Category Archives: Cats

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Heartworms

One Less Leg, Just as Much Love

Posted on by Angel Hartline
04
Aug

Dr. Lisa Levy, ACAS Veterinarian

Three years ago, a small, scared, black dog came into the shelter. Her right rear leg was missing below the knee, leaving the end of the broken bone exposed. She also had a deep scar around her neck from a past embedded collar. Normally she would have been euthanized, but something about her touched me. This dog never had a chance to be loved. I decided to surgically amputate the leg for proper healing, and then adopted her myself. I named her Trinity and she is the happiest little dog I have ever owned. She makes me smile every day.
So I obviously have a heart for three-legged dogs, but this month has been exceptionally trying. In the three years I have been the shelter veterinarian, I have amputated nine legs prior to this month, including one from a dog that was adopted by one of our veterinary technicians. But in just this month, I have had five dogs that needed amputation for various reasons.
First was Jerry Lee, a Coonhound who suffered a gunshot wound that shattered his front leg below the shoulder. He healed beautifully and was quickly adopted. Next was Rouge, a Terrier mix. Her front leg was broken in several places and she had sustained some nerve damage. She did well with her surgery, but unfortunately she also has mange. She is being treated for that but it has delayed her adoption for a few weeks.
Tallulah came in with a broken rear leg that resulted in a severe infection in her hock joint. The joint had swollen to grapefruit size. Despite antibiotic treatment, her condition did not improve and her leg had to be amputated. Tallulah was adopted within hours of being placed on the adoption floor.
Chance is a 10-month-old Pit Bull mix. His rear leg was broken just above the knee. X-rays showed the fracture to be several weeks old and it was never properly set. This resulted in what is called a “non-union”. The bone tried to heal but the ends were not close enough to allow them to bridge properly. After his mandatory 5-day hold, his leg will be amputated as he is unable to stand on it.
Finally, upon arrival at the shelter Monday morning I discovered a dog that came in over the weekend looking much like my Trinity. She is a very happy Pit Bull mix but her leg was severed below the knee and the bone was protruding. She was probably hit by a car, or maybe she was caught in a trap. By the time you read this, her leg will be amputated, too. She will be available for adoption after her recovery.
Just a few years ago, all these dogs would have been euthanized. However, since FOTAS has purchased a gas anesthesia machine, we are now able to do longer surgeries safely and can save these dogs (and cats, too). Each of these surgeries can take up to 90 minutes in addition to our normal daily surgery schedule. But with the abuse or neglect these animals have suffered, it only seems fair and right to give them a chance to find a loving home. Just like my Trinity.

Dr. Lisa Levy at home with her three-legged family member, Trinity.
Dr. Lisa Levy at home with her three-legged family member, Trinity.
Tallulah is adopted by Deborah Winall of Trenton. The brindle Hound’s back left leg had to be amputated following a severe infection that threatened her life.
Tallulah is adopted by Deborah Winall of Trenton. The brindle Hound’s back left leg had to be amputated following a severe infection that threatened her life.

 

BY THE NUMBERS

In August, cats and kittens are just $10, dogs and puppies are half-price ($35).

PETS OF THE WEEK

Tallulah is adopted by Deborah Winall of Trenton. The brindle Hound’s back left leg had to be amputated following a severe infection that threatened her life.
LULU: Terrier mix, female, 5 years old, brown, 32 pounds – $35
Domestic Shorthair cat, female, 3 months old, muted Tortoise Shell, 1.8 pounds - $10
Domestic Shorthair cat, female, 3 months old, muted Tortoise Shell, 1.8 pounds – $10
Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Foster, FOTAS

Poppy the Poodle helps prepare foster kittens for adoption

Posted on by Angel Hartline
14
Jul

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

When FOTAS Volunteer Muf Fuller fosters kittens from the Aiken County Animal Shelter, she has a partner that assists her with this important task.
“We’re a team,” Muf said. “She’s very proud of the work she does with the kittens and I’m delighted that she takes it on as a job. She knows we’re preparing them for their next phase – finding and going to their forever homes.”

The partner Muf is referring to is Poppy, her two-year-old, black and tan, Standard Poodle. Although Poppy has never had puppies of her own, she’s a natural caregiver and enjoys tending to the tiny felines that temporarily stay at her Aiken home. Not only does Poppy play with the kittens and get them to exercise, she also bathes them with her long tongue. If the foster kittens are younger than four weeks old, she even licks and stimulates their bums to help them go to the bathroom.

