Category Archives: abandoned animals

2025, abandoned animals, Adoption, Foster, kennel stress

Welcoming 2025

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
In the first 12 days of 2025, the Aiken County Shelter has received 150 unwanted dogs and cats.
20
Jan
Bindi, found alone and freezing in our donation bin.
Bindi, found alone and freezing in our donation bin.

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

2024, abandoned animals, Adoption, animal abuse, neglected pets, senior pets

Sad Eyes No More

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
No More Sad Eyes
09
Nov

His eyes tell a story. A sad story of abuse, neglect, and desolation. An innocent soul who never asked for too much – food, water, and love. An animal’s ability to endure their entire lives with none of these is a testament to their spirit and will to live. How they have endured cruelty and neglect, yet still have love to give, and hope to feel, is unfathomable.

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

2024, abandoned animals, Adoption

Are you ready to run with the big dogs?

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Sampson likes to show off his toys to visitors and is a champion ball fetcher.
17
Sep

Large dogs are fun, have big personalities and are loyal companions. They’re great exercise partners and tend to love car rides and going on adventures. Many large breeds are known for their patience and tolerance, making them great playmates for children. They also are loving and terrific cuddlers.

Yet large dogs, canines who are over 50 pounds, are often overlooked in the shelter because people mistakenly assume that these breeds need more training and require more work than a smaller breed.

Not true. In fact, some studies indicate big dog breeds are smarter and learn faster than small and medium-sized dogs. Larger dogs have better short-term memory and self-control than smaller breeds. Bigger dogs, with larger brains, also perform better on certain measures of intelligence than their smaller canine counterparts, according to a 2019 study led by the University of Arizona.

Whether you’re an active person who loves to be on the go or a laidback TV watcher, here are some of the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s available big dogs to consider adopting:

Sampson: Handsome, gray and white Sampson is 3 years old and weighs 78 pounds. He always has a dog toy or ball in his mouth, even when you walk him. We think he uses them like pacifiers to feel more comfortable and secure. Sampson likes to play fetch and is the perfect dog for an active person or family.

Sonny, a longtime resident of the County Shelter, is one of the sweetest dogs you’ll meet.
Sonny, a longtime resident of the County Shelter, is one of the sweetest dogs you’ll meet.

Sonny: White and black Sonny likes to hold two tennis balls in his mouth when he is in the play yard. He’s a good fetcher, too. You won’t find a more affectionate dog than 3-year-old, 74-pound Sonny. He loves his walks but cuddle time is the best time for this big boy.

Grover: Brindle coated Grover is always ready to play or go on a walk. He is 4 years old, 72 pounds and enjoys getting quality couch time with volunteers. He is here because his owner’s health declined to such an extent that she could no longer take care of him.

Brian: Three-year-old, 60-pound, mixed breed Brian loves playing with dogs or his toys, followed by a nap on the couch. He doesn’t jump up but instead just comes to you and licks your hand to say, “Hello.” This boy is going to be a terrific pet for the lucky person who adopts him.

King Butter: We’re not sure why this sweet boy is butter royalty, but King Butter is a terrific dog who walks well on a leash and loves other dogs. He is 2-1/2 years old, 60 pounds and a lot of fun to be around. This poor guy was abandoned but he is looking toward the future and ready for a new, more loving, home.

Doberman mix Bruno will make a terrific jogging partner.
Doberman mix Bruno will make a terrific jogging partner.

Bruno: When Doberman mix Bruno greets you, his whole backside wags and his tail just comes along for the ride. He is a dog who loves life and enjoys all it has to bring. He arrived at the County Shelter when a Good Samaritan rescued him from the road and brought him in as a stray. Bruno is 3 years old and 55 pounds.

