Category Archives: animal abuse

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, Adoption, animal abuse, ANIMAL CRUELTY

Twenty dogs from cruelty case find loving homes

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Bandit heads home with his new “dad.”
19
Aug

When the Aiken County Animal Shelter is not teaming up with FOTAS to help find forever homes for dogs and cats at the facility, it is dealing with even more heartbreaking work: rescuing pets from cruelty and neglect, and lawfully punishing those responsible for their suffering.

A County Animal Code Enforcement officer recently responded to a complaint of dogs running around loose and looking underfed. When the officer arrived at the home, he discovered 20 skittish, emaciated dogs and puppies covered in fleas. He also found three dead dogs who likely expired from being stuck inside with no air conditioning, the doors and windows shut – and no water.

With the facility at full capacity, shelter staff took in the large group of dogs, age two months to four years old. Three of the eight puppies needed fostering in order to become more socialized and to give them time to recover from their surgeries.

“The dogs were full of parasites and extremely skinny, with their ribs showing,” said Aiken County Animal Shelter Manager Bobby Arthurs. “Our shelter is specifically designed to rescue these animals that have been neglected or abused, and to do all we can to prosecute the owners of the pets.”

However, this cruelty case could not have come at a worse time. The shelter was already so full, dogs were doubled up in kennels.

“It put a huge strain on us at the shelter, where we were already at our breaking point,” Arthurs said. “But with the support of FOTAS and the great work of our staff, we got through it and found good homes for all of the dogs.” One of the cruelty case dogs found a home in the Midwest. A woman from Indiana saw Pixie, a skinny black and white puppy, in a FOTAS video posted on social media. She called the shelter and her partner drove all the way to Aiken to take her home. She and her partner were true angels!

Of course, celebrating these adoptions must be short lived because there are many more animals who need assistance. Just this week, two more cruelty cases were investigated, including one with four dogs living out in the hot sun tethered with little to no shelter. Two of the dogs had dirty water; two had nothing to quench their thirst. One dog had a heavy chain wrapped around his neck and could barely move because the chain was tangled around a tree. These dogs are now safe at the shelter and their owner was charged with cruelty and neglect.

“We are so appreciative of the local response to save these dogs –including adopters, fosters, volunteers and staff,” said County Shelter Adoption Coordinator Hillary Clark-Kulis. “However, these dogs came out of our community and we know there are other dogs facing similar deplorable living conditions that need our help. So, if you see something, please say something.”

Their lives are in our hands

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2021, animal abuse, ANIMAL CRUELTY, Bully Dogs, Dogs, FOTAS, News, Uncategorized

Bait dog Norman overcomes past cruelty, now has good life he deserves

Posted on by Bob Gordon
30
Aug

Norman was picked up by Animal Control in May 2021. He arrived weak, shut down and lifeless. Scars on his face, mangled feet, ribs showing and his teeth filed down. As much as we do not want to believe that such cruelty occurs in our community, this dog proves otherwise.

This sweet boy didn’t have hope in his eyes when he arrived. He had all the signs of being a bait dog. Bait dogs are usually the canines that criminals cannot turn into fighters. The dog is too sweet and friendly. So instead, they use them to be savagely attacked, and often killed, by the dogs they are able to turn into fighters. Clearly mauled by other dogs, we eventually had to amputate two of Norman’s toes. They were so severely damaged.

Norm when he got to the shelter.

The staff and volunteers immediately fell for him and wanted to earn his love and trust. He had only the best beds, the tastiest food and all the hugs he could handle. Within days, this dog started to come alive!

Norman (the kennel staff named him) learned quickly how to walk on leash and then he would jump up and hug his walkers! This boy left the past behind and met all new people with happiness and puppy-like excitement. We think he is around six years old, but you wouldn’t know it. After two weeks, his fur was shinier, he wiggled when he saw us and he was ready. This sweet dog gained eleven pounds in just two weeks. So much healthier!

Norm goes to his forever home.

Norman is one of the lucky ones. He was rescued and treated for his wounds, given everything to make him comfortable and recover from his past. This would never be possible without the generosity of our volunteers and supporters.

Norman is now in his forever home and will finally get the life he deserves.

–By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2021, animal abuse, Dogs, FOTAS, kennel stress, neglected pets, News

Unloved, Neglected Pets Kole and Spice Just Need a Chance

Posted on by Bob Gordon
12
Jan

So many of the pets that arrive at the Aiken County Animal Shelter are family ready. One of our foster families contacted me the other day, saying that they couldn’t figure out how a dog so housebroken and good with other pets could possibly arrive at the shelter as a stray. This always boggles our minds, too. Such well-mannered pets and no one is looking for them.

