Category Archives: Adoption

2018, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Dogs, essay, Events, FOTAS, News, Pibbles

Year of the Dog: FOTAS honors canines with adoption events this Saturday. July 28

Posted on by Angel Hartline
23
Jul

Dogs and the experience of adopting them should be celebrated. At least, we think so. That’s why FOTAS, the Aiken County Animal Shelter and Mellow Mushroom are co-hosting Year of the Dog events this Saturday, July 28.

Hilde will make a terrific family dog.
Emma has a cute smile and loves people.

According to the Chinese calendar, 2018 is the Year of the Dog, a zodiac sign that symbolizes loyalty and honesty. To celebrate our canines at the shelter, from 11:00 to 4:00 we’ll be adopting dogs for just $35 – and serving hot dogs and fortune cookies to all visitors. Plus, everyone who adopts, signs up to be a volunteer or donates to FOTAS on this day will receive a $5-off Mellow Mushroom coupon. 

FOTAS will also be bringing adoptable dogs to Mellow Mushroom restaurant, located in downtown Aiken. From 11:30 to 2:00, you can adopt a dog on-site. Mellow Mushroom will provide discount coupons to everyone who gives a dog a forever home, donates to FOTAS, or completes a volunteer or foster application. Eating pizza while spending time with dogs – how can you resist that combo?

May needs a home ASAP.

As most are aware, this summer has been tough, with the County Shelter receiving a monthly average of 532 strays and surrendered pets at 333 Wire Road. In July, the flood of animals continues, with well over 300 unwanted pets already added to intake kennels.

Raylyn is good with children.

These Year of the Dog events will provide greater exposure for these animals in need and make your search and selection for a furry companion even more fun!

Here are some of the wonderful dogs to look for on Saturday:

  • Emma: Beautiful, 2-year-old Emma is sweet as can be, but sad she hasn’t found a family of her own yet. This mixed breed is 46 pounds and perfect for a smaller home.
  • Hilde: Full of personality and affection, this 6-year-old, apricot-colored Retriever mix deserves a great home
  • May: Sweet May is a pretty, 2-year-old Retriever mix who needs a home ASAP. She’s very affectionate but doesn’t like to share her humans with other pets.
  • Raylyn: So sweet and friendly! Brindle, 1-year-old Raylyn is a mixed breed with a lot of energy. She’d make a great jogging or workout buddy!

 Their lives are in our hands.

— by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

2018, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Dogs, essay, FOTAS, News, Pibbles

Mason Is Mostly a Gentleman, Partly a Rascal and All Love

Posted on by Angel Hartline
08
Jul

Hi! I’m Mason, a resident at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Actually I’ve been here a very long time, and that’s a bad spot to be in, particularly now that summer’s here and the shelter is packed. Last month, 545 animals came in to the shelter. 545! That makes me mad, all those homeless dogs, cats, puppies and kittens.

Jeez, people, can you fix your animals already? This is ridiculous!

Mason playing with his best pal, Chevy.

Sorry, I digress. Like I said, I’ve been here a long time, and although I’ve never in my whole life had two great meals a day, a safe place to sleep, someone like that nice Doc Levy to keep me healthy, and lots of great pals who call me Mason the Magnificent (seriously, I never even had a name before!), I need to find a home—pronto!—so the shelter can take care of all those other deserving animals.

Plus, I admit it. With all the heat and noise and barking, I get a bit cranky from time to time, and maybe it’s my imagination, but I think my volunteer friends look really sad when they look at me. Whoa. That makes me nervous.

So, I decided it was time to take things into my own paws, maybe post my profile and handsome mug on one of those doggie relationship sites, like DogMatch.com or CanineCuddle.com. I recruited my really great chum Kathy Jacobs (the FOTAS Program Director) to help me write just the right words to convince someone to adopt a big, squishy lovebug like me.

