal Shelter to celebrate its tenth anniversary partnering with the county and the shelter to save lives.

What a ride it’s been. In 2009, a few dedicated and concerned citizens banded together to form FOTAS in response to the dismal conditions at the old shelter and the bleak prospects for any animal unlucky enough to pass through its doors. At the time, a trip to the county shelter was a death sentence—91% of the 6,000 animals at the shelter were euthanized every year. Very few made it out alive.

Destiny, a 3- month-old kitten available for adoption, is ready to celebrate FOTAS’s 10th year.

The turnabout at the county shelter since 2009 is nothing short of spectacular. Since the formation of FOTAS, the euthanasia rate has dropped steadily each year, reaching a historic low of 6% in 2018, saving every adoptable animal. It’s a remarkable story of partnership, determination, commitment, and community involvement and support.

In fact, the South Carolina Secretary of State selected FOTAS as one of the ten organizations (out of thousands!) to receive the Angel Award, which recognizes the most efficient and effective charities in the state.

There are so many people to celebrate for this astonishing success:

The FOTAS volunteers, who work on bookkeeping, social media, special fundraising events, and FOTAS Fix-a-Pet; who organize and work on special fundraising and on-site events; who foster mamma dogs and cats and all their progeny, who care for animals designated for transfer; who shuffle animals to off-site adoption events; who walk the dogs, love up the cats, work with play groups, and show animals to potential adopters—the dramatic and steady increase in the Shelter’s live release rate since 2009 is directly related to their efforts to make the animals more adoptable

Paige Bayne, Director of Aiken County Code Enforcement, and the beloved Bobby Arthurs, Chief Animal Control Officer and Shelter Manager, who directly oversee and manage the Shelter operations with kind, thoughtful and dedicated attention to the welfare of the animals.

Blue, a handsome young mixed breed, can be adopted at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

The County Shelter staff—the intake administrators, adoption coordinators, vet techs, kennel techs and custodians—who make certain that all of those animals are properly documented and cared for with compassion and efficiency.

Dr. Lisa Levy, the Shelter Vet, whose medical prowess and big heart has saved the lives of hundreds of animals, and Dr. Mike Wells, who performs spay/neuter surgery on community cats for the TNR program.

The County Council and the County Administration for being the best public partners—ever—and working with FOTAS to save every adoptable animal.

And last but not least, you, the Aiken community, who year after year have supported our efforts with enthusiasm and generosity. You have designated the Shelter as your community shelter, and we could not be prouder.

Join us at the county shelter this Saturday, November 2nd, from 10:00 to 1:00 for a joyful celebration of our shared success in making the county shelter a model of public responsibility to our animals. There will be lots of free food and activities for adults, children, and their four-legged friends. Bring your party hat, and we’ll see you there.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

2019, adopter feedback, Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, kittens, News

Adopters Report Back with Stories about Their County Shelter Pets

Posted on by Bob Gordon
28
Oct

FOTAS volunteers and the shelter staff contact new pet owners within a week to 10 days of their adoption to see how they are doing Following up with new adopters not only helps ensure they are satisfied with their pets, but also provides us with great stories and feedback that can help with future adoptions. The best feedback includes photos of the shelter pets loving life in their new homes.

Pit Bull mix Hector loves his new family and watches over the little ones.

Here are examples of emails and notes we’ve received from recent adopters (some have been edited for space):

Hector watches over new baby girl
I’m happy to report that Hector has adjusted very well to life in the Frank household. He has been eating just fine and quickly adapted to his routine here. We just had our fourth child last week and one of Hector’s favorite things to do is lay beside her swing and bed to watch over her. He is very protective over the little ones. We appreciate the opportunity to have him in our lives.

Murray Frank

Kittens Cheddar and Kady enjoy cuddle time at their new home
Cheddar and Kady are doing great. They are eating well, and both have become part of our family. They enjoy playing together and cherish all their cat toys and other treats. Kady has an attachment to her favorite blanket and both enjoy cuddle time.

Brittany Hiers

Kitten Cheddar: If I fits, I sits!

Senior Beagle Aimee is filling out and gaining confidence
Aimee is amazing! We changed her name to Sadie, and she is the absolute sweetest. She loves going on walks, wants to meet all the neighbors and her two favorite things are jerky treats and car rides. She’s filled out like the vet wanted and has gained the confidence to get on the couch whenever she wants! We were just talking about taking her on a trip to the mountains this fall so she can smell all the trails. Thank you for taking care of her until we found her!