Kole has a white chest and freckled feet.

Then we get the pets who have been severely neglected, abused and unloved. Unfortunately, these animals can’t tell us their stories. We have to try and put the pieces together and sometimes their backgrounds remain a mystery.

In this category, we have two dogs on our adoption floor who need homes — but they need to be the “right” homes.

Kole is a handsome, black dog with freckled feet. When he arrived as a stray, he was despondent and shut down. Shelter Manager Bobby Arthurs took Kole on as his project. He saw something in Kole and started bringing him hot dogs every day. Well, that was the key! Kole is food motivated but not big on being touched. He is easy to walk and will stay by your side, bumping you with his nose to get a treat. He lets us give him little pats but does not like to be hugged or petted.

Handsome Spice is a playful and sweet dog.

Kole came in around the same time as a very shy, white and tan dog named Spice. For days, Spice hid in the corner, shaking until the kennel staff made progress with him. This poor boy would try to climb the walls to escape our touch. Slowly he learned to go for walks but still hit the ground and flattened out when we tried to pet him. He is doing much better, but it will take time for him to feel completely safe.

Kole (left) and Spice are dealing with a history of neglect and need canine mentors.

Kole and Spice have become buddies and trust each other. Shelter staff take them into the play yard every day and the two comfort each other, walk around together, sniff together. We think these dogs need homes with other dogs who can mentor them and show them how to be “pets”.

Kole and Spice deserve a chance for a happy life in a good home. Yes, they have some issues. But with their past, who wouldn’t? Please share their stories and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. If you are interested in adopting one of these dogs in need, please call the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 803.642.1537 (option # 5) or email info@fotasaiken.org and make an appointment to visit them.

Their lives are in our hands.

– By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2020, animal abuse, ANIMAL CRUELTY, Dogs, Dr. Lisa Levy, FOTAS, injured animals, neglected pets, News, surgeries

A Song of Survival: The Ballad of Willie Nelson

Posted on by Bob Gordon
09
Sep

I came into work one morning several months ago to find that Animal Control had brought in a medium-sized, black dog who could not stand up. After examination, I found that his back legs worked fine but he could not use either front leg. X-rays revealed that his right front leg had an old gunshot wound just above the elbow that had shattered the bone. The bone had healed as best it could and felt stable when touched. The left front leg was normal on x-ray but had nerve damage.

He was happy and not in any pain, so I planned to keep him a few days, hoping his owner would claim him. But if not, we would euthanize him.

Amazingly after two days, he started to walk on the gunshot leg, but still could not use the nerve-damaged leg. The staff fell in love with him and named him Willie Nelson (because he howls and “sings” when he wants attention). He continued to get stronger on the right leg, but his left leg would collapse every time he tried to put weight on it. We made the decision to amputate the left leg and he healed beautifully.

The day before he was to go up for adoption, he suddenly wouldn’t stand. We x-rayed the leg again and found it had fractured through the area where the gunshot wound was. Because it had not healed well, it couldn’t withstand the strain of bearing the extra weight of him being three-legged. My husband, Dr. Michael Wells, and I decided to repair the fracture with metal pins, which we planned to leave in place for stability. Two of our kennel crew, Brandon and Chase, fostered him while he healed.

Unfortunately, the bone was too soft from all the previous damage and the pins kept backing out. Despite several attempts to reset them, they finally came out completely.

Our next step was a cast, which Willie hated but learned to tolerate. Finally, the day came to remove the cast. Willie walked on his leg but after only a few minutes there was an audible crack. The leg had broken again!

Willie Nelson’s custom-made cart allows him to run and play, despite losing his front legs.

We were heartbroken and out of options. Willie went home to spend a last night with his foster family and we planned to put him to sleep the next day.

That night was pretty depressing at our house. For four months, we had worked with Willie and it was devastating to lose him. I asked my husband, “What if we buy him a custom-made cart?” I talked to Brandon and Chase the next morning and they agreed to adopt Willie if we would purchase the cart. We worked with an awesome company called, “Eddie’s Wheels,” which gave us a shelter discount and built him a cart in just two weeks.

Meanwhile, after talking to Brandon and the people at Eddie’s Wheels, we decided to amputate his broken leg as he would never use it and we didn’t want it to be a source of pain for him.

