Category Archives: adopter feedback

2020, adopter feedback, Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, kittens, News

County Shelter Pets in Need Find Fantastic Forever Homes

Posted on by Bob Gordon
07
Oct

When you adopt a homeless pet from the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) and walk out the door with your new furry companion, staff members don’t just file your paperwork, wave good-bye and wish you good luck. They make sure you and your pet are happy and doing well.
Here are emails received from recent adopters we followed up with (some have been edited for space):

Gator is a hit in his new home.

Bonded kittens adapting well to new home
Boots and Tux are doing very well. We are so glad we adopted both of them and feel it would have been a big mistake to separate them. We recommend your shelter to everyone we talk to because we have had such a positive experience. Keep up the great work!

Ruth Leazer

Gator is enjoying his new life
Gator loves his new fur brothers and sister. He also loves Joey, our 9-year-old. He sleeps and plays with him. Gator is healthy as an ox and enjoying life. We can’t thank you enough! He is a big part of our lives!

Angela Miles

Binx relaxes on his new human sister’s shoulder.

Binx beats his fear, then makes himself at home
Binx was very scared the first few days and didn’t want to come from the bathroom. But now he has made himself at home. He’s gentle with all three of my kids and lets them hold him as much as they want. He sleeps with my 6-year-old every night. His favorite place in the house is the window seat where he watches the squirrels until he falls asleep. He’s the best cat ever. We love him so much!

Lisa Robinson

Everybody loves Ringo
Hello! Ringo is doing great! Loves all her new siblings and they love her! Her new name is Willow. Thanks for checking in!

Mikky Glidden

Ringo (left) with his feline family member.

Boz is a big mush who loves belly rubs
Boz is doing fabulously! He was frozen in place when we first got him, but now he struts around confidently. He loves playing with tennis balls and is big mush who falls over for belly rubs. He jumps up on the bed and wakes me up with kisses every morning. He really has been a joy! We are working on obedience and he now knows how to heal, sit, and lay down on command.

Courtenay Khoury

Boz (left) and his new best friend and canine brother.

Kimber is the perfect family addition
It took a little while for Kimber to trust the dogs, but they play quite a bit now. Our pittie, Riley, absolutely adores her. She has also bonded well with our other cat, Stella. They are inseparable! Kimber is a very affectionate love bug who loves to play and watch TV but most of all, cuddle. She’s the perfect addition to our little family!

Carrie Betterly

Kimber in her forever home with Pitty mix Riley.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2020, adopter feedback, Bully Dogs, Cats, coronavirus crisis, Dogs, FOTAS, kittens, News

Successful Pet Adoptions Are Made During Pandemic

Posted on by Bob Gordon
19
May

Despite the coronavirus crisis, the Aiken County Animal Shelter continues to adopt out homeless animals in need. The shelter is temporarily closed to the public, but folks can visit and adopt pets by making an appointment and completing paperwork curbside.

Baya cuddles with one of the Laufer children

Here are some of the latest emails and notes we’ve received from people who have given homeless animals a second chance at a great life:

Baya is getting more comfortable each day
Thank you for checking in! Baya is doing great. She is behaving and eating well. She loves to play and is careful with our small children. So far, she is adapting better than expected and getting more comfortable every day. We love her so much!

Andrea Laufer

Penny adjusting well to her new family
Penny is doing great, loves her treats and has a hearty appetite! Loves playing with her tennis balls, rope and dinosaur. She has adjusted very well and is a great addition to our family!

John Grayson

Penny is a great addition to her new family

Kittens Frick & Frack have new names and a better life
Since adoption, Frick and Frack have been given the new names of Rajah and Bagheera! My fiancé and I are big Disney fans, so we decided to name them after Disney cats, the tiger from Aladdin and black panther from The Jungle Book. We are so impressed with their behavior. No scratching at all, use the litter box well, haven’t nipped or clawed either of us, and eat just fine! We have enjoyed the entertainment during this quarantine watching them play with all of their toys and each other. We are so glad we had the opportunity to adopt these two sweet and loving girls!