Kelli Prather

Pibble Haylee eats side by side with her new brother
Haylee is doing very well. She is still learning which are her toys and which are ours, but catching on very quickly. She is loving her new brother, Dudley. They eat side by side and he is slower than her, but she will wait until he is finished to make sure he cleaned his bowl. They have become fast friends!

Will Clark

Adopted Haylee (left) and Dudley have become fast friends.

Bo wins his family’s heart and takes over their bed
Bo is doing amazing …we changed his name to Buddy and he truly is my buddy as well as a big part of our family. We love him very much and he shows us lots of love in return. He’s also taken over our bed during the day.

Niccole Reidhead

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2019, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Dogs, FOTAS, kennel stress, News, Pibbles

The Power of Social Media Saves Sweet Tiffany

Posted on by Bob Gordon
18
Oct

Adoptions have been slow. Kids are back in school, families are busy with activities and people just aren’t coming out to adopt. This is disheartening for the many adoptable dogs and cats at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

Tiffany in the County Shelter play yard.

Recently, our sweet Tiffany was shutting down and losing hope. When people look to adopt, they want the pet to look at them and get excited. They want to feel an instant connection. But when we showed Tiffany to potential adopters, she no longer wagged her tail or carried one of her toys to show off. Instead, this brindle and white mixed breed now ignored people or ran to the corner of the play yard to hide. After waiting more than two months on the adoption floor, she no longer believed anyone would actually take her home.

Desperate to help Tiffany, we posted a video on our FOTAS Facebook page of her sitting in her kennel. It captured her depression, showing how she sulked and avoided eye contact.

Within hours of posting it on Facebook, people responded – more than 900 shares of her video! People were calling from Wisconsin wanting us to send her to them. Our amazing social media community started calling and coming to visit her! We showed her to multiple people, and then she found her match: a fabulous Aiken resident, Tina Watson, who fell in love with Tiffany and gave her a forever home.

Tiffany goes home with her adopter, Tina Watson. She saw a video of the depressed dog on Facebook and fell in love.

What still gives me goosebumps as I write this, is the number of people that cared about this dog from just seeing 20 seconds of video. In that brief clip, they could see and feel her loneliness.

What I hope people remember is that Tiffany is not alone. While we do everything to make their time at the shelter a happy and loving experience, at the end of the day these homeless pets are in a kennel. They are not at home.

Tiffany was lucky because people online responded to her sadness. But there will always be others having difficulty living in a shelter environment. There’s Chloe, a 6-year-old sweetheart who pines in her kennel. There’s Porter, a young mixed breed, who jumps in his kennel because he is stressed. And then there’s Sydni, a beautiful female Lab mix who is getting depressed from waiting so long for someone to adopt her.

Poor Chloe has been at the shelter for too long!

We will continue to reach out to our Facebook friends – they always seem to come through. But if you have room in your heart and in your home, please come to the County shelter, located at 333 Wire Road in Aiken, and ask the staff who really needs saving, is shut down and feeling hopeless. That dog or cat will fill your heart in a way that is indescribable.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director

BY THE NUMBERS

In the first 10 days of October, The Aiken County Animal Shelter took in 172 strays and surrendered pets – an average of 17 animals per day. Please spay/neuter your pets!

2019, Adoption, Chained dogs, Dogs, FOTAS, Home-to-Home adoption program, News, surrendered pets

Home to Home Program Successful, 100 Plus Pets Already Adopted

Posted on by Bob Gordon
07
Oct

In the seven months since FOTAS started our Home to Home Program, we have found homes for more than 110 animals.

That is 110 dogs and cats that did not come through the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s doors. That’s 110 animals who went from a loving home that could no longer provide for them or keep them, to a loving home that could. Had those animals come to the Shelter instead, they would have suffered a much different experience.

The Home to Home program is a new adoption option that also helps animals avoid the fear and stress of facing a shelter environment.