Willie is still adjusting to his cart but doing great. He is one of the happiest dogs I have ever seen, exhibiting a positive spirit every day of his trying journey.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Dr. Lisa Levy, Aiken County Animal Shelter Veterinarian

2020, animal abuse, ANIMAL CRUELTY, Chained dogs, Dogs, FOTAS, neglected pets, News, SOCIAL MEDIA

Frightened, Sad Shelter Dog Reminds Us We Can Still Make a Difference

Posted on by Bob Gordon
23
Jul

At a time when we might feel helpless in a world out of control, Kai’s story reminds us we can still make a difference.

His fear also hits home. There’s a lot of scary going on.

Maybe that’s why this traumatized dog with a broken heart became a social media celeb in just one day. More than 68,000 people around the globe shared his post. Another 25,000 offered tears, donations, and prayers.

KAI was saved by a rescue that specializes in helping dogs traumatized by abuse.

As one reader in Virginia put it: “The comments under Kai’s post restore my faith in humanity at a time when I need it most.”

At the time of our first post, Kai was a sad frightened dog in the corner of his kennel. Fear like we haven’t seen in a long time. When he heard a noise while eating, food fell from his mouth.

Now, through your sharing, Kai can rest peacefully in the lap of his foster hero Jessica, with Southern Tails for Precious Paws Rescue in Charleston, SC. She is an expert in healing dogs who’ve been beaten and abused.

When this photo of ACAS dog KAI was posted on Facebook along with his sad story, more than 68,000 people around the world shared it. Within hours of the post, KAI was rescued by an expert who specializes in healing dogs traumatized from abuse.

What’s more, three other struggling dogs got homes too, from the 500 plus emails the Aiken County Animal Shelter woke up to that morning, all asking to adopt Kai.

Please take a minute and take it in. You saved four dogs by sharing one post. That’s power. That’s goodness. That’s the love that changes everything.

Whatever you may think about social media, at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, where over 4,000 unwanted animals were received last year, this communication tool and the sharing of our Facebook posts (especially during this chaotic time) has been a blessing in helping us to continue to save so many lives. Your sharing of a FOTAS Facebook post could be the one that saves that shelter pet’s life.

Thank you. Their lives are in our hands.

— By Martha Anne Tudor, FOTAS Volunteer

2020, animal abuse, ANIMAL CRUELTY, Chained dogs, coronavirus crisis, County Animal Control, County animal laws, County tethering ordinance, FOTAS, neglected pets, News

Community Outreach More Vital than Ever During Difficult Times

Posted on by Bob Gordon
30
Jun

While catching up on paperwork early Thursday morning, Patrick Miller, Supervisor of Animal Control in Aiken County’s Code Enforcement Division, is asked what he likes most about his job.

“Helping people is the most rewarding part of what I do,” he says. “It’s just human nature to feel good from giving back to the community and helping people out. That’s the highlight of all the officers’ days.”

County Animal Control Officers like Larry Callahan (left) and Daniel Godwin provide swivel systems and runners that ensure dog owners are complying with the County’s tethering ordinance.

Miller, who has been an animal control officer since 2013, is usually on the road taking calls from dispatch. On an average day, he is checking on stray dogs, livestock on the loose, nuisance complaints and potential pet neglect and abuse. However, since the crippling economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, community outreach has become an even bigger part of Miller’s day.

“COVID-19 has impacted County citizens a great deal,” he explains. “More people are out of work and our community outreach has stepped up. I have a lot of folks right now who can’t afford gas. People sometimes say, ’Can you give us a hand with some food?’”

FOTAS helps by providing pet food, legal and humane dog runners and dog houses to the officers, which they then give to citizens in need. FOTAS also directly gives assistance through its partnership with Meals on Wheels, providing food for senior citizens’ pets.

Miller and his fellow County Animal Code Enforcement officers have to balance enforcement with community outreach. They must help out folks in need while at the same time protecting the welfare of pets and other animals that are neglected and abused.

“Part of our community outreach is explaining laws and helping folks comply to them,” Miller says. “I’d say about half of the people we talk to still do not know that dogs cannot be on a chain. That’s one of the biggest issues we deal with weekly – and FOTAS helps by getting us runner cables.”

Code Enforcement Officer Patrick Miller saves a dog from drowning. A flash flood nearly took the life of the poor pup who was attached to a short, heavy chain when the water rose up to his nose.

Officer Miller is well-respected by his peers and colleagues for how diligently he looks out for animals and his kindness to people and their pets. But he has seen enough neglect and abuse to last a lifetime and will not hesitate to rescue a pet from a bad situation and charge the offender accordingly.

“At the end of the day, what makes you feel good about your job is that you helped the animal and gave it a second chance at a good life,” he said.

Their lives are in our hands.


— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2020, animal abuse, Chained dogs, County animal laws, Dogs, fostering, FOTAS, injured animals, neglected pets, News

The Discarding of Countless Litters in Our Community Is Sad and Unacceptable

Posted on by Bob Gordon
24
Mar

“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.”
— Immanuel Kant

Last month, a very kind couple arrived at the shelter with a litter of puppies. They explained that they had been caring for the five-week-old pups for a week or so. We were all saddened to hear that someone tied the pups in a garbage bag and left them on the side of the road, in front of the couple’s home. They would have ignored the bag, but thought they saw it moving. Carefully opening the plastic bag, the couple discovered sad, hungry, filthy puppies inside. The pups were hungry and terrified.

Who does that? Not only could the puppies have died an agonizing death but somewhere there is a mother dog mourning her missing puppies – a mama dog who likely will be having another unwanted litter in the future.

Celeste arrived at the shelter starving to death but somehow recovered completely and was adopted.

This litter was extremely lucky because the couple that found them cared. They stopped, they bathed them, and they fed them.

How often do we drive by a cardboard box or bag on the side of the road? Sadly, I now wonder how often there are puppies or kittens in that box.

As I am writing this, a nice couple walked into the shelter with a crate holding two puppies. They said they were driving and looked out their window and saw the crate with puppies in the woods. They turned their car around to investigate. Two small and social puppies sitting in a crate with a blanket looked up at them with relief in their eyes.

“I have two rescue dogs and two rescue cats…I felt bad when I saw them, they could’ve died there,” said Angela Franks.

Patty the kitten lost her eye to a bad infection because she was discarded like trash.

Every day, another homeless dog or cat arrives at the shelter “damaged”. By that, I mean they come in shot, hit by a motor vehicle, tossed out of a car, or abandoned in the woods or by the road.

Staff and volunteers are continually confused as to why people would hurt or abandon an animal when there are resources around such as the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) and FOTAS. We have an easy to use site where we can post your pet to rehome at no charge. The County also offers vouchers to help assist those who cannot afford to fix their pets and FOTAS helps through our Fix a Pet program. There is absolutely no reason for the countless litters we see discarded and neglected in our community.

The shelter takes in 300 to 500 dogs and cats each month. The struggle is finding homes for all these pets and yet it is so very easy to prevent these high numbers. Kitten season is quickly approaching and the staff is already preparing by stocking up on formula, baby bottles and supplies. Soon we will have kittens coming in around the clock and never enough foster homes to bottle feed them.

These two puppies, left in the woods to die, were saved by a local couple and brought to the ACAS.

We are desperate for foster homes for litters of puppies and kittens as well as foster homes for those recovering from medical procedures. If you are interested in fostering or becoming a volunteer, please contact FOTAS at info@FOTASaiken.org or stop by the ACAS.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2019, animal abuse, Bully Dogs, Chained dogs, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, injured animals, kennel stress, neglected pets, News, Spay/Neuter, Volunteer

Christmas Heartbreak at the County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Bob Gordon
14
Dec

Help! Strays and owner-surrenders are pouring into the county shelter — 47 animals in the first three days of December! While the good citizens of Aiken County embrace a Christmas season of festivities, family, and hope, the shelter is experiencing the kind of intake numbers normally reserved for summer—the kind that keep us up at night.

Why is this happening now? It’s a mystery—maybe it’s the longer breeding season caused by the very long summer, maybe it’s overwhelmed pet owners dumping their pets like unwanted baggage on county roads and at the shelter, maybe it’s both. We can only guess.

Jay deserves a second chance at a great life. He is going to make a wonderful pet for the lucky person who adopts him.

Even more alarming is the number of abused and neglected animals coming into the shelter. Like Red, a large, exuberant hound scarred with wire marks all over his body. He’s a big puppy who needs the company of other dogs.

Then there’s Jay, an affectionate dog who spent most of his earlier days at the end of a chain. You would think he would be angry and sullen, but he’s one of the sweetest, happiest dogs ever to arrive at the shelter. He’s a 70-pound, white and brindle Bulldog mix who just wants to be loved.

When the Animal Control officers brought in a sweet, gold with white markings hound-mix (now named Carole), she was so skinny, you could count her ribs.

Sky, a beautiful freckled pup, was so weak when she came to the shelter, she couldn’t stand. Once she was given a bed, she wouldn’t leave it except to scarf down a few treats and enjoy a little “me” time with shelter staff and volunteers.

The list goes on and on.