“Poppy’s very adaptable and smart,” Muf said. “I’m so grateful to have her. She fills a void in my life after losing my husband – and for that matter, so do the kittens.”

Poppy has fun playing with the kittens, laying on her stomach so she’s almost eye level with them and entertaining them by pretending to chase them. Once the large poodle has had enough, she just stands up and the kittens happily jump off her.

Poppy the Poodle mothers and plays with her latest foster kitten, Toby.
Poppy the Poodle mothers and plays with her latest foster kitten, Toby.

Muf and Poppy have been FOTAS fosters for about a year now and have had many young felines stay with them. But their latest project is Toby, a 10-week-old kitten that is dealing with some muscular weakness and motor skill issues. He needs extra attention and exercise to strengthen his joints, and temporarily getting out of the Shelter is his best chance to gain dexterity and more belief in his abilities.

poppy and kittens in her care
Foster kitten Toby needs exercise to strengthen his muscles and joints as he grows, and Poppy the Poodle is making sure he runs around and plays to build his confidence.

 

 

“He’s doing better and keeping us busy,” Muf says of their latest kitty tenant. “That’s what’s rewarding and fun about fostering. Helping these animals to be better prepared through interaction with me and with Poppy – and teaching them good behavior – so when they are adopted, they’ll be wonderful pets in their forever homes.”

If you are interested in becoming a FOTAS foster parent, please send an email to info@angelhartlinedesigns.com or call 803.514.4313. The Shelter currently has puppies that need foster care – most of these are individual puppies that were picked up or brought in as strays. Rather than sit in a scary kennel by themselves, these little ones need extra TLC and human attention to ensure they are socialized and grow into good pets.

 

Their lives are in our hands.

 

  BY THE NUMBERS

Dogs and puppies are half-price ($35), cats and kittens just $10 through July 31.

PETS OF THE WEEK

 

ZEPPELIN: Domestic Shorthair cat, male, 2 years old, gray, 8.7 pounds - $10
ZEPPELIN: Domestic Shorthair cat, male, 2 years old, gray, 8.7 pounds – $10
MORRIS: Retriever mix, male, 2 years old, white and black, 47 pounds – $35
MORRIS: Retriever mix, male, 2 years old, white and black, 47 pounds – $35
Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Volunteer

Surgically saved shelter cats bring joy to their new families

Posted on by Angel Hartline
22
Jun

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

In last week’s column, Dr. Lisa Levy, the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s veterinarian, wrote about saving three cats that were brought in with chronic conditions. But after these special felines were saved through challenging surgeries, what happened to them? Here is how three cats – Rose, Stump and Aimee – beat the odds and found loving forever homes. These extraordinary animals are not only recovering from their dark, painful pasts, but are making a positive difference in their adopters’ lives.

Rose, who had to have emergency surgery to remove her infected uterus, is lucky to be alive. But now fully recovered, she is thriving in her new home with Annabel Bradham. The 3-year-old, long-haired, gray cat was shy and a bit skittish at first due to the trauma she’s been through, but is blooming into an outgoing, confident feline.

“Rose is doing wonderfully,” said Annabel. “I have absolutely fallen in love with her and she’s made herself at home…usually you can find her sleeping on the couch. She’s the perfect cat for me.”

Rose is currently staying with Annabel, her mom and two sisters, in their North Augusta home. But she will be Annabel’s roommate when she goes back to school at the College of Charleston.

Annabel Bradham adopted Rose – “She’s the perfect cat for me.”
Annabel Bradham adopted Rose – “She’s the perfect cat for me.”

Stump, the cat brought to the Shelter with his tail torn off, is also doing very well. Kristen Walker, who found the 7-month-old kitty badly injured and with a belt wrapped around his neck, ended up adopting him! Kristen said she’s not the kind of person that usually gets all warm and gooey inside when she sees a stray animal. But something about Stump (who she renamed Panda) touched her. Maybe it was the abuse he had suffered or the way he looked at her. But she knew her life had changed the instant she pulled the bleeding, maggot infested cat out of the bushes.

“I’ve never had an animal click with me like that,” Kristen said. “From the moment I picked him up and held him, I felt he should be part of our family.”

Panda is now a very happy cat and Kristen and her husband, Chris, are thrilled to have him in their Graniteville home. The big-eyed, white and black feline sleeps in their son’s bed and is best friends with the family dog, Kenway.