Please visit these big dogs and maybe give them a new home and better life. For more information and to see all of the available pets at the County Shelter, please go to fotasaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands.
By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2024, abandoned animals, Adoption, animal abuse, ANIMAL CRUELTY, County Animal Control

Abused and neglected pets deserve so much better

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
When Fergie arrived at the shelter, her right hind leg had severe nerve damage and her back had what looked like chemical burns.
02
May

The Aiken County Animal Shelter continues to see too many cases of animal abandonment, neglect and abuse. It is heartbreaking to see innocent dogs and cats suffer because their owners didn’t protect them or became their tormentors. Surprisingly, most of these pets still love and cherish humans, despite the harm done to them.

In fact, a petite, 5-year-old German Shepherd found on the side of a road, locked in an old beat-up crate, just got adopted to a loving home. This beautiful dog was starved nearly to death, yet she is already bonding with her new owner and looking forward to a wonderful life.

Here are some more sweet animals at the shelter ready to give unconditional love to their adopters:

Fergie is a large, 3-year-old Staffordshire Terrier mix who was rescued by a County Animal Code Enforcement officer and brought in as a stray. She had a severe limp due to nerve damage from an old injury that was never given medical treatment. Due to the extensive damage and pain Fergie was in, her rear right leg had to be amputated. Fergie has what looks like chemical burns on her back and sides, and is suffering from demodectic mange. She’s getting used to walking without the leg and her fur is starting to grow back in. Fergie is sweet and has been extremely patient under the circumstances. We think she will make a fantastic pet, ready to give lots of love.

Little Girl’s rear left leg was rotting when she was seized from her owner.
Little Girl’s rear left leg was rotting when she was seized from her owner.

Little Girl is a 3-year-old, gray and white Tabby whose hind left leg was rotting from gangrene when she was seized from her owner. Her leg was wrapped in tape but she was never seen by a veterinarian or given proper medical care. The County Animal Code Enforcement officer noted that the necrotic leg was hard and shrunken – and emitted a strong odor. Once Little Girl arrived at the shelter, her leg was amputated and she is recovering well. This sweet cat gets around fine on three legs and is ready to start a new, better life.

Poor Petey’s back fur is growing back after being ravaged by fleas.
Poor Petey’s back fur is growing back after being ravaged by fleas.

Petey is senior dog who arrived with severe flea damage to his torso and backside. He was microchipped, but when we tried to contact his owner, the phone number was no longer valid. Poor Petey was either abandoned or given to another person and escaped as a stray. This 7-year-old, 64-pound, white and black mixed breed loves visitors to his kennel and is a star in our playgroup sessions. He especially likes female dogs. Petey will make a wonderful family pet.

Empty the Shelters adoption event
We are currently participating in Bissell Pet Foundation’s two-week Empty the Shelters National Adoption Event. Through May 15, all pet adoption fees are being waived! Don’t miss this opportunity to adopt a wonderful, furry companion from the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 333 Wire Road. The shelter is overcrowded with wonderful pets who need loving homes. For more information, visit fotasaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2024, abandoned animals, kennel stress, surrendered pets

Owner surrendered pets have a difficult time in shelter

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Pretty Dixie is getting over the trauma of being left at the shelter by her owner.
15
Mar

It is so hard on them. Pets surrendered to the Aiken County Animal Shelter by their owners desperately struggle to understand their situation. Suddenly finding themselves in a strange place with strangers and other scared and confused animals is a shock to their system. One minute they are secure and cozy in their home with their favorite human(s); the next minute they’re being led on a leash to a kennel, not knowing their fate.

Some surrendered pets adjust to their new surroundings fairly quickly, but many go through a mourning period and initially can’t accept their new reality.

Dixie, a 10-year-old, white, mixed breed recently surrendered by her owner, barks weakly at visitors when she is in her kennel. Scared and upset to be here, she expresses her displeasure to anyone who will listen.

However, once she is out of her kennel, Dixie calms down and becomes more social with both people and other dogs. She is slowly becoming more comfortable at the shelter and we’re confident she will be a wonderful canine companion once she finds a new home.

Jalapeno was heartbroken when his owner died and he was brought to the County Shelter.
Jalapeno was heartbroken when his owner died and he was brought to the County Shelter.