Kathy and I sat out on a bench in the shade with a few treats for brain power and kicked around some ideas. I thought something like “Meet Mason the Magnificent—a beast in the

“They call me Mason the Magnificent but you can call me Superdog for short.”

kitchen!” or “Looking for a friend to share meaningful roll in dead squirrel” would be catchy intros, but Kathy kyboshed those ideas right out of the gate.

“Change my password to hamsburger…”

Then I posed for some photos—this way and that, front, back, sideways—to catch my best side, maybe make my head look a little less square. But here’s the thing: I gotta square head, plain and simple. A handsome square head, if I say so myself, but no way I look like some retriever or lab-mix.

Finally, after lots of back and forth, here’s what we came up with:

Hey all you hungry-for-canine love folks, if you’re looking for a two-year old hunk-a-hunk of burning love, I’m your guy.

If you’re the kind of person that likes romantic walks, cuddling on the couch, and a great pal to ride in the car with you, I’m your guy.

 If you’re looking for a pal who’s housebroken, healthy, walks on a leash, and knows basic commands, I’m your guy.

By the way, did I mention that adopting me will cost you NOTHING nada, zip, thanks to the generosity of my great pal, Thomas Baker, who is sponsoring my adoption fee?

Oh, and Kathy says to make sure to tell you I have to get out of the shelter–soon. I hope that doesn’t mean what I think it does.

So please, come to the county shelter and take me home, for FREE, as soon as you can! You won’t be sorry.

My life is in your hands.

— By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

 

By the Numbers

July Summer Adoption Special: dogs and puppies $35, cats and kittens just $10.
 July 1 – 5: The Aiken County Animal Shelter received 71 strays and surrendered pets.

 

 

Pets of the Week

ELAINE: Retriever mix, female, 3 years old, yellow, 52 pounds– $35

 

EDISON: Domestic Shorthair, male, 3 months old, black & white Tabby, 1.7 pounds – $10

 

2018, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Doggie Day Out, Dogs, essay, Foster, FOTAS, Uncategorized, Volunteer

No Time for a Dog? How about Some Dog Time!

Posted on by Angel Hartline
06
May

Every Saturday afternoon, after the volunteers have gone home, after the animals have been fed and the kennels cleaned, as staff attends to the paperwork of another adoption week at the Aiken County Animal Shelter – that’s when Kelly Meyers comes to the shelter. He stops in the lobby and asks Bob Gordon at the front desk, “Who should I take this time?”

Shelter dog Garrett enjoys sleeping at Kelly's house one April weekend. Since the photo was taken, Garrett has been adopted and is now living with a loving family.
Shelter dog Garrett enjoys sleeping at Kelly’s house one April weekend. Since the photo was taken, Garrett has been adopted and is now living with a loving family.

The “who” Meyers is referring to is whichever dog in the shelter needs a little help, is a little stressed, and is feeling the effects of too-long at the shelter. Sometimes a dog has been identified; sometimes Kelly just walks through the kennels and picks a dog that looks sad or scared. Once the choice is made, Kelly loads the lucky dog in his car and off they go for a fun-filled weekend. On Monday morning, Kelly returns his canine visitor back to the shelter, happy and relaxed.

Last week the lucky dog was Garrett. “As I write this, says Meyers in his email, “Garrett is laying at my feet. At the shelter, he was barking non-stop for attention. A quick car ride later, some tennis ball tosses in the backyard, and a walk around the block, and he is chilled out!

Says Kathy Jacobs, the FOTAS Program Director: “At first I worried the dogs would be upset when they came back to the shelter, but it’s just the opposite! The break in routine, the chance for extended human attention, and the opportunity to socialize makes all the difference in the world to these dogs. They come back refreshed, a little worn out, and ultimately better adoption prospects.”

Most recently, Kelly took Hilde home to foster over the weekend.
Most recently, Kelly took Hilde home to foster over the weekend.

Meyers treats his canine guest like his own. He takes them out into the community to give them public exposure. Recently Jacobs ran into Meyers on a Saturday night in the Alley downtown, lounging on a bench with a dog named Raven, showing her off to the public. Raven was basking in the glow of all the attention.