Cody and Heather Hayden

Frick and Frack with their new “parents”

Louis is bonding with new sister, Pippa
Louis (renamed Neville) is doing fantastic. He is slowly becoming less shy and more playful (at least around us). He gets along great with our other dog, Pippa, and keeps a safe distance from Stinky the cat. He usually eats well and has gained some weight since he arrived last month.

Hannah Strobel

Louis (right) and Pippa nap together


— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2020, adopter feedback, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, kittens, News

More than 3,000 Pets Adopted from ACAS in 2019

Posted on by Bob Gordon
29
Jan

The Aiken County Animal Shelter saved and adopted out 3,303 homeless pets in 2019. We thank our shelter staff, adopters, supporters, volunteers, fosters and donors for making this possible.

Abby and little Barkley cuddle

Here are some of the latest emails and notes we’ve received from people who have given homeless animals a second chance at a great life:

Abby and little Barkley are BFFs
Faith (who we renamed Abby) is doing wonderfully. She fits right in with our other dogs. Since day one, she and our little Barkley have been best friends. She eats well and plays all day with her toys. Any worries anyone had about her being a problem with other dogs or little kids is completely gone. She’s great with both. Whoever had Abby before us, treated her well and taught her how to behave. I’m sure they miss her, and I hate she’s no longer with them. But at the same time, our family loves her beyond any words.

Jarid Moon

Classic Tabby kittens Jasper and Casper

Dasher is a big cuddle bug
Dasher is doing great! He enjoys playing with my parents’ dog, Berkeley, and is typically well behaved. He loves going on long walks and being active, but is also a big cuddle bug! He’s definitely been a light in my life.

Eryn Cameron

Feline brothers complete their family
Casper and Jasper are happy and spoiled! I’m so glad we adopted them both and didn’t separate them! They get along beautifully with our dog, Hope. Our family has been completed. Thank you all for what y’all do!

Lynn Feltham

Dasher and his new mom

Kitten Burt is a life-changer
I love my Burt! He can be a challenge since he discovered leftover food goes in the trash. But my life is forever changed. I am 52 and Burt is my first pet! My son also has a cat, which was my inspiration. I tell everyone that Burt is my grandchild!

Janet Tate

Brandy has a new name and a great new life
Brandy is now Mamma Mia and doing well. She loves my other dog and they are always together. We are so grateful for her and believe that she is very happy now. I promise she will have a great life with us.

Brandy aka Mamma Mia

Kristin Pearce

— by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

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

We Love a Happy Ending! Adopters Share Their Success Stories

Posted on by Bob Gordon
18
Dec

Thank you to everyone who has adopted pets from the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Here are some of the latest emails and notes we’ve received from folks who have given homeless animals a second chance at a great life:

Blake goes on nature walks with his new family.

I Have Found My Best Friend
We are absolutely thrilled to have Blake! He has been to work with me and been by my side since day one. He loves to play tug of war and I run him at Odell Weeks park to get his energy out. I have found my best friend. In fact, yesterday someone commented that I must have invested a lot of time and money into training him because he is so well-behaved at work on a construction site. I was lucky to find the perfect dog. The work y’all must have done with him really shows.

John Eubanks

Jellybean Is Part of Our Family
Liana, who we renamed Jellybean, is amazing with our daughters and seems to like the cat. She thinks she is a small dog and wants to climb in your lap for snuggles. If it gets cold and the girls are outside, she will insist on them going back inside. Jellybean likes bedtime because she gets to help tuck in her sisters. She is part of our family and we love her so much. Thank you for helping us find our perfect doggie.

Scott Farrar & Wendy Morgan

Super furry selfie: Jellybean and he new dad.