Odds are they would have ultimately found another loving home, because our save rate is now consistently over 90 percent, but before that happened, they would have been kept in an unfamiliar cage, frightened by other barking and noisy animals. Chances are they would have cowered when potential adopters came by. They may have greeted them, or they may have refused to come forward and reduced their own chances of adoption. The shelter volunteers would come every day to walk dogs and play with cats, and some lucky few will spend time in a foster home, but as they say there’s nothing like home – your own home.

Home to Home is free to use, free to adopt and we’ve had some wonderful success stories. One such story featured Dirty, a poor German shorthair chained to a tree and abandoned when her owner moved away. Rescued by some kind neighbors, Dirty found a wonderful new home two hours after being posted on FOTAS’ Facebook page and on the Home to Home site. Her horrible plight touched a kind woman’s soul. Pictures the next day showed Dirty living the life she should have always had, stretched out on a porch and asleep on a couch. Hopefully, soon her previous circumstances will be like a bad dream.


Dirty, a dog chained to a tree and rescued by good Samaritans, found a forever home within hours of being posted on the FOTAS Facebook page and Home to Home website.

Owners may be forced to give up their pet due to a move, facing a severe illness, or a death in the family. There have been owners that ultimately decide their family may not be the right home for their pet because they don’t have the time to spend with them that the animal deserves.

A month after posting the animal, I follow up with the owners to see if they’ve found a new home and those that have not are re-posted. Sometimes the second time is truly the charm and someone new sees the post and responds.

Not all animals are adopted and some ultimately end up being surrendered to the shelter. However, every animal kept out of the shelter is not only saved from that stressful situation, but also frees up space for a stray or abused animal without another choice.

Dirty relaxes in her new forever home.

There are many reasons a family may choose to give up an animal, but most who ultimately want the best for their pets find the Home to Home program a welcome relief. I’ve had some heartwarming thank you notes from owners so happy to see their pet go to a home more suited for their needs. To see available pets for adoption, please go to fotas.home-home.org.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Ellen Priest, FOTAS Board Member and Home to Home Coordinator

2019, animal abuse, County Animal Control, Demodex, Dogs, FOTAS, neglected pets, News

Dede Blossoms After Love and Care at the County Shelter

Posted on by Bob Gordon
01
Oct

Dede was wandering the backroads of the county in the sizzling heat of July when she was picked up by animal control officers. Her condition was shocking: aside from being terrified and dehydrated, she was completely hairless and bleeding.

DEDE when she first arrived at the shelter.

She was, as you can see from the featured photo, hard to look at without grimacing with horror and heartbreak, with outrage that someone cared so little about this sweet dog that they didn’t provide medical care when it was needed and then abandoned her to starve and die when her condition became critical.

Because we try not to think the worst about people, we’d like to believe that maybe someone loved her but just didn’t have the means to care for her—that they were victims of poverty or misfortune.

Sorry, but I don’t buy it. Dede suffered horribly, both physically and emotionally, because someone neglected her medical needs and then washed their hands of her when she needed them the most. That’s cruelty, plain and simple. It makes me furious.

DEDE after being treated for her Demodex.

Like most dogs, Dede’s capacity for gratitude and forgiveness is boundless—far greater than mine (I promise to work on that at church!) She has never complained, not once, and she has never stopped wagging her tail. She’s cheerful and kind. She loves people and children. She is great with other dogs. She has gone on several doggy-night-outs with staff and volunteers, and they all rave about her. She is a good size, weighing in at just 40 pounds.

Here’s the deal. Dede was diagnosed and successfully treated for Demodex mange, which is not contagious. Her coat has grown back in. However, once she was cured of mange, she continued to scratch and bleed, and Dr. Levy suspected she had some kind of allergy. FOTAS purchased allergy meds for her and it is working; she feels and looks good, but she may need to be on allergy meds for life. Although more in-depth allergy testing might identify a more targeted treatment, Dede’s doing just fine without it.

DEDE is now just waiting for her forever home.

FOTAS Program Director Kathy Jacobs has been treating her own dog for allergies for years, and he is a fluffy, happy dog.

“My dog’s allergy meds are not difficult to administer,” says Kathy. “It’s one more monthly pill along with flea, tick, and heartworm protection. Sure, it’s an extra expense, but it’s not a large one by any means.”

Dede is a special dog, and she deserves and needs a loving home. Will it be you? Her adoption fee has been sponsored. Call the Aiken County Animal Shelter at 803-642-1537 and ask for Hillary, Bob, or Amanda.