“It kind of choked me up,” says Jacobs, “seeing her so happy.”

The experience also provides staff and volunteers facts that are hard to sort out in a busy shelter: Is the dog housebroken? A barker? Friendly to strangers? All useful information for a potential adopter.

I’ve had dogs all my life,” says Meyers, “but it’s just not possible for me to have one these days because I live alone and travel all week for work. This is a great opportunity for me to get a canine-companion fix—there is something about the unconditional love of a dog that is unmatched in this world. Plus, the satisfaction of helping those dogs overcome the fear of the unknown, such as the inside of a house or a walk down the street, is so rewarding.

If you are a dog-lover but a full-time commitment isn’t possible, a Doggie Day Out or a Doggie Sleepover is a great way to scratch that itch (pardon the pun) and show some deserving dog a really good time. You’ll both be better for it.

Call us and we’ll set you up.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

paw_print_heart_stickers-r368b69be3802466f8feff0ba57adc012_v9w0n_8byvr_512By the Numbers

May 1-2: The County Shelter received 45 strays and surrendered pets in the first two days of month.

 

Pets of the Week

JACKSON POTW 050618 (2)JACKSON: Hound mix, male, 4 years old, tan, 21 pounds – $35

CHELSEA POTW 050618 (2)CHELSEA: Domestic Shorthair, female, 1 year old, grey & white, 8 pounds – $10

Adoption, Bully Dogs, Dogs, essay

Hidden gems still waiting for forever homes at animal shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
19
Mar
Kane is smart and athletic.
Kane is smart and athletic.
(Note: Since this post was published, most of these dogs have been adopted. As of March 19, the only dogs still available are Callista and Kane.)

The Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) has five wonderful dogs – Bain, Callista, Kane, Marcelle and Rallie – who need loving homes as soon as possible.

These dogs are favorites of the staff and volunteers, yet they still wait to be adopted. They watch the animals around them get selected and wonder why no one has chosen them.

We wonder, too.  After all, Kane is the most handsome dog on the adoption floor. Bain and Marcella are the sweetest. Rallie is a lovable, goofy guy and Callista shakes her whole butt when she wags her tail to greet visitors.

We consider these five dogs hidden gems – animals that are special and have loads of love to offer a person or family. Each of them is sponsored, which means their adoptions fees have already been paid by FOTAS donors. They are $0 if you can provide them with a loving home.

  • Bain loves people and is great with children, plus he’s housebroken. He also rides well in a car and is a great athlete. If you have no other pets, please consider adopting this 4-year-old Retriever mix.
  • Callista has a lot of energy and loves to play outside, but her favorite activity is laying her head on your lap while you stroke under her neck and chin. This mixed breed, brindle beauty is just 1 year old and weighs 44 pounds.
  • Kane is 1-1/2 years old and about 50 pounds of love and energy. He’s a Terrier/Boxer mix who’s housebroken, very athletic and extremely intelligent — but needs an owner who can spend time with him. He would love to be your jogging buddy or play fetch with you!
  • Marcelle looks like a puppy and is just as cuddly. But she is 1-1/2 years old and has good leash manners. She’s very playful and likes to get her belly rubbed.
  • Rallie snuggles, sits on command, and wants to be your pal. He arrived at the shelter with wounds on his back, but they’re healing fast. Rallie is 1 year old, 57 pounds and housebroken. He loves people but doesn’t like other dogs, so needs to be the only pet in your family.
Callista is sweet and has a lot of energy.
Callista is sweet and has a lot of energy.

Come to 333 Wire Road in Aiken and go on a Doggie Day Out with one of these fantastic dogs. Get to know them by taking them to the park or downtown for an hour or two. They love the one-on-one interaction and the time away from being in a shelter, and you just might fall in love and give an extraordinary dog the home he/she deserves.

Their lives are in our hands.

