Category Archives: Bully Dogs

2023, adopter feedback, Adoption, Bully Dogs

Beau Roland

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Beau found his family
03
Nov

I saw Beau’s photo on Instagram, another pit bull in a sea of pitties looking for love. Looking back, I see there was nothing remarkable about his photo, but I felt a deep pull to rescue him. I’ve always been an adoption advocate yet had never had a Pitbull until moving to SC and seeing their numbers in the shelters. Truffles was my first adoptee (a stray momma dog) and it’s because of her that I have fallen especially hard in love with this “breed”. Let me first dismiss the deception. They are not fighters but lovers. (I call them aggressive snugglers) They are fiercely loyal and loving and big couch potatoes, often called, “house hippos”. Once you spend time with this type of dog, you’ll fall in love too.

Beau came into the Aiken County Animal Shelter as a stray, as many do. I surmise he escaped his previous dismal circumstances as he has scarring on his legs and his ears have been chopped. But the scars on his heart healed and his easy-going, chill personality was able to shine through. His favorite activities are daily walks, playing with his girlfriend, a yellow lab named Lucie, and being anywhere with me. All good dog owners love to show off their dogs, but as a pittie mom, I am also passionate about dispelling misconceptions about these dogs, so I bring Beau with me, where appropriate, so more people can meet my canine “good citizen”. With his handsome good looks and affectionate demeanor, Beau’s become my ambassador for pitbulls and he makes friends wherever we go.

Each dog that comes into our lives brings a different kind of love and joy. They are unique in their personalities and the lives they live with us. Having loved and lived with dogs my whole life, I still miss every single one that I have lost. Oh how I loved, Askim, a large shepherd mix who also came from a shelter and whose heart was so big and love so contagious that he became a therapy dog. Together we visited nursing homes, schools, hospitals, and libraries. We met many who wanted to stroke his soft fur and remember their own dogs of days gone by. How rewarding it was and how easily he adapted to his “job” and brought so much joy. Seeing how well suited to therapy work Beau would also be, I registered him with the ATD (Alliance of Therapy Dogs) program and made our “Aiken visitations” official! We can be seen at the usual therapy venues, including funeral homes. There Beau is the first official therapy dog on call for grieving families to benefit from the unconditional love and affection that only a dog can give.

Shelter dogs are a special “breed” and it is true that they know when they have been rescued. What they give back is hard to quantify. How do we measure love? For me it’s with 4 paws.

Written by Debbie Roland, FOTAS Supporter

2022, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Dogs, Pibbles

A Dog Named Jolene

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
19
Aug

She arrived at the County Animal Shelter terrified and hungry. Her beige coat was filthy, and fleas covered her body. But even as she was brought into the shelter’s vet clinic for examination and medical care, Jolene managed to briefly show everyone a heartwarming smile. Despite her difficult past, this pretty Pibble was full of love.

A little over four years old and only 40 pounds, Jolene paled in looks compared to some of the other, more colorful shepherds, retrievers and terrier mixes at the shelter. But her sweet eyes and gregarious personality made her a gem waiting to be discovered. 

Enter Hayden Craft from Grovetown, GA. He visited Jolene at the shelter and both their lives changed forever.

“It all started when I moved to Georgia,” he explained. “I had gotten my own place, but something was missing. It always seemed empty. My brother had adopted a dog from the Aiken County Shelter, and it got me looking on the FOTAS website for a dog of my own, and I immediately became interested in Jolene.

“I took my lunch break and went up to the shelter to see her and it was love at first sight for both of us. The sweetest dog you could have ever asked for. They told me she had a heart murmur, but I couldn’t let that stop me. She deserved the best rest of her life, a forever home, with me.”

Since adopting Jolene, Hayden has seen her bloom into an amazing pet.

“She loves all other animals,” he said. “But there’s nothing she loves more than rubbing her back all over the ground and playing with stuffed toys at the same time. And for such a small dog, she takes up more of the bed than I do. I couldn’t train her to sleep on the floor If I tried!

“I thank FOTAS and Aiken County Animal Shelter every day for giving this girl a chance and giving me a chance to love her. Jolene is my first dog as an adult, and she’s so good, she makes me want another one.”

If you are ready to find your own furry BFF, please come to the County Shelter, 333 Wire Road in Aiken. There are so many more dogs and cats in need who need loving homes. To see all of our adoptable pets, check out our website: fotasaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2022, animal care education, Bully Dogs, County Animal Control, County animal laws, County tethering ordinance, Dogs, FOTAS, News

County Animal Shelter is a resource, not just a destination

Posted on by Bob Gordon
24
Jan

Most people only think of the Aiken County Animal Shelter as a place to bring lost or unwanted pets for rehoming. But it is much more than that. Through its partnership with FOTAS, the shelter provides community outreach programs that help people and their pets, and works to prevent dogs and cats from ever having to be surrendered and put in its kennels.