Their lives are in our hands.

–By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

BY THE NUMBERS

The Aiken County Animal Shelter has taken in 400 strays and surrendered pets so far this month.

PETS OF THE WEEK

LADY
Bulldog mix, female, 4 years old, tan & white, 75 pounds – $35

ECHO
Domestic Shorthair, female, 3 months old, tan & black Tabby, 2 pounds – $10

2019, Dogs, Events, Fundraisers, News, Uncategorized, Volunteers

Playing Fore the Pets Golf Tourney Develops into Biggest FOTAS Fundraiser

Posted on by Bob Gordon
24
Sep

We are looking forward to our Sixth Annual Playing Fore the Pets golf tournament at The Reserve Club at Woodside Plantation tomorrow, Monday September 23. More than 200 players are expected to participate, and we are grateful to them and our event sponsors for helping us to raise funds for the Aiken County Animal Shelter and its homeless pets in need.

The planning that takes place behind the scenes for this important fundraising event starts in April, when the committee gets together to divide up duties, discuss changes and propose additions to make the tournament even better than the previous year. This is followed by monthly update meetings to review our progress.

The golf ball drop contest is a fun draw, and the winner receives a $1,000 check!

The FOTAS Golf Tournament premiered in 2014 with only four volunteers. Sandy and Ross Staiger chaired the event, bringing their ideas and direction from a similar tournament they started and ran in Wolfeboro, NH for seven years. They brought the Helicopter Ball Drop to Aiken to accompany this golf event, which has been a huge success. Selling and keeping track of 1,000 ball drop tickets is quite a task, but FOTAS volunteers and friends were more than up to the challenge.

Today, our committee has grown to 13 people. Karen Loughran, now in charge of coordinating the Helicopter Ball Drop, and Sharon Johnson, promotion coordinator, have been with the committee for five years. Corri McCorkle, Cindie Davidson, Marylou Kling and Sharon have been helping to gather the great gift certificates and gifts from the business community that we pull together for our wonderful raffle gift baskets. Six new members, Marianne Malloy, Fran Warner, Monique Gilbert, Pam Patron, Linda Samoranski, and Debbie Schroeder along with Connie Jarzmik, a member of 3 years, have been charged with speaking to the business community about the shelter’s mission, asking for their support in the form of TEE Sponsorships.

Over 100 wonderful businesses and private donors have stepped up to support this event. Our top Eagle Sponsors — Milton Ruben Toyota, Affordable Quality Marble and Granite, HESS Travel, and Lorac Design Group – are valuable supporters of the animals and this tournament. LongHorn Steakhouse is providing participating golfers with lunch for the fifth year in a row.

As we move forward to hosting our sixth golf tournament, we can honestly say we are blessed to have our loyal donors, new business partners along with the loyal and new golfers participating in this event. An additional 40 volunteers help out on the course the day of the tourney.

Adoptable dog SANDI enjoyed spending time with the tournament participants.

Our plans are to make this year’s golf tournament the best fundraising event of the year by making everyone aware of how important the work is for the animals in need that enter our shelter.

FOTAS is instrumental in saving lives and provides the Aiken community and the animals with such a vital service. The volunteers of FOTAS are able to work miracles thanks to you, our loyal advocates, who provide the financial fuel that allows us to promote proper pet care, take in medically neglected pets, provide them with the treatment and recovery they need and, most importantly, find unwanted pets the loving homes they deserve.

— By Sandy and Ross Staiger, FOTAS Golf Tournament Chairs

PETS OF THE WEEK

TIFFANY
Mixed breed, female, 3-1/2 years old, brindle/white, 45 pounds – $35

ZADIE
Domestic Shorthair, female, 1 year old, white Calico, 7.5 pounds – $10

2019, animal abuse, Dogs, FOTAS, News, Training, Volunteer, Volunteers

Volunteers Teach Homeless Pets about Love and Acceptance

Posted on by Bob Gordon
17
Sep

This week, I had two people tell me they can’t volunteer because the idea of witnessing the injured, neglected and abused animals who need homes would be too much for them to handle.

I told them we take a more positive approach and embrace the opportunity to greet these pets in need. Because on the day we meet them, we know their lives are about to get so much better! It is an honorable mission to help them.