 – by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

dog_paw_print_heart_notepads-r22f45a827e9b4626b52cbabfd1c7f8b4_amb08_8byvr_512

Pets of the Week

ARTEMIS
potw artemis 031818Dachshund mix, male, 1 year old, tri-color, 20 pounds – $35

 

COREY
potw corey 0318Domestic Shorthair declawed cat, male, 1 year old, gray & white Tabby, 11 pounds – $10

Adoption, Dogs, FOTAS, Heartworms, News, senior pets

Old shelter dog teaches his senior adopter some new tricks

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Mar

Last July, I lost Jake, my 10-year-old black Labrador retriever. With the start of a new year, I felt ready to start seeking a new dog for our home. As I am in my 80th year, I didn’t feel comfortable adopting a very young dog. I wanted a dog that was more my speed, one that had experienced life and needed a place to enjoy his golden years.

I increased my dog walking activities at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) and enjoyed contributing more time to FOTAS. Then one day, my wife saw photos of available shelter dogs on the County web site. She noted an older, mid-sized, black dog named Arthur who caught her eye, and suggested I go look at him.

I drove to the shelter and asked the FOTAS volunteer who was walking Arthur if I could cut in and finish the job. After walking this calm, friendly dog for a bit, I sat down on the ground in the play area and asked Arthur if he was ready for a foolish old man to take him home. Arthur responded by wagging his tail and we bonded. I took Arthur home and, just as the shelter staff suggested, slowly introduced him to our other pets. Arthur, being a charmer, was promptly accepted by our 4-year-old Carolina dog and three cats – two of whom were adopted from the ACAS.

Arthur (left) at home with his new sibling, Jessie.
Arthur (left) at home with his new sibling, Jessie.

Since adding Arthur to our family, I’ve learned much about older, abandoned and abused animals. And I want to pass along what he’s taught me.

  • Firstly, bonding with an older dog happens very fast. This is important for us older folks who have unknown, but probably limited, time ahead.
  • A senior dog with heartworms can be cured and live a normal life. (FOTAS paid for Arthur’s treatment.)
  • A senior dog usually can do his potty business outside from day one.
  • An older dog is not hyper and prefers to snooze along with his older companion. He wants to stay close to home, rather than wander off.
  • A senior dog will be less inclined to chew on the furniture, sofa pillows, or available shoes.
  • Lastly, and this surprised me, even though Arthur is 9 years old, he still has the ability to change. He taught me that an older animal can unlearn memories of fear and relearn trust in a human companion.
Mike and Arthur: bonded seniors learning from each other.
Mike and Arthur: bonded seniors learning from each other.

Arthur and I are still learning from each other and walking down our shared road of life, proving that old dogs can learn new tricks!

If my experience with Arthur has sparked your interest in adopting a pet, please visit the County Shelter located at 333 Wire Road in Aiken. Check out the available animals and meet the wonderful volunteers and staff. You can also volunteer some of your time to the animals, participate in FOTAS programs, or make a financial pledge to keep the operation going and growing.

Just tell them Mike and Arthur sent you.

 – By Mike Hardwick, FOTAS Volunteer

 dog_paw_print_heart_notepads-r22f45a827e9b4626b52cbabfd1c7f8b4_amb08_8byvr_512

By the Numbers

March Adoption Special: Dogs/puppies $35, Cats/kittens $10

paw_print_heart_stickers-r368b69be3802466f8feff0ba57adc012_v9w0n_8byvr_512

Pets of the Week

KANE

KANE POTW 031118Mixed breed, male, 1-1/2 years old, brown & white, 51 pounds – $0 (adoption fee paid for by FOTAS donor)

SELENA

POTW SELENA 031118Domestic Shorthair, female, 2 years old, blue gray, 8 pounds – $0 (adoption fee paid for by FOTAS donor)

Adoption, Children, Donate, donations, essay, Heartworms

Nine-year-old Aiken boy raises more than $400 for shelter’s heartworm positive dogs

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Feb

Alex Mastromonico is on a mission to help the homeless animals at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS). The nine-year-old heard about FOTAS’s “Have a Heart, Save a Heart” program, a fund which supplements the treatment of heartworm positive dogs at the shelter, and decided he wanted to pitch in to this life-saving effort.