Aimee, the 1-year-old cat who arrived at the Shelter with her left, rear leg so deformed and mangled it had to be amputated, is now living the good life in her new Augusta home. Brad and Dana Harris adopted the special needs feline after seeing her photo and story posted on Facebook. They renamed the three-legged cat “Ilean” and she has already bonded with the Harris family’s other pets – Gilligan, a 26-pound Lynx hybrid cat; Skipper, a Siamese cat; and Bella, a German Shepherd/Boxer mix.

Brad Harris adopted Ilean, a three-legged cat who’s had a difficult past.
Brad Harris adopted Ilean, a three-legged cat who’s had a difficult past.

Ilean has also become fast friends with the children in the family – especially the Harris’s 8-year-old grandson.

“She’s been good for him and the first animal he’s really gotten close to,” Brad said. “And I’ve noticed he’s more interested in the other animals as well. Maybe it’s because he can tell she’s had a hard life and needs extra love.”

Their lives are in our hands.

 

PETS OF THE WEEK

 

FOXY Mountain Feist mix, female, 1-1/2 years old, brown -- 49 lbs $35.00
FOXY
Mountain Feist mix,
female, 1-1/2 years old,
brown — 49 lbs
$35.00
TAZ Domestic short hair cat Male -- 1 year old Orange & white tabby 6.7 lbs $10.00
TAZ
Domestic short hair cat
Male — 1 year old
Orange & white tabby — 6.7 lbs
$10.00

By the Numbers
From June 1-21, 2017,   360 dogs and cats were received by the County Shelter.

All cats are just $10 in June — Dogs are $35.00.

 

Adoption, Cats, FOTAS, Volunteer

Injured and abused cats get second chance after successful surgeries

Posted on by Angel Hartline
16
Jun

by Dr. Lisa Levy, ACAS Veterinarian

This month, we’ve already taken in more than 300 strays and surrendered animals at the County Animal Shelter. Last month, we took in more than 500. When you receive this many animals, some are certain to be injured or abused, and May was a rough month for kitties. We had several special needs cats come through our doors.

First was Rose. Rose came in just as I was leaving for the day. She was listless, weak and her back end was covered in pus. On examination, it was determined that she had a severe uterine infection, also known as pyometra. These animals get very sick as the uterus fills with pus and causes them to become toxic. The only treatment is surgery to remove the uterus. But obviously there is great risk to doing surgery on a patient that is so ill.

After I graduated from veterinary school, my first boss had a saying that has stuck with me. He said, “Never let the sun set on a pyometra.” What he meant is that surgery needs to be done immediately because they will be sicker in the morning. So, I put my scrubs back on and immediately did the surgery. She made it through anesthesia and we gave her fluid therapy and antibiotics, although I had little hope that she would make it through the night. But when we came in the next morning, she was sitting up in her cage! She got stronger each day and showed us a gentle, loving personality that wasn’t evident when she was so sick.

Stump is a kitty who was brought in by a couple who found him tied to a tree. His tail was gone (either cut off by someone or possibly ripped off by a dog) and he had exposed bone sticking out of a mound of raw, infected tissue about two inches in diameter. My first thought was, “I can’t fix this.” But amazingly, once the bad tissue and bone was trimmed away, there was enough skin left to close the wound. Now the big question was would there be nerve damage that might interfere with his ability to urinate and defecate? The next morning, there was no urine in his litter box and he was straining and not able to defecate. We put him on kitty laxatives and within two days he was going on his own.

Aimee came into the shelter with a rear leg that was severely deformed. It had been broken at some point and healed without being set properly. She was unable to bend at the knee and the lower part of the leg pointed in the wrong direction. Unfortunately, there was no way to fix the leg, so we amputated it. Aimee adjusted beautifully since she really couldn’t use the leg before the surgery, and is doing terrific!

It was a trying month but all three cats were adopted and are doing extremely well. Great outcomes like these are why we – the entire shelter staff and volunteers – do what we do.

Next Week: How these special needs cats are making a difference in their adopters’ lives.Caption: Stump arrived at the Shelter with his tail cut or ripped off, but he is doing great following surgery.

Pets of the Week

POTW JUNE 18 CHIANNAH
CHIANNAH: Retriever/Terrier mix, female, 2 years old, brown and white, 48 pounds – $35.00
TEASPOON POTW JUNE 18
TEASPOON: Domestic shorthair cat, male, 9 months old, black/gray Tabby, 7.5 pounds – $10.00

      

BY THE NUMBERS

May 1- 31:  580 dogs and cats were received by the County Shelter.