Rubble Is No Rabble-Rouser
Rubble is amazing!! We couldn’t have asked for a better match. He’s such a lover! Well-mannered in the house and the car, and is getting along great with his new sister, Sugar. Loves his bed and is also good in his crate.

Melissa Beck

Rubble give some love to his adopter.

Lebowski: A Big, Goofy Lapdog
Chazz is wonderful. He now goes by Lebowski (The Dude) and gets along great with his big sister, Bizkit. He fit in right away and listens well. He’s just a big goofy lapdog that we wouldn’t trade for anything.

David Webb

Kitten Parker Is Growing Up Quickly
Parker is doing great. He’s eating well – both dry and canned kitten food – and growing very fast. He’s playing with the other three cats and explores everything.

Ann Willbrand

KItten Parker makes himself at home.

Velcro Dog West Loves His Beagle Bro
West is sweet, well-behaved and doesn’t leave my side whenever I’m at the house. He also sleeps next to me when he doesn’t want to be in his crate. I love him to death, and he loves his Beagle brother, too.

Taylor Swan

– By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2019, adopter feedback, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Chained dogs, Dogs, FOTAS, News, Pibbles

The Dog I Didn’t Want Might Just Be My Favorite

Posted on by Bob Gordon
11
Nov

The oldest of our three dogs, Yoda, died in August from cancer. My wife, Jennifer, wanted to honor Yoda’s memory by adopting another dog from the shelter. I was against the idea. Our other two dogs (Beethoven and Buster) are great dogs, best buddies with established routines, and our pet ownership experience was on autopilot. Why rock the boat?

MEADOW lived on a chain and was neglected before joining the Miller household.

We own a horse farm and allow our dogs to roam free. The dogs are well trained to stay within the boundaries of our property. A new dog would mean training those boundaries all over again, training it to be compatible with the horses, and introducing it to Beethoven and Buster—who I feared, even though they are the sweetest dogs, could develop a pack mentality and give a new dog problems.

I gave Jennifer all the excuses I could to avoid adopting another dog. She wasn’t buying it. Not only was she insistent that she wanted to adopt another dog, she wanted to adopt one that had been on the adoption floor the longest. Great! I was losing the battle.

Then one afternoon, Jennifer informed me she had found that dog and wanted me to go to the shelter to meet her. Her? A female dog? With our two boys? “Meadow,” said Jennifer. “She’s everyone’s favorite dog at the shelter.” Yeah, right.

Off we went to the shelter, and I met Meadow, a six-year-old, white pit bull mix, who was heartworm positive. She had lived outside on a chain most of her life and was obviously overbred as evidenced by the six hanging nipples. Housebroken? Working on it. Basic obedience? A work in progress.

Bruno gives his new sister, MEADOW, her daily grooming — these two instantly bonded.

Jennifer had found her perfect unwanted dog.

I relented and we took Meadow home. The introduction to the other two dogs was okay; they didn’t kill her. The next day, Susie Cohen, shelter dog trainer extraordinaire, came to our home to assess the situation. When our alpha dog, Beethoven, raised his hackles, Susie was worried. But both Buster and Beethoven began to accept her, and we breathed a sigh of relief.

Next, we took Meadow to the barn on a leash to test her reaction to horses. We introduced her to our horse, Bruno, and Meadow sat down in front of him, intensely curious. Then the most amazing thing happened. Bruno bowed his head, sniffed her, and began to lick her all over, the way horses groom each other. Meadow sat still and savored his affection. It was precious. They were in love!

MEADOW (center) gets cozy on the bed with her new canine siblings, Buster and Beethoven.

Soon, Meadow fit right in with our family. She is the boss of the boys and we don’t need to leash her anymore. Her manners and her housebreaking continue to improve, and she has discovered our soft, cushy furniture – plus she sleeps in our bed with Beethoven and Buster. She also is a great athlete, as evidenced by the time she jumped on the counter, grabbed a plateful of people cookies, and threw it to the floor. All three dogs wolfed down ten cookies before we could intervene. Every day she becomes a happier, more well-adjusted dog.