With his birthday on the horizon, Alex asked his mom, Lori, if instead of getting presents this year, could he ask for money to go to the shelter dogs? And could he have a birthday party, where his friends could be asked to donate to FOTAS instead of bringing traditional party gifts? Oh, and could he personally deliver the donation to the shelter, so they could visit the animals?

“Of course, I said, ‘Yes,’” Lori said. “I was incredibly proud of him. Alex has never been materialistic, so this was the perfect way for him to celebrate his birthday.”

But for Alex, it was not enough. He told his aunt about what he was doing, and she helped him to take the mission to another level by setting up a temporary fundraising page on Facebook. In just weeks, Alex’s Facebook page and birthday party combined to raised $425 for FOTAS and the shelter dogs.

Nine-year-old Alex Mastromonico with his adopted dog, Bailee.
Nine-year-old Alex Mastromonico with his adopted dog, Bailee.

Alex has always loved animals “because they’re great company, unpredictable and fun,” and his family has three pets adopted from the ACAS – Bailee, a one-year-old Chihuahua mix, and kitten siblings Melania and Mingus. But what sparked his interest in animal advocacy was overhearing his mom talk about FOTAS.

Lori teaches fifth grade at Tall Pines STEM Academy and the school started a Junior FOTAS club this year with the assistance of FOTAS Programs Coordinator Kathy Jacobs. The students in Junior FOTAS meet after school to learn about different aspects of the ACAS and FOTAS. For their first meeting, Kathy brought a heartworm positive dog who was up for adoption and explained how heartworms are treated and how the “Have a Heart, Save a Heart” program saved about 200 dogs last year.

“Alex overheard me talking about the Junior FOTAS meetings, and his idea snowballed from there,” Lori said.

But what really motivates a boy to work so hard to make that idea come to fruition and miss the chance to be showered with gifts on his birthday? Is it the joy of giving? Is it to impress his family and friends?

“Well, I do feel very good about doing it,” Alex said. “But you can’t donate for any of those reasons. You have to do it with your whole heart. Not because someone tells you…it has to because you want to do it.”

Their lives are in our hands

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

 

 

By the Numbers

Feb. 7 to 14: Find “the One” Valentine’s Special: Dogs & puppies $14, cats & kittens $0

paw_print_heart_stickers-r368b69be3802466f8feff0ba57adc012_v9w0n_8byvr_512Pets of the Week

PRINCESS
Princess valentine picMixed breed, female, 5 years old, brown and white, 55 pounds – $14 (through Feb. 14)

 

BARTON
barton potw feb 11Domestic Shorthair, male, 2 months old, dark gray, 1.6 pounds – $0 (through Feb. 14)

Adoption, barn cats, Cats, essay, FOTAS

Adopting a barn cat eliminates mice, saves unwanted felines

Posted on by Angel Hartline
04
Feb

Most of the cats at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) are sweet, laidback and cuddly. They do best inside – playing with their cat toys on the floor, sleeping on your bed or purring on your lap as you watch TV.

But occasionally the shelter receives barn cats. These felines are more aggressive and often unsocialized. They haven’t had much contact with humans and, as a result, don’t like to be held or pampered. They are extremely independent and usually have a bit of an attitude.  However, it’s this brashness that makes barn cats such good hunters and ideal for getting rid of mice and other pests.

“Callie is perpetual energy,” said Diane Mansur, referring to the 1-year-old, medium hair Calico cat she and her husband, Raymond, adopted from the ACAS. “She’s inquisitive and always chasing and hunting mice on our property. We’re really pleased with how well she’s fitting in he

Adopted barn cat Callie gets comfy in her new digs, always ready to pounce on any mice that dare to wander onto her new owners' farm.
Adopted barn cat Callie gets comfy in her new digs, always ready to pounce on any mice that dare to wander onto her new owners’ farm.