Most dogs and cats are surrendered because the owner’s circumstances change, not because there is anything wrong with their pet. In some cases, people can no longer afford to care for their pet; they need to move and their new housing does not accept pets; or they no longer have the time to spend with them. Sometimes owners pass away, and their pets are surrendered to the shelter by a family member or friend.

That is what happened to 7-year-old Jalapeno. This handsome black and white mixed breed’s owner unexpectedly died, and he had no place else to go. When he first arrived at the shelter, he was despondent and vocal in his kennel. But once he got to know the volunteers and staff, he began to relax and adjust to his new environment. He is ready to find his forever home.

Cutie Stevie shut down after being abandoned by her owner, but now she’s ready to move on and begin a new life with an adopter.
Cutie Stevie shut down after being abandoned by her owner, but now she’s ready to move on and begin a new life with an adopter.

Because of the anxiety they experience from being left at a shelter, owner surrendered pets can shut down or act out, making them less adoptable.
Stevie, a cute one-year-old, white and brindle Retriever mix, was abandoned by her owner. She was rescued by an Aiken County Animal Code Enforcement officer and brought to the shelter. Terrified and shaking uncontrollably when she first arrived, Stevie has steadily gained confidence and now goes on walks and snuggles with our volunteers. She is ready to find a new, better home.

While we understand that life happens and can become overwhelming, especially during difficult times, there are alternatives to surrendering your pet. Instead of putting your pet through the trauma of being in a loud, packed shelter, try our Home to Home program available free of charge on our website, fotasaiken.org. Or ask your family members and close friends if they can help.

If you cannot afford to feed your pet due to personal economic challenges, FOTAS holds a Community Pet Food Drive-Thru once a month for Aiken citizens in need of assistance. Our next Pet Food Drive-Thru event is Saturday morning, April 13.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2024, abandoned animals, animal abuse

Calling all humans! Volunteers needed!

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Whitney, the Magnificent
24
Feb

Every dog has a story, and for most of my pals here at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, those stories are sad. Take me—Whitney. My last humans dumped me. I thought we were going for a ride (I’m a sucker for car rides), but then they stopped and opened the door. I thought, “Oh boy, a car ride and a romp in the woods!” I jumped out and to my surprise, they drove off! Without me! I thought it had to be a mistake, that they’d come back, but no-go. I wandered around for such a long time—lost, lonely, and weak with terrible hunger. By the time the animal control guy in the uniform and the white van stopped and waived some food in my direction, I forgot all about my distrust of strangers in uniforms.

Then there’s Scotty. Now here’s the thing about Scotty, he had a home—for, like, forever.

Scotty, the happy dog
Scotty, the happy dog

He loved his humans. Then one day, they dropped him off here at the shelter like he was going to the vet or something and just walked out. No ‘atta boys. No goodbyes. No nothing. Scotty was such a terrible scared, stressed-out mess, we all feared for him.

Here’s the point. The how’s and why’s of how we all got here are different, but our stories are all the same: Humans let us down. Big time. We were abandoned and dumped like so much garbage, and we never saw it coming.

So, imagine our surprise to discover the humans here at the shelter are first rate, top notch, the best—especially the volunteers! I never even met a volunteer before I came to this place—and take it from me, you need to get one. They show up every morning and take us for walks or just sit out in the yard and talk to us—not in a mean way like we’re used to—but in a soft, sweet way. They bring us treats and throw balls. It’s the best thing ever! Who knew humans were capable of such world-class belly rubs? Go figure!

But here’s the thing: there aren’t enough of them—volunteers, I mean. It takes a long time in the morning to walk all us dogs, so if we’re lucky, we only get maybe 15 minutes of me-time. That might not seem like a lot to you, but for us dogs? It’s everything.

Plus, there’s no one to walk us in the afternoon. Do you know how hard it is, if you’re a gal me like me who would never mess in her kennel, to only get one chance a day? It’s a misery.

