By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

When Daisy Walker first laid eyes on a handsome, six-year old, tri-colored hound crossbreed named Gaige at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, she fell in love.

“He looked up at me with those eyes and wagged his tail, and I said to my son, ‘This is the one!’” says Daisy.

And so he was. Daisy adopted Gaige, and now he is her constant companion. He sleeps with her. He protects her. He even talks to her.

“He’s my baby. He talks to me when he wants something, like ice in his bowl – he loves ice in his bowl!” says Daisy, laughing with delight. “I’ve never had a dog like this.”

That’s how Daisy and Gaige became the first seniors to take advantage of the Silver Paws program developed by FOTAS and the County, which pairs senior citizens and senior dogs or cats for half-price – all the time.

Senior Paws and other programs like Fall in Love, Nine Lives for Nine Dollars, Back in Black, regular half-price specials and the lowest standard adoption fees in Aiken have boosted adoption numbers to all time highs, making a lot of folks and a lot of animals, like Daisy and Gaige, very happy in the process.

The FOTAS On-Site Event Coordinator, Ellie Joos, organizes events designed to help people become more educated pet owners.  Events such as H.E.L.P. (How to Enjoy Living with a Puppy), a session for puppies and their owners led by Dr. Holly Woltz and Dr. Sybil Davis, and the Dog Ears Reading and Listening Program (a joint effort with the Aiken County Regional Library System), which helps young children hone their reading skills by reading to shelter dogs who love the attention, have been well attended.

FOTAS has organized and provided training sessions for FOTAS volunteers and staff by professional trainers like Jay Lyda of Veteran K9 Solutions and Susi Cohen of the Palmetto Dog Club to teach shelter dogs basic obedience skills, which also makes them more adoptable. (By the way, Jay and Susi offer a free training session for new adopted dog owners.)

With the help of the trainers and through Urgent Appeals made through the FOTAS communication networks, long-term canine shelter residents whose times were running out – dogs like Luci, Olivia and Andrew – have found homes as service dogs and beloved pets.

Then there’s the FOTAS Heartworm Positive (HWP) Program, which gives dogs who test positive for heartworms but are not sick, a chance to be adopted.  FOTAS partners with local vets and pays for 30 days of heartworm treatment meds and 6 months of heartworm prevention to anyone who adopts a HWP dog.

Bella, an 8 year-old Chihuahua, was the first HWP dog adopted from the shelter.

“Bella is wonderful,” says Manuella Kowitt, “and very healthy for an older dog – you’d never suspect she is HWP. Since I have to give her heartworm prevention medicine anyway, she’s been no extra trouble at all.”

All this work and special programming is paying off.

“In August and September, 610 dogs and cats were adopted or transferred to no-kill facilities,” says Jennifer Miller, President of FOTAS. “As of October 1st, FOTAS Fix-a-Pet and Lenny’s Brigade have funded 350 spay/neuters of pets and community cats. We couldn’t be more pleased.”

The outpouring of community support in terms of time, money and service have made a real difference in the lives of and outcomes for the thousands of homeless County animals.

Please help us continue our work. Their lives are in our hands.

PETS OF THE WEEK

TALLY     Female, hound — 2 years old — 40 lbs — $70

BECKY      Female, tabby — 4 mos old — $10

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

It’s not just the stuff of fairytales, you know. It really happens.

Take Andrew and Skittles, both American boxer/bull terrier/retriever crosses currently available for adoption at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

Andrew was a stray picked up by Animal Control in July. He was emaciated, hungry and scared.  His reddish brown coat was dull, his white chest dirty and matted.

In his kennel in the Intake Building, Andrew cowered in the corner and would not make eye contact, but Sandy Larsen, the shelter’s senior vet tech, and the shelter staff were patient and kind. After a day or two, Andrew began to relax.

Over the next week, Larsen continued to evaluate Andrew. Despite his fear, he showed no aggression towards people. He was underweight, but otherwise healthy. Larsen was confident Andrew would continue to improve with training and attention, so she released him to the Adoption floor.

After that, FOTAS volunteer Ellie Joos and Andrew bonded immediately.

“He is the first dog I walk in the morning,” says Ellie. “On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I work in the yard with trainer Jay Lyda from Southern K9 Solutions.  I always walk him again before I leave.”

“His progress has been amazing,” says Jay. “Andrew has become a happy, affectionate dog. He walks quietly on the leash, sits and comes when called.  He still gets excited in his kennel, but that’s to be expected – he’s young and energetic.  What’s important is how quickly he calms down when he’s taken out.”

Then there’s Skittles, a stunning 5 year-old white dog with a striking brown mask over her eyes.  She is quiet and calm by nature and adores people. After regular weekly sessions with Jay, she walks quietly on a leash, sits and rolls over for a nice belly rub.

Volunteers Kathy Jacobs and her nine-year-old son, Noah, visit Skittles frequently and play ball with her in the yard. Skittles loves her tennis balls, but she loves her playmates more. When they call her, she comes back quickly.

So Andrew has blossomed from a lonely, scared frog to a handsome, happy prince with Ellie’s devotion, Jay’s training and consistent care, while Skittles has transformed into a majestic, loving princess under the same formula.

Amazing.

But here’s the bad news: Andrew has been on the Adoption Floor longer than any previous shelter resident, followed closely by Skittles.

That’s a seriously bad place to be for a dog in a public shelter desperate for space.

It’s a mystery to FOTAS volunteers and staff why these two sensational dogs are still at the shelter.

Andrew loves people and children – he recently entertained an entire troop of girl scouts.  After his walk and training, Ellie takes him into the Lobby, where he sits quietly by the desk and wags his tail furiously for everyone who stops by.

Skittles is quiet and mature. She loves people, especially children. She loves to play. She is a devoted and kind and will make someone a faithful companion.

Help us save these dogs – you won’t be sorry. Their adoption price has been reduced to $35, a small price to pay for a fully vaccinated and neutered dog and a life long companion.

And please, please don’t wait.  Their time is running out.