The Mansurs adopted Callie after they spotted mice around their horse farm in Windsor. So far, she has hunted down at least six mice. Sometimes she eats them but usually she proudly drops the “gifts” at her adopters’ feet. During the day, Callie roams the farm and often hangs with the horses, but at night she’s safe inside a large equipment shed.

“We have dogs and other animals, so we didn’t want to put poison out and we’ve tried mouse traps, which sometimes work but can get messy,” Raymond said. “Frankly, we’ve always found cats to be the best way to control mice and protect our feed, so we’re very happy with Callie.”

As instructed by the shelter staff, the Mansurs kept Callie confined for three weeks before letting her roam the property. The barn cat must first learn that the farm is her home and source of food and care, or she is likely to run away.

Diane Mansur with her adopted barn cat and super mouser, Callie.
Diane Mansur with her adopted barn cat and super mouser, Callie.
Elwood likes to do his own thing, so he's the perfect barn cat.
Elwood likes to do his own thing, so he’s the perfect barn cat.

Another recent barn cat adoption was Elwood, a large, 2-year-old, black feline with a penchant for being mischievous. He sometimes plays a little rough with his human caregivers.

“My sister and I brought in food, treats and blankets to donate to the shelter and he was there in the lobby,” explained Elwood’s adopter, Suzy Lee of Wagener. “We have five acres and once he gets the lay of the land, he should make a good barn cat for us.”

Elwood has only been at his new home for a week, so he hasn’t explored the property yet. But he seems to like his new digs.

“I think adopting these barn cats is a good thing to do,” Suzy said. “It’s well worth the effort to give an unwanted cat a home.”

Barn cats at the ACAS are free to good homes. If you are interested in adopting one or more, please call the shelter at (803) 642-1537.

Their lives are in our hands.

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

paw_print_heart_stickers-r368b69be3802466f8feff0ba57adc012_v9w0n_8byvr_512

 By the Numbers

Feb. 7 to 14: Give Love Valentine’s Special: Dogs & puppies $14, cats & kittens $7

Pets of the Week

callista with susi (3)CALLISTA
Mixed breed, female, 1 year old, brindle and white, 44 pounds – $35

POTW KATLA AND CORDELIA

KATLA & CORDELIA
Domestic Shorthair, females, 9 months old, Calico, each is 7 pounds – $0 (bonded sisters are barn cats)

Adoption, Cats, essay, FOTAS, News, Volunteer, Volunteers

FOTAS volunteer Leah Holt gives unwanted cats a second chance at health and happiness

Posted on by Angel Hartline
28
Jan

Over the last 16 months, FOTAS Volunteer Leah Holt has given three unwanted cats the happiness and security that comes with having a forever home. She adopted all three from the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS), including Boots, a young, scrawny black cat; Footie, an 11-year-old, chunky Tuxedo cat; and Nutmeg, a six-month-old, blind Siamese kitten.

“When I retired and moved to Aiken, I made the decision to take care of animals and devote my time to making their lives better,” she said.

Boots and Nutmeg were strays, and Footie was surrendered by his owner because taking care of the large feline was “too much responsibility.” Holt gave Boots to her great granddaughter, who immediately changed his name to “Black Tiger”, and Footie and Nutmeg live with Holt and her two toy Poodles, BJ and Chrissie.

The quartet of furry friends sleeps on Holt’s bed. Footie dozes by her head, Nutmeg curls up between her stomach and knees, and the dogs are on either side of her, snoring under the covers. “I have to be careful when I roll over,” she jokes.

Leah Holt at home with her adopted County Shelter cats Footie and Nutmeg, and dogs Chrissie and BJ.
Leah Holt at home with her adopted County Shelter cats Footie and Nutmeg, and dogs Chrissie and BJ.

