We are always talking about how full we are at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, but now things are a little different.

We are fortunate to work with out-of-state rescue partners in areas of the country that have traditionally been able to help us when our shelter is full. The sad thing is that some of those areas that haven’t struggled with pet overpopulation the way we have are now finding themselves full, too, with more owner-surrendered pets.

That means fewer places for our pets to go.

I went to a middle school last week to talk about why so many people are trying to rehome their pets. The kids knew the answer immediately—everything is expensive right now!

Groceries are high. Fuel costs are high. Veterinary care can be expensive. For some families, it’s difficult enough just to buy groceries and pay the bills.

So, how can our community help?

Adopt. Foster. Donate.

I know, I know…it sounds so simple.

But today we have no open kennels. Where are we going to put the new pets that arrive?

We have no place.

That’s why we are asking our community to help in another way, too.

If you are considering rehoming your pet, maybe reach out for help first. We want the Aiken County Animal Shelter to be a resource, not a destination.

Maybe you need help finding a new home for your pet. We have programs that can help.

Maybe you are struggling with a behavior problem and just need to talk with a trainer.

If you don’t have money for pet food this month, contact us through fotasaiken.org. We may be able to help.

If you have to travel and can’t afford boarding, maybe a family member, friend or neighbor can stay with your pets—and you can return the favor the next time they need help.

Sometimes a temporary problem doesn’t have to mean permanently giving up a pet.

And if you are in a position to help someone else keep their pet, please do. Donate pet food. Help a neighbor with a vet bill if you can. Watch a friend’s dog. Share a pet that needs a new home.

And, of course, if there is room in your home and your life, come adopt or foster one of ours.

Right now, every kennel matters.

Our shelter may be full, but thankfully, our community is much bigger than our shelter.

And that’s where we need your help.

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

Dogs are roaming neighborhoods, seeking shade on neighbors’ porches, begging for food or simply wandering because they aren’t properly contained.

As much as we talk about the importance of spaying and neutering, we are finding ourselves having to go back to the very basics of pet ownership: Keep your pets safely contained and provide them with food, water, shelter and veterinary care.

We are also seeing dogs surrendered because their owners are unable—or unwilling—to keep them contained.

Pet ownership comes with responsibility. Pets are a gift we choose to bring into our lives, and there is a level of “parenting” involved. In return, they give us so much: love, companionship, security and friendship.

If you cannot properly care for an animal, please don’t get one. If your children desperately want a pet but you don’t have the financial means, time or energy to care for another living being, it’s okay to say no. A pet is a commitment that can last 10, 15 or even 20 years.

We see what happens when that commitment is forgotten.

Poor Flynn was recently brought back to our shelter. He was adopted from us a year ago and then rehomed multiple times before eventually ending up back where he started. All that bouncing around has left him sad and confused. He doesn’t understand what he did wrong.

Thanks to our volunteers he finally found his smile again this weekend, now he needs a home that will keep him safe and loved!

Aiken County is growing. We see new homes, new neighborhoods and new businesses everywhere. Unfortunately, at the shelter, we are also seeing more animals coming through our doors.

People often ask us, “How can I help?”

Right now, one of the biggest answers is: ADOPT.

If you have the time, resources and commitment to properly care for a dog or cat, now is the time. We have an abundance of wonderful pets desperately needing homes.

Many have already experienced neglect, instability or a lack of love. Imagine what it means to one of these animals to finally have a safe home, a full bowl, a comfortable place to sleep and someone who loves them.

Keep your pets safe. Keep them home. And if you have room in your life for another, please consider adopting.

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

Gracie’s front paws were in very bad shape. We don’t know exactly what happened — perhaps they were caught in a vehicle’s fan belt or crushed under a garage door — but what our veterinary team did know was that her paws could not be saved.

Gracie underwent amputation of both front paws.

You might expect a cat who endured such trauma to be frightened, defensive, or withdrawn. But animals never stop amazing us with their resilience. While recovering in the clinic with her bandages on, Gracie was rolling over for belly rubs and soaking up every bit of attention she could get.