The shelter’s first drive-thru food drive event helped community members in need feed their pets

In fact, we just hosted our first pet food assistance drive-thru event last Saturday. Local residents in need of food for their dogs and cats were invited to drive up to the shelter, where FOTAS volunteers placed bags and cans of pet food in the trunks of their cars. This event helped folks in financial need feed their pets and avoid surrendering them to the shelter during tough economic times. More such events are planned for the future. Thankfully, many generous people donate pet food to the shelter specifically for folks in financial need.

Another program FOTAS and the County Shelter provide to the community is Fido Off-the-Chain, which provides humane runners and tethering for people who don’t have fenced-in yards. When County Animal Code Enforcement officers visit homes where dogs are chained or tethered with limited mobility, they often provide runners that keep the dogs contained in the yard but allow them to run and play while ensuring their tether doesn’t get wrapped around a tree, post or other object.

“We’re not just working in the community,” said County Animal Code Enforcement Officer Rod Burks. “It’s our community, too. We love the animals, so it’s important for us to provide solutions and educate people about local regulations and responsible pet ownership.” FOTAS purchases these runners, and more are needed all the time.

FOTAS’s Home to Home program is another resource that helps county residents keep their pets out of the shelter’s kennels. It is provided for people to use free of charge – a marketing tool designed for pet owners who need to rehome their pet but do not want their dog or cat to endure the stress of being surrendered to the shelter. With Home to Home, residents can promote their pets on the FOTAS website and Facebook page and communicate with prospective adopters to find new homes for their animals safely and conveniently.

Rod Burks hugs shelter dog his crew rescued.

Programs like these, and others, help our community members and their pets in need. They also keep pets out of the shelter, where a surrendered dog or cat can sometimes endure emotional stress or even shut down. We will continue to develop community outreach programs that further establish the County Shelter as a helpful resource rather than just a destination for unwanted pets.

The shelter is currently full. We have wonderful pets who desperately need loving homes. So, please visit the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 333 Wire Road, and visit our homeless dogs and cats. To see all the pets available, go to FOTASAiken.org. Dogs are $35 and cats and kittens are only $10.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2021, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Dogs, Pibbles, SELECTING A PET

Consider adopting the dog who’s been at the shelter the longest

Posted on by Bob Gordon
03
Jan

A funny thing happened with two of the dogs we adopted from the Aiken County Animal Shelter that made us think that we are on to something. We like to have three dogs in our household and when one of them dies, we honor their memory by adopting a new dog as their replacement.

Brownie when he lived in the shelter.

We lost Yoda about two years ago and Buster just a few months ago. We decided to replace each of them with the dog that had been at the shelter the longest, a dog that apparently no one wanted.
So, we took a chance with Meadow a couple of years ago and adopted Blaze, who we renamed Brownie, about a month ago. These two dogs that, for whatever reason, nobody wanted are the sweetest, most loyal, most lovable, most obedient, and simply the nicest dogs we have ever owned. It’s as if they knew that we saved them when no one else would.

We had concerns when these two were adopted. How would they get along with the other two? There were male/female issues. Why weren’t they adopted?

We were confident we could make it work despite those issues.

We knew that our home, and any adopter’s home, is not the shelter filled with lots of animals stressing out in kennels, making lots of noise. A dog’s behavior at a shelter does not necessarily represent who that dog really is. Our home, your home, is the dog’s castle. The dog feels more secure and comfortable in its own real home.

Our dogs run free on our enclosed property, no leashes; but when we first bring a new dog home, we train it on a leash. We introduce them to the other dogs whose first reactions are to protect their territory. But they eventually accept them when they realize the new dog is staying for good. They share and enjoy the company of a new playmate as long as they still get lots of attention.

At first, we familiarized Brownie, as we did Meadow, with every part of our home and walked him continuously outside so he learned his boundaries. We let him off leash in a fenced-in area. We continuously taught him recall, that is training him to come when we call his name. We constantly praised his good behavior. Finally, we let him off leash out in the open and watched his behavior. He would pass that test when he comes when called and basically just runs around with the other two dogs. It took about a week of constant attention and training but now he is part of the family.

Brownie finds his spot on the Miller bed.

It did not happen by magic. We took charge, invested some time and effort to get these new dogs acclimated to us and our surroundings. But we are convinced that they immediately went out of their way to be good because they were so grateful for us finally rescuing them from the shelter and giving them a forever home. All they want to do is please their owner.