June Adoption Special:  Cats $10.00 and Dogs $35.00

Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Volunteer

Touched by an angel at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

It is May 24th as I write this article, only three weeks into the month of May, and a heart-breaking, record number of animals—480 to be exact—have been consigned to the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

You read that correctly; your eyes are not playing tricks on you—480 dogs, cats, puppies and kittens in the first three weeks of May.

Do the math; I did. Every single day the Shelter was open this month (21 operating days), 22-23 animals were consigned to the Shelter. That’s hard to fathom—there is no way to find local homes for or transfer out that many animals on top of the ones that are already there. Supply far exceeds demand. It’s like sweeping back the ocean with a broom.

A shelter is a stressful place for an animal under any circumstances, but the stress level in a crowded shelter is even worse for these unfortunate animals who are there through no fault of their own. They need lots of help to manage their stress levels until we can find them a home.

That’s why volunteers like the indomitable Nanci Santos are so important.

Nanci has been a FOTAS volunteer for a long time. She has never wavered in her commitment. You can find her at the Shelter every day, seven days a week, without fail. Even a serious health condition some years back did not deter Nanci—unable to walk dogs, she organized and conducted orientations for new volunteers until she had the physical strength to pick up the leash again.

Today, she touches every dog, literally. After the morning walks, Nanci folds and arranges blankets in all the kennel beds so the dogs will be comfortable. She cleans up any messes.

She gives every dog an appropriate toy, making certain that, say, a determined chewer is given an indestructible rope toy and a dainty licker gets a nice squeak toy. That’s how good she is—she figures it out for every one of them.

Nanci’s compassion and intuition have made her invaluable in working with shy, anxious and fearful dogs whose contact with humans has been either non-existent or just plain bad.

“It’s not unusual for Nanci to sit for hours on the floor of a kennel working with a terrified dog, speaking softly, coaxing it to take a treat,” says Kathy Jacobs, the FOTAS Program Director. “Two days later, I’ll find her sitting on a bench in a quiet place, that very same dog curled up in her lap – it could be 15 pounds or 50 pounds—it doesn’t matter. In the end, every dog, no matter how scared, climbs into Nanci’s lap, so to speak. She transforms them.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote: “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” Thousands of canine lives have breathed easier because of Nanci Santos. Her success is immeasurable.

The Shelter needs your help all the time, but particularly in the summer months when intake skyrockets and folks go on vacation. Please volunteer, foster, or donate; call the FOTAS hotline (803-514-4313) or email info@angelhartlinedesigns.com and start making a difference today.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

Nanci Santos, FOTAS volunteer, with one of the dogs at the Aiken County Animal Shelter
Nanci Santos, FOTAS volunteer, with one of the dogs at the Aiken County Animal Shelter
Cats, Foster, FOTAS

Fostering kittens more rewarding than volunteer ever imagined

Posted on by Angel Hartline
17
May

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications
Debbie Snyder arrived at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) carrying cans of puppy formula. She’d read on the FOTAS Facebook page that the shelter was running low and needed donations. Being a dog lover and owner, she often did her part to drop off food, treats and other goodies for the canines waiting to be adopted.

But on this day, she would not leave empty-handed.

“When I got there, (FOTAS Programs Coordinator) Kathy Jacobs asked me if I’d ever fostered kittens,” Debbie said. “I told her I wasn’t really a cat person and I didn’t know much about them, but if it would save their lives, I’d give it a shot.”

The kittens in question had been found and brought to the shelter by a good Samaritan but their mother was nowhere in sight and they needed continuous bottle feeding and care. Debbie took the newborn foster kittens home and what started out as an act of kindness, gradually became a rewarding personal journey for the retired lawyer.

“From the moment I got home, I set up a warm spot for them and let my two yellow Labs smell them and they quickly got very comfortable with the kittens,” Debbie said. “Over the next seven weeks, the three little guys went from being completely helpless to very affectionate, and it’s been wonderful watching their personalities develop.”

In the beginning, taking care of the kittens was a bit challenging. They had to be bottle fed every few hours and needed help with elimination. Debbie would patiently massage their bottoms and tummies until they pooped and peed. But after about three weeks, they could eliminate on their own and at five weeks old, they started sleeping through the night and could be fed kitten food mixed with water in a bowl. It was about this time that Debbie named her three fosters: The fuzzy, black one became Edward and the two Tabbies were christened Ben and Keith.