It didn’t take long for everyone to fall in love with this precious girl.

Donna Boswell, one of our incredible cat and kitten fosters, stepped up as Gracie’s medical foster. Donna has helped so many animals in need, and Gracie was no exception. At a recent bandage change, Donna shared just how remarkable Gracie truly is.

Gracie follows Donna around the house and has learned to walk confidently on her little “stub” paws. She cuddles up with the dog, wants to play with the other cats, and has adjusted beautifully to her new normal. Donna even lowered her mattress to the floor so Gracie could easily climb up and sleep beside her.

Gracie’s journey is a powerful reminder of true resilience. She does not see herself as broken. She simply moves forward — loving, trusting, and embracing each new day.

We are so grateful to Dr. Rodriguez and her amazing veterinary team for giving Gracie a second chance. Thank you to Officer Benson for ensuring she made it safely to the shelter, and to the kind citizen who stopped and chose compassion that day.

Because of all of you, Gracie’s story did not end on Valentine’s Day. It was only the beginning.

Their Lives Are In Our Hands.
by Kathy Cagle FOTAS Programs Coordinator

During the winter months, the Aiken County Animal Shelter sees a familiar pattern. Our kennels begin to fill with hounds — those happy howlers with long ears, soulful eyes, and wagging tails.

When hunting season ends, dogs that don’t make “good hunters” are often left behind to fend for themselves. Hounds are incredible scent dogs, bred to track deer and other animals for miles. But when they are lost or abandoned, those instincts don’t help them survive on their own. Many arrive at the shelter skinny, confused, and unsure why the people they depended on never came back.

Despite how wonderful they are, finding homes for hounds can be harder than you might think. Are they amazing dogs? Absolutely. Are they sweet, affectionate, and loyal? Without a doubt. But yes — they bark. As Aiken continues to grow and neighborhoods become more crowded, not everyone appreciates the sound of a hound’s voice.

What many people don’t realize is that hounds don’t need to live outside. Many beagles and coonhounds are just as happy curled up on the couch as they are sniffing around the backyard. With love, patience, and understanding, they make incredible family pets.

We all know that beagles are often used for animal testing because of their gentle nature and desire to please. Knowing this makes it even harder to understand how such kind, trusting dogs can be abandoned or mistreated.

Each year, the Aiken County Animal Shelter takes in more than 5,000 dogs and cats. It’s impossible not to notice the patterns — hunting dogs abandoned in the winter, furless pit bulls suffering through the summer heat. Neglect, sadly, seems to follow the seasons.

But behind every statistic is a dog waiting for someone to see them for who they truly are. And hounds? They’re just waiting to love someone again.

Their Lives Are In Our Hands.

By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

Our shelter staff is sadly used to pulling over when they spot discarded boxes along the roadside; too often, abandoned pets are left inside. But none of us ever imagined needing to check shopping bags.

In early November, a kind stranger was walking down the road when they noticed something unusual: a plastic bag… moving. Inside were three tiny kittens. Two had already passed, but one little life still flickered. Cold, frightened, and only a few weeks old, she was clinging to life. The good Samaritan rushed her straight to the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

That single act of compassion was the first miracle.

The second miracle was that the surviving kitten — no bigger than a handful — was in better shape than expected. She needed warmth, bottle feeding, and constant care. Shelter staff member Hillary Clark-Kulis didn’t hesitate. She scooped the fragile baby up, took her home, and folded her into a foster family filled with kittens and gentle dogs.

And that is where our tiny Christmas miracle bloomed.

Very quickly, this determined little survivor made her personality known. Bottle feeding? Absolutely not. She dove face-first into kitten mush with gusto, wearing more of it than she ate. She needed frequent baths, endless snuggles, and lots of cheering on. Hillary gave her all of that and more.

Her name became Butter Bean — as sweet, stubborn, and full of spirit as any holiday miracle could be.