Before retiring, Holt managed a drug store, co-owned a wholesale food franchise with her husband and, during the last 15 years of her working life, took care of hospice patients.

Holt has been around animals and owned pets since she was a child. But when her dog, BJ, was nearly killed by a motorcycle in 2014 and she committed months toward nurturing him back to good health, she came to a new realization.

“That’s when I understood how I could have a positive impact and make a difference by helping animals, “she said. “That’s what we’re put here for –to help those in need.”

Now Holt volunteers at the shelter by walking the dogs and spending time with the felines in the cat facility, and every Saturday evening she takes care of the ACAS cats being showcased at the Aiken PetSmart Store on Whiskey Road.

Her reward for volunteering? Seeing unwanted and discarded animals placed in good homes. Plus, when she returns to her house at the end of the day, she gets a boisterous welcome from her growing gang of adopted pets.

“I think shelter animals truly appreciate their home more,” she said. “In the shelter they’re scared and confused. But when they come out, they don’t have to worry so much, and they’re very thankful for another chance at a joyful life.”

Their lives are in our hands.

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

By the Numbers

In 2017, 198 Heartworm Positive dogs received at the shelter were saved and successfully adopted with incurred treatment costs paid by FOTAS. Please remember to give your dogs monthly heartworm preventative.

Pets of the Week

bain high energy dogBAIN: Retriever mix, male, 4 years old, tan and white, 51 pounds – $0 (adoption fee has been paid for by FOTAS donor)

Sapphire POTW JAN 24SAPPHIRE: Domestic Shorthair, female, 9 months old, gray/black Tabby, 1.8 pounds – $10 (available at PetSmart Store in Aiken)


Adoption, Dogs, essay, FOTAS, Heartworms, News

Loving a senior dog like our sweet Arthur

Posted on by Angel Hartline
11
Jan

Arthur is a handsome, 7-year old retriever-cross with four white socks and a gray muzzle. He was found wandering on the road, dumped by his owner—confused, scared, half-starved, hair falling out. Just like he did the day he was found, he perks up whenever a car drives by or pulls into the Aiken County Animal Shelter, a look of hope on his face. Is this my human, coming back to get me?

Dear, loyal Arthur. Sorry, buddy—that human is not coming back to get you.

It breaks our heart. Arthur is gentle, completely housebroken, with lots of pep in his step. He’s great with kids. Cats? No problem. Plus, he still loves a ride in the car.

Arthur desperately needs a home, a family to love. He’s been at the Shelter too long—you can see it in his eyes. He’s become depressed.

My heart breaks for senior animals who end up in a shelter. They spend their entire life in a home, with a family—safe, warm, and secure. Then one day they end up in a shelter, scared and bewildered, through no fault of their own.

Typically, the animal was a cherished companion to an elderly person who died or had to move to an assisted living facility that wouldn’t allow pets, and no friends or family were able to provide a home.

Sometimes the family falls upon hard times, or has to move, and the pet can’t go with them. Or a couple divorces, and no one wants the pet. But many times, like Arthur, senior pets are just dumped on the side of the road by heartless owners, left to fend for themselves. No food. No warm, safe place. They have become an inconvenience to the family they loved, something to be discarded without second thought.

Senior dogs have a hard time adjusting to shelter life, no matter how great the shelter is—the noise, the collective anxiety of the other animals, limited human contact. The dog gets depressed, which reduces their “kennel” appeal even more. Potential adopters walk by in search of younger, cuter, more energetic prospects.

I beg you, don’t do it! Don’t walk by that senior dog or cat.

Senior pets make great companions. They are mature and calm. They don’t make mistakes on your rug. They are way past the “teething” stage. They don’t need a lot of exercise; they are happy to hang out with you on the couch and binge-watch all eight seasons of Breaking Bad. They are grateful for a second chance.

All it takes is a little patience and kindness.