We are baffled and discouraged. The shelter has come so far over the past ten years, yet these abnormally high-intake numbers during a normally low-intake period feels like a setback. Unless and until rampant overpopulation of homeless pets is checked and intake numbers come down, our goal of never having to euthanize another adoptable pet will be in jeopardy.

Carole was skin and bones when she arrived at the shelter — but she was treated and recovered from her neglect –and was recently adopted.

In the meantime, shelter staff and FOTAS volunteers have shifted into hyper-drive to handle the onslaught of animals. They’ve pulled out all the stops: begging transfer partners to take extra animals, aggressively working the new Home-to-Home program, marketing animals regionally on social media, and recruiting more volunteers and fosters.

But we need your help, too.

First and foremost, if you are in a position to adopt a pet, or if you know someone who is considering adoption, now is the time. These animals urgently need responsible, loving homes. Plus, for every animal you adopt or foster, you save two lives—the animal you adopt and the animal that is moved to the adoption floor when the space opens up.

Second, be a spay/neuter ambassador—fix your animals and talk your friends and family into fixing theirs. If you or they cannot afford the cost to spay/neuter, you may be eligible for County or FOTAS financial assistance.

Finally, please make a tax-free donation at www.fotasaiken.org to help us carry on the good work. FOTAS and the county shelter save more animals than any other rescue agency in the CSRA—period.

Their lives are in our hands

— By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

BY THE NUMBERS

In just the first three days of December, the Aiken County Animal Shelter received 47 homeless pets. That’s more than 15 animals per day. Please spay and neuter your pets.

PETS OF THE WEEK

RUSTY: Retriever mix, male, 2 years old, brown & white, 54 pounds – $35

CRYSTAL: Domestic Shorthair cat, female, 11 months old, brown Tiger Tabby, 7 pounds – $10

2019, animal abuse, County Animal Control, Demodex, Dogs, FOTAS, neglected pets, News

Dede Blossoms After Love and Care at the County Shelter

Posted on by Bob Gordon
01
Oct

Dede was wandering the backroads of the county in the sizzling heat of July when she was picked up by animal control officers. Her condition was shocking: aside from being terrified and dehydrated, she was completely hairless and bleeding.

DEDE when she first arrived at the shelter.

She was, as you can see from the featured photo, hard to look at without grimacing with horror and heartbreak, with outrage that someone cared so little about this sweet dog that they didn’t provide medical care when it was needed and then abandoned her to starve and die when her condition became critical.

Because we try not to think the worst about people, we’d like to believe that maybe someone loved her but just didn’t have the means to care for her—that they were victims of poverty or misfortune.

Sorry, but I don’t buy it. Dede suffered horribly, both physically and emotionally, because someone neglected her medical needs and then washed their hands of her when she needed them the most. That’s cruelty, plain and simple. It makes me furious.

DEDE after being treated for her Demodex.

Like most dogs, Dede’s capacity for gratitude and forgiveness is boundless—far greater than mine (I promise to work on that at church!) She has never complained, not once, and she has never stopped wagging her tail. She’s cheerful and kind. She loves people and children. She is great with other dogs. She has gone on several doggy-night-outs with staff and volunteers, and they all rave about her. She is a good size, weighing in at just 40 pounds.

Here’s the deal. Dede was diagnosed and successfully treated for Demodex mange, which is not contagious. Her coat has grown back in. However, once she was cured of mange, she continued to scratch and bleed, and Dr. Levy suspected she had some kind of allergy. FOTAS purchased allergy meds for her and it is working; she feels and looks good, but she may need to be on allergy meds for life. Although more in-depth allergy testing might identify a more targeted treatment, Dede’s doing just fine without it.

DEDE is now just waiting for her forever home.

FOTAS Program Director Kathy Jacobs has been treating her own dog for allergies for years, and he is a fluffy, happy dog.

“My dog’s allergy meds are not difficult to administer,” says Kathy. “It’s one more monthly pill along with flea, tick, and heartworm protection. Sure, it’s an extra expense, but it’s not a large one by any means.”

Dede is a special dog, and she deserves and needs a loving home. Will it be you? Her adoption fee has been sponsored. Call the Aiken County Animal Shelter at 803-642-1537 and ask for Hillary, Bob, or Amanda.

Their lives are in our hands.

–By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

BY THE NUMBERS

The Aiken County Animal Shelter has taken in 400 strays and surrendered pets so far this month.

PETS OF THE WEEK

LADY
Bulldog mix, female, 4 years old, tan & white, 75 pounds – $35

ECHO
Domestic Shorthair, female, 3 months old, tan & black Tabby, 2 pounds – $10