But as we celebrated her recovery, we couldn’t ignore the deeper truth:

What if that passerby hadn’t looked down at the right moment? How many other animals are abandoned in bags or boxes, never found in time?

One staff member said, “I never thought to pull over and look inside bags.” And really — why should anyone have to?

This season reminds us that most people are good, kind, and compassionate. Butter Bean is proof of that. But her story also reminds us of what must change. Animals are not trash. They are not disposable. They feel, they trust, they love — and they depend on us.

Butter Bean’s Christmas miracle began when someone chose to stop, to look, and to care.

The next miracle will come when fewer animals are abandoned at all.

As we head into the holidays, please help us be the voice for the voiceless. Adopt. Foster. Spread kindness. And remember that every tiny life — even one hidden in a roadside shopping bag — deserves a chance to shine.

Because sometimes, miracles come wrapped in the most unexpected ways.

By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

We get so tired of that and many staff members suffer from compassion fatigue, not able to stay optimistic when we see the never-ending flow of unwanted pets coming to the shelter.

This week, we saw some great things. One story in particular gave us so much hope!

A few weeks ago, a stray cat came to us that staff members named Bethany.
Bethany is a senior cat that was picked up by animal control. The cat appeared injured and in need of help.

Once she arrived it was clear that there was something wrong with her. She was matted and had scars on her face, her ear swollen and appearing to be infected but wow, she was sweet! Bethany was already spayed so at some time she was someone’s pet. What happened? Why was she surviving on her own and in bad condition? We just don’t know.

Dr. Rodriguez and the shelter’s veterinary staff could have euthanized her, she was in bad shape. We have more medical cases and surgeries than ever. They chose to go the extra mile.

A mass removed, a sample taken from her ulcerated ear and sent for lab testing. FOTAS supplements the county by paying all laboratory fees to help save every adoptable pet. The lab reports were not what we hoped, it was aggressive cancer and likely to return.

We decided to ask the public if anyone was willing to take a hospice cat. This senior, black, matted, scarred cat didn’t have much ‘curb appeal’ next to the many kittens available. We called in the help of Martha Anne Tudor who helps to tell the story of our homeless pets on social media. Within hours of the post we had multiple people wanting to save her. It was truly inspiring!

When the shelter opened on Saturday morning, a wonderful woman named Wendy Johnson arrived that wanted to save Bethany. The sweet cat is now loved and in the arms of someone that chose love, not longevity.

“I just knew when I saw the post about her, that I had to try to get her. If I could, I’d adopt all the cats. But she seemed special, like God knew we could help one another.” – Wendy

Sometimes we forgot the many people that want to help. The shelter staff members that go the extra mile, the people that donate so we can run needed laboratory testing, the adopters that come and save the forgotten.

Their lives are in our hands.

by Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

Then the wave crashes in again.

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 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

He was brought in by an Animal Control Officer after being called by a citizen regarding a neighborhood dog that was severely injured and seeking comfort in his yard.

When the officer arrived at the scene, Archer was in the backyard laying down on blankets. He had several gunshot wounds in his chest and behind his ear. He also appeared to have older wounds that were infected. The citizen who called said that the dog had belonged to a neighbor that moved and abandoned the dog. Poor Archer was staying around the house in the neighborhood. The neighbor said this was not the first time Archer had been shot.

Dr. Nancy Rodriguez and the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s caring veterinary team immediately helped Archer. His front right leg was fractured, riddled with gunshot pellets and needed to be amputated. His other front leg was also full of gunshot pellets which made it weak. We were so worried that he wouldn’t be able to walk.

But slowly he learned to hop and made it to the adoption floor. Although Archer was still recovering from his injuries, we shared his story on social media. We wanted this loving dog that never barked or complained, never had an accident, and was always grateful for a hug and a kiss, to have a soft place to land. A home where he could be safe and loved. A family that would not abandon him again.

Archer now has a family and is getting that love he deserves! His new family recently gave us a happy pup-date:

“Archer is the cutest thing ever; he gets so excited, and I swear he smiles! He is great with the cats and dogs. He is a sweetheart. He follows us everywhere. He is potty trained and plays with his toys. We love him so much!”