Don’t tell Beethoven and Buster, but I think Meadow is now my favorite. Go figure.

— By Peter Miller, FOTAS Volunteer

BY THE NUMBERS
Monday, November 11 is Veterans Day. FOTAS sponsors (pays for) Aiken County Animal Shelter adoptions year-round for U.S. veterans and active military personnel.

PETS OF THE WEEK

SYDNI
Lab mix, female, 3 years old, black w/white, 65 pounds – $35

SIMBA
Domestic Shorthair kitten, male, 2 months old, bronze Tabby, 2 pounds – $10

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, adopter feedback, Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Home-to-Home adoption program, kittens, News, Pibbles

Follow-Ups Help Ensure Adopters and Their Pets Are Content

Posted on by Bob Gordon
13
Aug

When you adopt a homeless pet from the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) and walk out the door with your new furry companion, we don’t just file your paperwork, wave good-bye and wish you good luck. We make sure you and your pet are happy and doing well.

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. Is the dog or cat adapting well to his new environment? Is he eating okay? Playing well with others? Adopters also get a chance to share any concerns or questions they have about their new pet.

Kitten Kevin resting in his new home.

Following up with new adopters not only helps ensure they are satisfied with their pets, but also provides us with great stories and information that could help us in future adoptions. The best feedback includes photos of the shelter pets loving life in their new homes.

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

NORA IS ADJUSTING WELL
Nora is doing great! We think she likely had a rough life before the shelter and being adopted. She was extremely terrified of everything. My husband and I could not move without her flinching. She’s been to see our vet now and has gotten some meds and some pointers on how to help her feel more comfortable. It’s working! She’s opening up and becoming so playful and loving. She has such a happy and funny personality. We adore Nora and are so happy to call her ours!

Cassandra Newcomb

COUNTY SHELTER IS THE BEST
Thank y’all for all that y’all do for the fur babies waiting for forever homes. I wish we could have adopted more than just Reuben. Unfortunately, we have a small home and couldn’t accommodate more than the two we now have. I have been raving about y’all to friends and co-workers, for when they are ready to adopt. Your facility is so clean, everyone is so nice, and I feel like the adoption went smoothly and very securely. I am impressed by the background checks done for all adopters and the professionalism displayed was exceptional. Pat yourselves on the back. You all deserve it!

Amiee N. Hinton

Catherine Will with pretty Roo Roo.

BLESSED TO HAVE ROO ROO IN OUR FAMILY
Roo Roo is doing great! She is an absolute angel. We love her so much! She gets along with everyone, including our cat. We are blessed to welcome Roo into our family.

Catherine Will

BROOKE IS FITTING RIGHT IN
Puppy Brooke is fitting right in with the family! She is growing like a weed and doing well with house training. We absolutely love her!

Linda Duffy

KEVIN IS ALMOST PERFECT
Kevin has been loving his new forever home. He’s a very affectionate and playful kitten. He’s been eating well and growing so fast! My fiancé and I love him so much! We are very glad we adopted him. Other than being rambunctious and a little mischievous sometimes, he’s absolutely perfect!

Marilyn Hall

Beagle Nora stretches out at her forever home.

HOME TO HOME IS A GREAT SERVICE
The new adopter came and met my dog, Midi, and decided to take her home. Home to Home is a great service. Thank you so much! (FOTAS’s Home to Home Program helps pets move directly from one home to another.)

Julie Bean

JOSIE IS BEING SPOILED
Josie is doing great! She’s spoiled and her personality shines more every day. She has started to play with her toys and understands that they are hers and nobody is going to take them. She’s eating well, starting to gain a little healthy weight. She goes everywhere with us and even has her own Instagram account, josietherescueshepherd.

Mary Hanna

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director