Senior dog JESSICA gets some love and attention from FOTAS Volunteer Nicole Simons.

When a dog or cat arrives at the shelter emaciated, ill, neglected or abused, staff and volunteers greet them with love and make them comfortable. Now that they are with us, it’s game time! Time for them to get well and start their new life of love, happiness and never knowing hunger or loneliness again. It’s a gift to be part of a team that can turn their lives around.

Almost immediately after they arrive, we are planning what is best for these homeless pets. Do they need a rescue or a foster? Do they need a quiet home or would an active family best suit their needs? Would another cat or dog give them comfort or are they best as an only pet?

When we pull into the parking lot first thing in the morning, we see tails wagging and cats running up to the feline facility windows to meow their “hellos”. They love us, and we love them. These animals don’t think about past experiences and we don’t focus on them either. Each day we are one day closer to finding them a happy, loving forever home.

MEADOW is a volunteer and staff favorite.

Take Meadow, a white furred, 6-year-old mixed breed. She’s endured a rough past and growled at us when she first arrived. She was beyond scared. But Karen DeCamp, one of our devoted volunteer trainers, showed Meadow love and she rapidly improved. She learned how great it is to be loved and is now the gentlest dog on the adoption floor! Meadow dances around and greets people who visit her kennel. She is ready to be adopted and your new best friend.

FOTAS Volunteer Jeri Wesner is one of our most dedicated dog walkers and I love seeing her when she meets a new animal. She always smiles brightly and tells the new dog, “It’s your lucky day!” Jeri has helped change so many dogs’ lives with her patience and positive attitude. She understands that we’re here to give these unwanted pets a second chance at a good life.

MEADOW was scared and growled at everybody when she first arrived at the shelter. But now she’s the sweetest dog on the adoption floor!

So, please don’t say that you can’t volunteer because it would be too heartbreaking. Dogs and cats aren’t like us. They forgive, bounce back and have the potential to give so much love to their future adopters.

Yes, we see kittens thrown from cars, dogs left tied to trees in the woods, puppies sick from neglect — you name it. But you need to see the silver lining. These animals are now safe and out of danger. We have the ability to make their lives better and find them homes. And when we do, it’s so rewarding!

As a volunteer, you teach these pets what love is and they quickly absorb the lesson! They forgive, they forget. Help be part of their future happiness. Volunteer and invest your time in these animals.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director

BY THE NUMBERS
The Aiken County Animal Shelter has already taken in nearly 200 strays and surrendered pets this month. Please spay and neuter your pets.

2019, animal care education, Cats, FOTAS, kittens, News, PetSmart cats, Proper Pet Care, Uncategorized

How to Select the Right Shelter Kitty for Your Home

Posted on by Bob Gordon
10
Sep

Looking to adopt a feline friend? Now is a great time to make the plunge and visit the Aiken County Animal Shelter. A flood of strays and surrendered pets is hitting the shelter and these beautiful animals need homes.

Young kittens are in cat condos located in the front lobby and most older kittens and adult cats are housed together in the shelter’s newly renovated feline facility.

Black kitten BERNIE waits to greet visitors who stop by the ACAS’s feline facility.

When selecting a cat, first observe their behavior. Whether the cat is alone or with another feline, you can quickly assess their personality. Observe if they are shy or confident, playful or laid-back, chatty or quiet. Then, choose accordingly.

Meet the kitties in the feline facility
Regardless of their independent nature, cats respond to attention and love. To approach a cat in the indoor/outdoor facility, crouch low so as not to intimidate the feline and extend your hand so he can sniff it. If he accepts you by licking your hand or coming closer, slowly rub his forehead or lightly scratch under his chin while speaking in a low, calm voice. Gentle petting should follow as long as his ears remain up, the tail is not flicking, and he is not cowering or hissing.

CERSEI is a friendly female Calico now available for adoption in the shelter’s feline facility.

Kittens in the front lobby
If the feline is in a cat condo or kennel, ask a volunteer or employee to open the door so you can pet him. For a kitten that is more active or playful, a trip to the shelter’s adoption room is a good idea. There, you can get a better idea about his personality and try out different toys for him to enjoy.