Adopt any dog from the shelter but consider adopting the one that has been there the longest. You’ll be amazed at the results.

Their lives are in your hands.

— By Peter Miller, FOTAS Volunteer

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, Adoption, Bully Dogs, County Animal Control, Dogs, FOTAS, injured animals, News, surgeries

Shelter Dog Spirit Overcomes Adversity, Hopes for a Forever Home

Posted on by Bob Gordon
05
May

The 27-pound mixed breed female that hobbled out of the roadside woods to greet Patrick Miller, Animal Control Officer, was bringing a lesson to share.

Patrick suspected a hit and run with the number of cuts in her body and the skew of her bloodied jaw. Her ribs were defined under white and brown fur with the last good meal long forgotten. The left eye also seemed cloudy. It would take a vet to confirm and repair her broken hip, but Patrick knew she was in pain even without an aggressive reaction to his touch. She was one more of the many good dogs that tugged him back to work, day after day, patrolling Aiken County for the lost, abused, and injured. Each case saddened him but rewarded him as well with the chance to help and be part of a success story. And that’s what this is.

Spirit went through surgery to recover from her hit & run injuries.

Dr. Mike Wells, a veterinarian helping the Aiken County Animal Shelter and Dr. Lisa Levy, DVM for the shelter, surgically reset the broken hip and sutured the cuts. The empty sockets of teeth that had been knocked out would heal with the support of antibiotics. Dr. Levy says, “She is one of the most physically challenged dogs we have seen but her spirit has never wavered. The jaw muscles have atrophied and she can only open her mouth enough to eat canned food.”

Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator, adds, “She is all love and never stopped fighting. We call her Spirit. Dogs like Spirit are the reason FOTAS is so committed to the shelter.”

When Kathy introduced me to Spirit, I knelt on one knee with my camera bag at my side. Spirit without hesitation sat on the bag of this stranger, and leaned into my leg, turning her head to look up at me, nuzzling into my hand. On the exhale of a deep breath, I murmured, “Good dog. What a sweetheart. An inspiration.”

Perhaps that is the lesson Spirit came to the shelter to share… to live for today with joy unburdened by pains and sorrows of yesterdays.

Dr. Levy estimates Spirit is 2 years old. Kathy says Spirit walks well on a leash, appears to be housetrained, but like most trauma dogs, needs personal care and time to adjust.

“Her tongue slips out occasionally through the missing teeth, but no harm, she’ll pull it back or give you kiss,” Kathy said. “Spirit will be as loyal as a pet can be to the lucky people who adopt her.”

If you want to take a short walk with Spirit or quiet get-acquainted time to consider her lesson, call now to schedule a visit: 803-979-2634. If you’re not ready to adopt, visit the County Shelter anyway to feel good, donate, and volunteer.

Their lives are in our hands.

Editor’s Note: Spirit was adopted by a wonderful Aiken family shortly after this column was published by the Aiken Standard.

— by Vince Verrecchio, FOTAS Volunteer

2021, abandoned animals, Bully Dogs, Dogs, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, kennel stress, News

More Fosters Needed as County Animal Shelter Fills Up

Posted on by Bob Gordon
22
Mar

The need for foster homes is great. The Aiken County Animal Shelter is filling up as it does every spring. This causes us to run short on room but also increases the stress level in the kennels.

I have been fostering dogs and puppies for six years and absolutely love it! My dogs are more socialized because they have met and played with so many others. My son is more compassionate because he has met some of the greatest dogs that others abandoned.

I love how the Wagner family says it: “You get a new dog every week!! Free! How could you beat that?”

Breanne Maraman has been fostering dogs with us for years now and shared her view on our foster program:

Marlow plays with other pets in his foster home.

“I love being able to foster dogs through the FOTAS program. Getting them out of the shelter, if even for just a few days, is such an asset to their adoption journey. Once in a more relaxed environment out of the shelter you really get to see each dog’s personality blossom. This really helps us prepare their potential adoption family to what they’ll be like once in a new home.

“The FOTAS program is great because there are so many fostering options. You can choose short- or long-term placements based on your availability, work schedule, prior commitments, etc. There is never any pressure for me to take a foster if it’s not the right time for me personally. The staff also knows each of their foster families personally, what their homes are like, and what dogs will work best for them. It’s such a well-tailored and executed program that’s able to help countless animals find their forever homes.”

Not all of us foster dogs the same way. Some of our foster families have farms and use open stalls to house dogs as well as mother dogs and puppies. Their foster pups sleep in a stall and get regular walks/exercise throughout the day. The dogs are so grateful to be out of a kennel and in a safe place.