So, please! All you humans reading this, I’m begging you: join FOTAS. Be a volunteer! You’ll have a great time with all the other volunteers, and we dogs will show you a good time, too. Like Scotty, who’s now a superstar thanks to the volunteers. He excels in playgroup, walks on a leash, and sits on command. He’s a happy guy. And when you stop by the shelter, look me up—Whitney. They say I’m magnificent! Not sure what that means, but it sure sounds good!

So please, spread the word: we’re all ready to be adopted and be someone’s new BFF.

Our lives are in your hands.
Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice-President

2023, abandoned animals, adopter feedback, Adoption

The story of how Groot became a family’s best Buddy

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Groot (now named Buddy) gets goofy with his new owner, Trish Wilcher.
05
Jan

He arrived at the Aiken County Animal Shelter in mid-June, terrified and confused. Rescued from an abandoned home by a county animal code enforcement officer, the black and white, four-year-old, 45-pound, mixed breed was starving and thirsty. Yet, even in this extremely stressful situation, you could see the sweetness in his eyes.

The shelter staff named him Groot, after the kind and loyal character in the movie, Guardians of the Galaxy. Once Groot realized the staff and volunteers were not going to hurt him, but instead were there to help and comfort him, he became more trusting and sociable.

Group play helps Groot reach his potential

When Groot first joined the shelter’s morning playgroup sessions, he was a bit too sensitive and over assertive with other male dogs. However, within a week, he became comfortable in group play and ultimately became a superstar, greeting newbies and even showing other dogs how to play well with others.

Buddy sleeps soundly in his new forever home.
Buddy sleeps soundly in his new forever home.

Group play enriches our shelter dogs’ quality of life while they wait to be adopted. It provides them with exercise and interaction they can’t get from a simple leash walk. The vigorous play tires them out and reduces their kennel stress.

FOTAS introduced playgroup sessions to the shelter in 2016, when the Dogs Playing for Life (DPFL) organization, led by founder Aimee Sadler, visited the shelter to train the staff and show employees how to run effective playgroups. DPFL helps ensure dogs engage more positively with potential adopters, transition more easily to a new home, and interact appropriately with people and other dogs in the community.

This was certainly true in Groot’s case. Group play gave him confidence, improved his manners and helped him to bloom into a wonderful canine companion.

Finding his forever home

Trish and Max Wilcher adopted Groot on Nov.9, providing him with a loving home he shares with two cats. The couple renamed him Buddy and now consider him a cherished family member.

“We had lost our dog to cancer and I wasn’t sure if I was ready to adopt again,” Trish said. “I was following posts about him on your Facebook page, and then I had the photo of him in the hat with that smile of his on my computer. I knew I wanted him.”

Trish works half days, so when she gets home in the early afternoon, she says he is ready to get out of the house for some exercise.

“Buddy has been great for me,” she said. “He’s brought me energy. He goes running with me and loves to play fetch. When I get home, he says, ‘Mom, we’ve got to get going,’ and then gets me out the door exercising.”

The Wilcher home has two fenced-in yards, where Buddy can play with his toys, watch the squirrels or just lie in the sun. He also enjoys frequent visits from Trish and Max’s grandkids and their Basset Hound.

“When we left the shelter with Buddy, everyone came up to him and hugged and congratulated him for finding a home,” Trish said. “I tell everyone I know that the County Shelter is the place to get a pet. You can feel the love there from the volunteers and staff. Y’all really care about the animals.”

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

By the Numbers
In 2023, Aiken County Animal Shelter received more than 4,600 animals and more than 92% were saved. FOTAS, working with the county shelter, saves more animals than any other 501(c)(3) organization in the CSRA. For the past six years, every adoptable animal at the shelter was saved.

2023, abandoned animals, animal abuse, ANIMAL CRUELTY

You can prevent animal neglect and abuse

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Senior dog Justice arrived at the shelter with an embedded collar – one of the worst cases the shelter vet staff has witnessed.
15
Sep

Nearly every day we see examples of animal neglect, abuse and cruelty.

Keanu was found tied up with no shelter, no food and no water.
Keanu was found tied up with no shelter, no food and no water.