If you are looking to adopt a pet, call the Aiken County Animal Shelter, (803) 642-1537, ext. 3765, or email info@fotasaiken.org and make an appointment with an adoption expert. They will give you personalized customer service and have pets ready to show when you arrive. Walk-ins are also welcome. We’re open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and located at 333 Wire Rd., Aiken, SC.

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

Well, we were hoping to turn over a new leaf, to have a fresh start to 2025 but in the past twelve days we received 150 dogs and cats, 60 of those being puppies, five of those being puppies that require bottle feeding, five so scared we can’t touch them.

One puppy was found in our donation bin. Poor Bindi, now in foster, was left on one of the coldest nights in a donation bin without warmth or protection.

We are encountering new challenges and doing our best to adapt.

Every kennel is full and we are getting more and more emails from people needing help.

How do we help?
For those who are financially struggling and needing help to feed their pets, we hold a monthly Community Pet Food Drive Thru. The need is greater than ever and we make sure each vehicle, household, gets a bag of dog or cat food that FOTAS purchases. This program allows people to keep their pets and not surrender due to financial difficulties.

Home to Home. Our Home to Home program gives people options for rehoming their pets – dogs, cats, guinea pigs, birds, etc., – free of charge. Pet owners can upload pictures of their pets with details on personality and why they can no longer keep them. We in turn post these pets on our Facebook page and website. This helps pets by keeping them out of the shelter and finding new homes.

Aiken County offers residents spay and neuter vouchers. If you qualify (based on income) you can apply for a spay and neuter voucher at the Aiken County Government Center. This voucher assists with the cost of spay and neuter surgeries at local veterinary establishments on the voucher list of which the County needs more. As a community we have to cut down on the unwanted litters of puppies and kittens.

The point is, we are full! We cannot possibly find homes for all these pets without the help of our community.

Spay and Neuter your pets!
Adopt – You do not need to go to a breeder, there are far too many wonderful pets that need you!
Foster – Give a dog, puppy, cat or kitten a safe place to thrive until we can find them a home.

Their lives are in our hands.

by Kathy Cagle FOTAS Programs Coordinator

Each passing day, that hope may diminish slightly, but he perseveres. Each time someone walks by his kennel, he desperately yearns that they will pick him. He doesn’t know that his face is crooked from being hit by a car. Or that his tongue falls out of the side of his mouth because he has no teeth. Or that the combination of his skeletal appearance, stitches under his eye, and bandaged leg gives the impression that his days are numbered. And maybe they are. But all he hopes for is that one day, he too can feel what it is like to want for nothing. To not be hungry, thirsty, shivering, or discarded on the road like garbage. He has never felt these things before – but he deserves better.

Unfortunately, animals cannot advocate for themselves. So, who is there to advocate for them besides us? When you adopt a senior pet, you are single handedly changing a life for the better. You are giving a living breathing being the life they always deserved, and something to live for. The resilience and forgiving of dogs are unmatched. This senior dog we adopted, who lived a life of abuse and neglect, only has love to give. His tail wags nonstop. He yearns for constant pets and affection. And while his body remembers the pain, and his brain carries past trauma, there is now life in his step.

Dogs do not comprehend the future. They understand the past, and they understand the present. How many tomorrows he has left may be something that you will ponder, but it hasn’t crossed his mind once. What he cares about now is that he has food, a cozy bed, and most importantly, love. His eyes are sad no more. They look at you with love. With gratefulness. Sometimes they are tired from going on a long walk around the farm, with a body that has endured more bad than good. But these eyes are no longer sad, and they will never be again.

So many people pass over the seniors because they do not know what the future holds, or how many tomorrows they have left. But adopting a senior is a selfless act that fulfills the faraway dream when the only thing left is a little bit of hope.

Their lives are in our hands.
by Sarah Berkowitz, FOTAS Board Member