However, nearly every day the shelter takes in stray pets that have been through hell. You can see the pain in their eyes. Some are injured as a result of being strays and confronting the dangers of the streets; some are fighting for their life because they’ve had no vet care or vaccinations. Then there are the little ones who are struggling because their mothers were hit by a vehicle while seeking food for them. But the worst cases are the pets who have been neglected or abused by their owners. Imagine being one of these poor pets thinking they’ve found their forever homes only to discover that the people they trusted most betrayed them in the worst possible way.

The consequences of irresponsible pet owners
Too many pets are still not fixed, and the shelter is experiencing a huge inflow of puppies and kittens this spring. While many are healthy, too many babies arrive sick and dying. We have three kittens losing eyes due to severe upper respiratory infections. One kitten, an orange and white, 2-month-old male named Marcel, is now a tripod kitty because a car shattered his front left leg and the limb couldn’t be saved. Heat stroke has claimed other little ones found lost and unprotected from the sun.

Dogs are also arriving at the shelter bloodied and broken. Blue-eyed Miles is a sweet one-year-old tan and white mixed breed who arrived here with a hole in his chest. He was shot with a .22 and the bullet entered his chest and exited his right side. Miraculously, the bullet didn’t hit any bones, arteries or organs. Miles recovered fully and was just adopted.

One-year-old, tan Retriever mix Kobe is a stray who was severely mauled by another dog while wandering loose. His front legs were torn up, and he has a long recovery ahead of him. Poor Tess, a cute one-year-old, black mixed breed with white paws, was found on the side of the road with her rear left leg in pieces. She is doing well now as an active tripod pup and should be ready for adoption soon. We also have Tinkerbell, a 7-month-old chestnut colored Retriever mix who arrived with a broken left hind leg. The cause of the injury is unknown, but our vet team is hoping a splint will help heal the clean break.

Nine-year-old, gray and white Boxer mix Phyllis arrived at the shelter alarmingly thin from being overbred. She looks like she recently had pups even though she’s a senior. Despite this abuse, she is one of the sweetest dogs you’ll ever meet.

We can do better, we must do better
Featuring these medical cases is not just to highlight these wonderful pets who need better homes. It is also to illustrate how we are seeing too many cases of injured and sick animals – some of them as a result of neglect and abuse. We have to do better, not just in our community, but around the nation.

You can help reduce the number of these cases by notifying us if you witness animal abuse or neglect. Call Aiken County Animal Code Enforcement, 803.502.900, extension 3704.

You can also help by adopting our shelter dogs and cats who need extra TLC. On June 21, we are holding a Summer Paw-ty adoption day. All adoption fees will be waived during this special Saturday event, even for puppies and kittens! Then from June 22 to 28, we will be participating in the Pick Me! SC adoption event. During this week-long statewide event, our adoption fees will be reduced.
Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

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

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

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

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

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

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

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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

For six months, this senior white cat was on her own, braving the elements and foraging for food. Luckily, a kind neighbor eventually noticed her wandering outside and fed the hungry feline. But the neighbor was allergic to cats and couldn’t keep her; so when the temperatures started dropping in mid-November, they brought Snowball to the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

When Snowball first arrived, she was scared and did not want any attention. She was clearly confused, upset and not ready to trust again. We put her in a cat condo located in the front lobby, where she remained quiet and glued to her bed. Staff and volunteers periodically visited her and pet her. She allowed people to stroke her fur briefly but then, in a moment of uncertainty, she gently swatted their hand away. It was heartbreaking to see her so sad and distressed.

We moved Snowball to our cat facility – a building that features two big rooms, where cats can run around, play and perch on tall cat trees. When temperatures are milder, the facility also allows the cats to relax in an enclosed, outdoor “catio”. The combination of Snowball enjoying more living space and receiving consistent human affection broke her out of her despair. She now loves it when people visit her and purrs happily when petted. She’s ready to find her forever home.

So, if you are looking for a wonderful kitty to keep you company, make an appointment to visit Snowball. Despite having so much love to give, senior cats like her are often the last to get adopted. However, they make great pets because they understand what it means to be rescued and are most thankful for a second chance at a good life. Senior cats also are already litter box trained and less likely to misbehave. They love to relax as much as you do and make great couch companions! Snowball is happiest when she is napping with you or perched by the window, watching what’s going on outside.

If you would like to adopt Snowball for only $10, please make an appointment to see her by calling the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 803.642.1537 and choose option #5. Or send a short email to info@FOTASAiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

Toby was just such a dog when a special “guardian angel” named Charlene found him. One February night, Charlene saw a dog with no collar walking in a parking lot by a busy road. Even though she was on her way to Church, she stopped to check on him. She returned later in the evening to take Toby home, but he was gone. Store workers told her the dog had been coming around since a man threw the little dog out of his car in their parking lot. For six weeks, Toby had been living on a few scraps the workers gave him and he was sleeping outside during the cold nights.

Charlene came back the next day and found Toby. When she put him in her car, he began shaking violently in fear. Charlene couldn’t keep Toby, but she tried to place him with friends. In the end, she took him to the Aiken County Animal Shelter. The FOTAS volunteers assured her he would be well cared for until a suitable owner could be found.

In the meantime, we were ready to adopt a dog into our family. We didn’t want a puppy, but we did need a smaller dog because of the size of our backyard. In early March, we met Toby shortly after he was brought to the shelter and we instantly fell in love. We proceeded with the adoption and posed for a picture to be placed on the FOTAS Facebook page. As luck would have it, a mutual friend saw the picture and told Charlene. We connected and she shared the sad story of how she found him. Her insight helped us to understand some of his anxiety issues.

Our first days with Toby were a learning curve. He didn’t know how to play with toys nor was he leash trained. His fear of other dogs and people left him shaking and very anxious.

A visit to Dr. Holly Woltz provided us with some tools to socialize Toby and help him live his best life. Today, Toby loves his daily walks. He nuzzles all of the dogs in the neighborhood and happily greets their owners. His favorite friend is Luna, a large black dog who is equally happy to see our little Puggle. As for toys, he loves to play fetch with his pink elephant!

The story of Toby culminates in much the same way as in the play when Annie sings with Daddy Warbucks, “I Don’t Need Anything but You”. Toby is in his forever home and brings us much joy. We even have his picture on this year’s Christmas card. He completes our family, and we are grateful to Charlene and our friends at FOTAS for bringing us together.

— By Lyddie Hansen, FOTAS Supporter

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!

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

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.

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.

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

“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.”

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.”

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