Dogs arrive at the Aiken County Animal Shelter with such horrors as collars and harnesses embedded in their skin because their owners never replaced them as they grew from puppies to adults. Cats come in with their eyes bulging and covered in pus because their owners didn’t take them to a vet for treatment of upper respiratory infection. Dogs and cats arrive with broken limbs that were never treated, causing them to heal incorrectly and creating lifelong mobility issues. (Sometimes these injuries require amputation.) Then you have the pets that come in with bullet wounds or pellet fragments lodged in their bodies.

Not all of the neglect and abuse is physical. Some of these animals arrive afraid of their own shadow because of the mental abuse they’ve experienced.

Groot was abandoned in an empty trailer.
Groot was abandoned in an empty trailer.

This cruelty needs to stop. But the only way to prevent it is through pet care education and punishment to those who treat their pets horribly. It also requires all of us to be more aware of animal cruelty and promptly report it when we see it. If you witness animal neglect or abuse, please call your local animal control agency as soon as possible. If you live in Aiken County, call (803) 502-9000, extension 3704. Or email enforcement@aikencountysc.gov.

Animal cruelty can be as evil as intentionally hurting or torturing an animal to just improperly feeding or caring for a pet due to ignorance.

To see evidence of past animal abuse and neglect, all you have to do is look at the medical records of some of the shelter’s current residents. There are a number of adoptable dogs at the shelter who have endured the cruel actions of humans, including:

Carson – This gentle mixed breed arrived with a severe head wound. He may have been hit by a blunt instrument. Six-year-old Carson is a cuddle bug loved by our volunteers.

Groot – Abandoned in a trailer, four-year-old Groot was skin and bones when a County Animal Code Enforcement officer rescued him. Since being at the shelter, he has learned to play with other dogs and developed into a confident pup.

Poor Parker arrived at the shelter with an embedded harness that had to be surgically removed from his skin.
Poor Parker arrived at the shelter with an embedded harness that had to be surgically removed from his skin.

Justice – This poor senior dog arrived with one of the worst embedded collars our vet has ever seen. Justice is so sweet and looking for a forever home.

Keanu & Keiki – These two-year-old siblings were tied up their entire lives and found without shelter, food or water. Good Samaritans called and reported the situation and now the dogs are healthy and looking for good homes.

Parker – This wonderful three-year-old mixed breed was found with an embedded harness. Now healed, Parker is playful and affectionate but would do best as an only pet.

Amazingly, all of these dogs have remained sweet and loving. They will make wonderful pets! Please come visit them at 333 Wire Road in Aiken, SC.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

By the Numbers: The Aiken County Animal Shelter received 379 Aiken County animals during the month of August, bringing the total to 3299 Aiken County animals so far this year.

2023, abandoned animals, Home-to-Home adoption program, surrendered pets

The shelter is not a drop off point for unwanted pets

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Sweet black Lab mix Onyx is 1-1/2 years old, 90 pounds and wonderful with other dogs. Yet his owners left him behind when they moved away.
10
Aug

When you walk through the kennels at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, it is easy to pick out the owner-surrendered dogs. The stray dogs are more at ease as they are happy to have regular feedings and a safe spot. The owner surrenders, however, are typically in the back of their kennels shaking, vomiting, and sometimes spinning uncontrollably from stress.

They are scared, confused and their chances of finding homes are lower. In fact, due to the anxiety they experience from being left at a shelter, owner surrendered pets often become unadoptable.

Please do not take your pet to the shelter. Instead, rehome them on your own by using our Home to Home program, which features a website that helps you market your pet and adopt them out directly from your residence.

The shelter is designed to help with stray, neglected and otherwise hopeless animals. It is not meant to be a drop off center for unwanted pets. The shelter is a resource, not a destination.

Misconceptions about surrendering pets
Many citizens believe we can find great homes for all the pets we take into the shelter. But we cannot. The shelter takes in more than 4,000 dogs and cats a year. Do the math; it is impossible. While FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter work tirelessly to find homes for adoptable animals, we also ask people to show compassion and fulfill their responsibility to their own pets.