Arthur will make someone a loyal, affectionate companion for years to come. He’s shy and a little fearful of other dogs, most likely a byproduct of a harsh past, so he would be better off in a home with another gentle, calm dog or as the “only dog” in the family.

Will that someone be you? Please don’t hesitate. Come to the Shelter tomorrow and take Arthur home … please.

By the way, here’s more good news: Arthur’s adoption fee has been sponsored, which means that taking home this delightful dog won’t cost you a thing but the gas to drive to the Shelter.

 Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, Vice President

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Heartworms, Spay/Neuter, Volunteer

Resolving to do better by our animals

Posted on by Angel Hartline
29
Dec

It’s that time again—the end of one year and the promise of a new one. Most of us (myself included) resolve to be better—to exercise more, lose weight, spend less time on our cell phones—and although our resolve is genuine, our willpower and attention span are, shall we say, less than perfect.

My own New Year’s resolutions fail because they are “self” centered, involving changes to my own behavior. When my resolve wavers, so what? Do those extra five pounds matter to anyone but me?

My theory is this: resolutions to take action for the greater good—to help make a life a bit better, happier, easier—are easier to keep and harder to abandon.

There are so many worthy ways to spend your time, but if you happen to love animals the way we do at FOTAS, then we can resolve, collectively, to do better by the thousands of homeless animals in Aiken County.

Let’s resolve to spay or neuter our animals … all of them.

If our own animals are fixed, then let’s lobby our friends, relatives, and neighbors to fix their animals.

Imagine … a spring and summer at the Aiken County Animal Shelter when staff and volunteers are not inundated with, literally, hundreds of unwanted puppies and kittens.

Imagine the Shelter with empty kennels because no new unwanted babies were born to fill them up.

Imagine a world where every home has a pet, and every animal has a home.

It is possible to do; it’s been done in many other communities. Why do you think our sister rescue agencies in other parts of the country have the space to take our unwanted animals? Because everyone fixes their pet as a matter of course.

It’s the right thing to do.

Let’s resolve to volunteer our time at the Shelter.

There are so many ways to help—greeting visitors, walking and socializing dogs, loving-up the cats, fostering animals approved for transfer or providing a safe, healthy home for mamas and their babies, working off-site adoptions, social media, and fundraisers.

The list is endless. Tell FOTAS what you want to do, and we’ll find a place for you. Volunteering at the Shelter is a great way to spend your free time and make friends, and at the end of the day, you will have made a difference in the life of some unfortunate animal.

Let’s resolve to vaccinate our animals and make certain they are protected from fleas, ticks and worst of all, heartworms. Too many animals suffer needlessly, particularly when treatment options are so affordable.

Let’s resolve to adopt all of our pets from the Shelter.

The Shelter takes in over 4600 animals every year—they all need homes. Other rescue agencies can close their doors when they are full, but the County shelter cannot; it is obligated by law to take all comers.

FOTAS and Shelter staff go the extra mile with attention, exercise, training and medical care to make every adoptable animal happy and more sociable, because we know those animals will be better pets and family members when they go home with you.

No other rescue organization in the County saves more lives than FOTAS … none.

These are resolutions worth keeping. Let’s do them together.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

 

Some Recent Happy Adoptions at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

 JESSICA STORY OF GRANITEVILLE ADOPTED GOLDIE DEC 23    RUDOLPH THE PUPPY WAS ADOPTED BY THE DOWLING FAMILY, AIKEN    BEAGLE MIX MARLIN WAS ADOPTED BY THE WILLIAMS FAMILY , AIKEN ON DEC 23

By the Numbers
54 Adoptions between December 18 and December 23! Thank you.

Missed our Christmas adoption specials? No worries! 
January Adoption special – dogs/puppies $35, cats/kittens $10

Pets of the Week

LACEY POTW DEC 31
LACEY: Retriever mix, female, 2 years old, black, 63 pounds – $35

CLARENCE POTW DEC 31

CLARENCE: Domestic shorthair kitten, male, 3 months old, black & white, 3 pounds – $10