There is no expense to you. FOTAS will send food, toys and a crate, if needed. Anything you need we will provide. We just ask that you pick up a great dog, give them a safe place and some kindness. You will not regret it.

Marlow was fostered by Breanne Maraman.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2021, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Chained dogs, Dogs, FOTAS, News, Pibbles, SOCIAL MEDIA

Hilde: One Special Shelter Dog Who Finally Found Her Dream Home

Posted on by Bob Gordon
26
Jan

In the seven years since the new Aiken County Animal Shelter opened, thousands and thousands of dogs have passed through its doors. Dogs of every shape, size, age, condition, breed, and mix of breeds—we’ve seen them all. So, it’s unusual for a particular dog to be indelibly imprinted into my mind (other than my own beloved rescues), but there is one—a beautiful blonde, golden-eyed, pit bull mix named Hilde, who first came to the shelter in 2016.

Hilde and her big, goofy smile.

Hilde was a volunteer and staff favorite, a 55-pound, people-lover with a big, goofy smile. Yet, by the end of January 2017, she held the unfortunate distinction of being the longest canine resident at the shelter. It was a mystery why someone hadn’t scooped up this bundle of love, but day after day, potential adopters walked past her kennel without a second look. After a while, the inevitable stress of shelter life took its toll on Hilde; the light began to fade from her eyes.

FOTAS leaped into action. We initiated Doggie Day Out for Hilde (a program still in effect today), packed her in a car, took her downtown, and paraded her through stores and coffee shops. We wrote about her and marketed her on social media. She spent weekend Doggie Overnights with Kelly, one of our volunteers.

Hilde being loved on by one of her little peeps.

Finally, our efforts paid off. A young family came to the shelter specifically to meet her, fell in love, and adopted her. For months, the family sent us photos of Hilde and the kids, snuggled up on the couch, stretched out on the bed. We were thrilled and relieved. Hilde had a home.

Imagine our horror when, a year later, the Lexington County Animal Shelter notified the shelter (thanks to her microchip) that Hilde had been picked up as a stray—weak, starving, flea-bitten, and terrified. One of the staff immediately hopped in the van to pick her up. When she saw her old friends at the shelter, her tail thumped with joy. We cried—shocked by her condition and profoundly touched by her recognition.

What happened? We never found out. Her “dream” family was not responsive to our calls. Time to start over. First order of business: get Hilde healthy. Second, find her a forever home—this time for real.

It took some time, but Hilde’s a survivor. She got lots of medical attention, exercise, and affection, plus weekends off with her pal, Kelly. When she was ready, we wrote another article about her. Enter Kathy and Greg Bowman. It was a match meant to be.

Hilde shares her toys with her human sister.

But Kathy’s daughter? Not so much. She was worried. A pit bull mix? Would her kids—Kathy’s grandkids—be safe? It didn’t take long to convince her of Hilde’s inherent gentleness and her love for people, particularly children. She witnessed it firsthand: her kids loving on an ecstatic Hilde, snuggled up together on the bed, napping happily away, romping through the yard.

Finally, after all these years and misadventures, Hilde has found her forever home. She deserves it. She even has her own Instagram page: Hilde the Rescue Dog. Check it out!

Godspeed, Hilde. Godspeed.

Their lives are in our hands.

–By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Hilde fast asleep on Christmas day 2019
2021, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Dogs, FOTAS, neglected pets, News, Pibbles, Volunteer, Volunteers

Local News Anchor Joins FOTAS, Adopts and Promotes Shelter Dogs

Posted on by Bob Gordon
25
Jan

WRDW TV News Anchor and Investigative Reporter Meredith Anderson and her daughter, Ella, have joined FOTAS, and we could not be more pleased to have them on our team. They visit and help socialize the homeless pets at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) and both take photos of dogs that Meredith then posts on her popular social media channels.

The Anderson’s Three Musketeers nap on their masters’ bed: Eliza, Mulligan & Hamilton

“With COVID restrictions, social media is their best chance,” Anderson said. “It’s good for my heart because it makes me feel like I am making a real difference. Social media is a powerful thing, and I am thrilled my daughter gets to see it being used for good.”

Added Ella, “I absolutely love volunteering for FOTAS. The best part about it is getting to meet so many adorable, sweet and playful dogs and cats.”

In less than two years, the Andersons went from having no dogs at all to adopting three dogs with special needs from their past abandonment and abuse. The family’s love for shelter dogs began in February 2019, when they saw a big, black pit bull mix named Hank on the FOTAS Facebook page. When Hank was surrendered to the shelter, he shook in fear and had tears in his eyes. The Andersons saw his photo, read his story and couldn’t stop thinking about him. They took Hank home, committed to helping the troubled dog start a new, better life. They hired a trainer and Hank, renamed Hamilton, slowly learned he was loved and became less anxious.