We are saddened by the number of calls we receive from people wanting to surrender their pets. The reasons given are often problems that can be solved with a little time and dedication.

Here are some of the reasons given:

We have made the tough decision to surrender our dog so he can find a family that has more time and patience to work with his behavioral issues.

If your dog has behavioral issues, please contact a trainer. The shelter is consistently overwhelmed and there is limited time to work on those issues in a facility filled to capacity.

We are moving.

Take your pet with you! Look for a pet friendly rental.

He has become food aggressive towards our other dogs.

Try feeding the dogs separately. Have you considered getting a crate to feed him in? It is extremely difficult for us to adopt out a dog with any kind of aggression and he will be at risk of being euthanized if he comes to us.

She chases cats and runs off because she has a high prey drive.

We cannot adopt out animals with a high prey drive. Imagine the risk in a shelter environment with all the other animals. If she is escaping your yard to run, there are ways to keep pets contained.

What to do if you must rehome your pet

Instead of putting your pet through the trauma of being in a loud, full shelter, try our Home to Home program available free of charge on our website, fotasaiken.org. Or ask your family members, neighbors and friends if they can help.

If you cannot afford to feed your pet due to personal economic challenges, we can help. FOTAS holds a Community Pet Food Drive-Thru once a month for Aiken citizens in need of assistance. Our next Pet Food Drive-Thru event is Saturday morning, Aug. 19.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2023, abandoned animals, Adoption, Empty the Shelter

So many gems waiting to be discovered at County Shelter

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Bonded siblings Darius and Mohana love other dogs.
21
Jul

Time is not on the side of pets waiting to be adopted from the Aiken County Animal Shelter. With the facility at full capacity due to so many strays arriving each week, homeless animals are competing for kennel space. In this stressful environment, the sooner these pets can find loving homes, the better.

The only bright side of the shelter being so crowded is that we have a greater variety of pets available for adoption. This means more choices for you, the prospective adopter. The adoption fees for many of these dogs are being waived during our Empty the Shelters event, which continues through July 31. Cats and kittens are just $10.

Here are some of the wonderful pets waiting for forever homes:

Audrey. Pretty, mixed breed Audrey is two years old, 44 pounds and loves going on walks. This friendly girl arrived at the shelter as a stray. She is a sweetheart who has a lovely brindle coat and enjoys cuddles with her favorite humans.

Beck. With ears that could direct air traffic, blue-coated Beck is one of the cutest dogs available at the County Animal Shelter. He’s also one of the sweetest. Found as a stray, Beck is six years old, 47 pounds and cuddly.

Winkler. This gorgeous, long-haired flame point kitty was heavily matted and covered in fleas when found. He’s loving but prefers to sit by you rather than be picked up. Winkler is 6 years old, seven pounds and FIV positive — so he should be your only cat or be with other FIV positive cats.

Darius & Mohana. Together since birth, fhese two bonded, six-year-old, 88-pound mixed breeds were living happy lives, when their owner suddenly moved and left them behind at the County Shelter. Heartbroken, these two dogs, who are fabulous with everyone, desperately want to be loved and find a real home together. Mohana and Darius enjoy the company of other animals and are housetrained.

Martin. This black and white cutie walks beautifully on a leash and has a wonderful disposition. Martin was found as a stray, scared and hungry. Three years old, 56 pounds and sporting a soft coat, this active Retriever mix needs a good home. Martin loves playing with other dogs and is a volunteer favorite.

Tiger. Handsome Tiger is here because his owner passed away. This orange and white feline is 12 years old, just over 10 pounds and super gentle. Tiger greets everyone who stops by the lobby and is sweet and calm. He just wants a safe, cozy home to relax in. Tiger has always been an indoor-only kitty and will make a terrific lap cat.

There are so many more terrific pets at the County Shelter who need a second chance for a wonderful life. Please go to fotasaiken.org to see them or stop by and visit them at 333 Wire Road.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director