Shelter cats at the Aiken PetSmart store
The shelter also transports cats and older kittens to the Aiken PetSmart, where they can be adopted on-site. These felines are showcased in cat condos located in the back of the store. Description cards are posted on the condos to inform you of each cat’s background and personality traits. If you want to spend a little time with one of the cats, just ask a PetSmart employee to assist you.

Bringing your new pet home
Once you select a cat and bring him home, let him explore your residence. It is natural and enables him to define the kingdom he will soon rule. Leave the carrier he came home in near his food and water so he can have a place where he feels safe.

PANDA MANDA and LANNA at play.

Don’t let him outside even if you plan to make him an outdoor cat. He first needs to learn the lay of the land as well establish that you are his source of food and care – a process that takes at least a month. Keep in mind that the life expectancy for indoor cats is 14-19 years while that of those that go outside is 5-7 years. The Shelter strongly recommends keeping your cat indoors.

If you have other pets, wait at least one day before introducing them to allow your cat to decompress from the stress of moving to a new place. Spend as much time with your cat as possible and talk to him. Your calm voice and affection are what he needs to bond with you.

Pretty SOPHIE at the Aiken PetSmart store.

To ensure he gets needed exercise and satisfies his hunting instinct, play with your cat using different feather and mouse toys. Most importantly, enjoy your new feline companion and shower him with love and good care. You have just saved a cat and given him a second chance at a great life!

— By Steve Masterson, FOTAS Volunteer

2019, Bully Dogs, Dogs, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, News, Shelter staff, Uncategorized, Volunteers

Sick Puppy Saved Through FOTAS/ACAS Teamwork

Posted on by Bob Gordon
03
Sep

Brindle and white mixed breed Tiffany arrived at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) with three puppies that were barely one week old. We had no foster volunteers available, so the pups had to stay at the shelter and endure the loud barking of a nearly full intake area.

Tiffany was a great mother and very protective of her pups. We learned by walking her that she is a sweet, loving girl but just a little shy around people she doesn’t know. Her three pups were weaned and put into foster. They were fat and ready. However, one pup suddenly stopped eating. Still wagging his tail and begging to be petted, the little one just would not eat, even he was hand fed.

TIFFANY, the puppy’s mama, is still waiting for someone to adopt her from the ACAS.

When the puppy started to weaken, the foster brought him back to the shelter for medical attention. He was slowly deteriorating but tests didn’t reveal any underlying reason for his refusal to eat. He yearned for human interaction but looked hollow, which is very unusual. Dr. Levy and her team gave him fluids and kept him warm with a heat lamp. But he still would not eat.

The medical staff kept him under intense observation for days and days. I personally was not optimistic about his chances. But then he somehow managed to eat a small amount of baby food and drink a bit of puppy formula. Even though the odds for survival were still not in his favor, I asked to take the puppy home and foster him.

The puppy was still so fragile but when I gave him some chicken and broth, he lapped at it. It was so rewarding to see him eat! The little guy cries whenever I put him down. He’s still eating and now even runs and plays. He chases my dogs, bites my fingers, barks for attention. Things are finally looking up for this cutie, but he has a long way to go.

TIFFANY’S puppy would not eat but his strong drive to live, extra human attention and good medical care saved him.

His mom, Tiffany, is still with us at the shelter and available for adoption. The poor girl has spent nearly two months at the shelter and still has no forever home. But thanks to her foster dad Kelly, at least she gets to go to a quiet house each night and sleep in bed with a person who cares.

FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter work well together. The staff strives hard to give the best medical care and comfort to those that come to them, with FOTAS purchasing any supplemental medicines and equipment needed. Volunteers and foster families make such a difference with the needed follow-up care and attention.

Tiffany and her pups were saved, but the ACAS shelter has so many other animals waiting for homes. When you receive more than 500 homeless pets a month, it can become overwhelming and we need volunteers to help.

Please join us and be part of our life-saving team. There is nothing more rewarding!

Their lives are in our hands.

–– By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director

BY THE NUMBERS
The Aiken County Animal Shelter took in 509 strays and surrendered pets from Aug. 1 to 29. This marks an unprecedented fourth month in a row the shelter has taken in 500 plus unwanted animals in 2019. Please adopt!

PETS OF THE WEEK


JESSICA
Shepherd mix, female, 11 years old, 50 pounds – $35

WYNTER
Domestic Shorthair, female, 3 months old, white and black, 2 pounds – $10