Meredith Anderson takes her adopted dogs to the vet for their check-ups

This year, two more rescue dogs joined Hamilton: Eliza, a huge, gray pit bull, and young Mulligan, a black and white mixed breed that Ella fell in love with while volunteering at the shelter. Eliza is a dog that was shot but refused to leave the spot where someone drowned her puppies. Mulligan, a dog who faced abuse in her past, became a family member in November of 2020.

“It’s been a process for sure,” Meredith posted on her Facebook page shortly after adopting Mulligan. “It took a lot of love, patience and work, but I truly believe this was meant to be.”

Adopting Mulligan has made Eliza happy. While she loves Hamilton, he doesn’t like to play as much as she does, and Mulligan fills that role nicely.

“Mulligan is a runner, so she and Eliza spend the entire day running and playing,” Meredith explained. “It has given Hamilton some peace and quiet. He’s happy to walk away and watch the girls when he’s had enough. We never imagined how this dynamic would benefit all of them so much. “

Ella hugs Mulligan, a dog she bonded with while volunteering at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

Becoming a FOTAS volunteer is a great way to spend time with animals, and who knows? You might fall in love and add a pet in need to your home, like the Andersons did. Please go to FOTASAiken.org to learn more about volunteering and download an application.

“What I say to people who are planning to volunteer or adopt is, ‘Thank You, that’s very kind of you to think about these poor animals,’” Ella said. “’Never lose that sense of kindness.’”

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

Bosom buddies Mulligan (left) and Eliza.


2020, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Dogs, News, Pibbles

Christmas Miracle: Fate Brings Family and Dogs Together

Posted on by Bob Gordon
28
Dec

Sometimes things happen that cannot be explained. My wife, Jennifer, and I recently experienced such an event.

About 15 months ago we adopted Meadow, a white Pitbull mix, from the Aiken County Animal Shelter. We had just lost our favorite dog and wanted to honor him by adopting a dog from the shelter that nobody wanted. Meadow was about 5 years old and overbred. Everyone passed her kennel at the shelter without even looking at her.

We were concerned how our two male dogs would respond to a new female dog entering their lives. We also have horses and didn’t know how Meadow would react to them.

Meadow (left) and Chloe are best buddies.

The dogs accepted her, and she soon became the boss. On her first day, we brought our horse, Bruno, into the barn and introduced him to Meadow. We held our collective breaths when, suddenly, Bruno began to groom Meadow like horses groom each other. We had never seen a horse groom a dog! The grooming sessions became a daily ritual. Since then, Meadow and Bruno have been featured in the paper, our local Channel 12, and the story went viral on Facebook.

Meadow is a star; maybe the best dog we’ve ever owned.

The story doesn’t end there. Sadly, one of our male dogs passed away from cancer this past summer, and Jennifer was determined to adopt another dog in his honor.

This is where the plot thickens. In late November, we adopted two-year old Chloe from the shelter who, like Meadow, is a slightly smaller, overbred, white Pitbull mix. Like Meadow, she has the same soft coat and black spots subtly spread over her body. But, unlike Meadow, Chloe has a stunning black circle around one of her eyes. Except for that black spot, it’s hard to tell them apart.

Meadow and Chloe have become best buddies. They play together, cuddle, constantly kiss each other, and are inseparable. Like Meadow, Chloe immediately commandeered a spot on the most comfortable chairs and couches. Like Meadow, Chloe refused her crate and insists on sleeping on our bed.

Like Meadow, Chloe insists on sleeping on the bed.

They have many of the same habits, traits, and characteristics. We have begun to think maybe it’s more than a coincidence.

Think about it! Meadow was overbred; we know she had several litters of puppies, but we don’t know what happened to any of them. Could it be? Was it fate or some higher power that had us adopt Meadow 15 months ago? Was it fate or some higher power that brought Chloe and Meadow together this past November?

Who’s to say? So, we have made our own happy determination: Chloe is Meadow’s daughter.

That’s our Christmas story and we’re sticking to it! How lucky are we to have three, loving, goofy, happy, affectionate Pitbull mixes to make our home a joyful place? Maybe it’s time for your family to adopt the first, the second, or even a third dog and share that Christmas joy. You won’t be sorry.

FOTAS wishes you and your family a Happy Holiday Season. This year the shelter, once again, saved more than 4,000 animals, thanks to our community’s support. Thank you and God bless.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Peter Miller, FOTAS Volunteer