Today, the three brothers are nearly two months old, healthy and happy, and running and playing in Debbie’s home. They love playing with her large Labs and are so comfortable around them, they’ll sometimes climb on top of them. In a typical fostering situation, the kittens would be ready to head back to the shelter for adoption. But Debbie became so smitten with the cuties, she adopted them herself. The ailing orphan kittens, who were fighting for survival, now have a forever home and an owner who is committed to giving them love and care throughout their lives.

“I’m so glad I decided to foster them,” she said. “If you have the time to do it and love animals, I think you should try it. FOTAS provides terrific guidance on what needs to be done and is always available if you need support or have any questions.”

Many kittens and puppies ,along with dogs and cats, are currently being received at the shelter, and FOTAS is in urgent need of foster homes. If you can help foster shelter animals at your home, or are interested in volunteering in other ways, please email info@angelhartlinedesigns.com.

Their lives are in our hands.

debbie snyder kittens

FOTAS Volunteer Debbie Snyder at home with her three foster kittens.
FOTAS Volunteer Debbie Snyder at home with her three foster kittens.
Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Foster, FOTAS, Volunteer

Katy finds home, becomes foster mama to other shelter dogs and kittens

Posted on by Angel Hartline
04
May

by Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President
“Heaven works on favor. If it worked on merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in”
Mark Twain

Why Katy had not been adopted was a puzzle to those of us who knew her. The pretty, 2-year-old, black and white short-haired Collie cross was a real lady—calm, self-possessed and dignified. She didn’t bark in her cage. She was sociable with people, children and other dogs. She was smart. She was house-broken; in fact, she waited patiently every morning until a volunteer came to take her for her walk, to rather than “do her business” in her kennel.

Katy was, in all respects, a darn-near perfect dog.

Yet somehow, by May of 2016, Katy held the unfortunate distinction of being the dog who had been on the adoption floor the longest. Those of us who loved her (FOTAS volunteers and Shelter staff) began to fret, not because she had been taking up precious space at the Shelter for too long, but because we could see that the stress of shelter life was taking its toll on her. You could see the sadness in her eyes, and who could blame her? No matter how polite and composed she was, potential adopters walked right by her, choosing silly, unruly cute dogs instead. It was discouraging.

When Katy became short-tempered and intolerant in the daily dog play-group, we shifted into FOTAS overdrive to get her out of the Shelter. Enter Chenoa Shields, an Augusta resident who fosters puppies and hard-to-place dogs in the greater CSRA. Chenoa had come to the Shelter to observe our newly enacted play-group program, and we took the opportunity to chat her up about our love of Katy and our concern for her well-being. Chenoa could see Katy’s many virtues, and even though she had witnessed Katy’s increasingly short temper in play-group, she agreed to take her as a private foster if Katy could get along with Chenoa’s two Pugs.

She could. Katy was the kind lady we knew she could be, treating the much smaller, affable, energetic little Pug Yasmeen with playful tenderness. Katy went home with Chenoa as a foster until we could find her a home.

She is still there today.

Why? Because everyone fell in love. Katy fell in love with Chenoa, Yasmeen, and even Chenoa’s dog-selective Pug, Layla – and they fell in love with her.

Moreover, Katy turns out to be the perfect mama dog for Chenoa’s fosters, and to date, Katy has fostered 22 puppies and underdogs and (are you ready for this?) four kittens.

Here’s the takeaway. When you find a dog you like at the Shelter, but you are not certain she is the right dog because she seems anxious, distant or timid, remember this: shelter life is stressful for even the calmest, most affectionate dogs. We’ve placed thousands over the years, and we can say with virtual certainty that a safe place, companionship and love turns every dog into a loyal friend and companion.

They just need someone, like you, to give them a chance.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

Katie & Yasmeen

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Foster, FOTAS, Volunteer

Volunteering: Fun, rewarding and a great way to get in shape

Posted on by Angel Hartline
26
Feb

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

It’s 5:30 p.m. and the County Animal Shelter has been closed for a half hour, but FOTAS Volunteer Karen Brady has some unfinished business. She is concerned about one of the dogs, Monica, who is having anxiety issues, so she’s taking her home to foster. As Karen opens the door of the 5-year-old, black beagle’s kennel, Monica bursts out and into Karen’s arms.
“She’s going to be a happy girl, tonight,” Karen says. “She’ll be able to run around with my dogs and sniff all the new smells. It will be a good change for her.”

Karen started volunteering at the shelter last spring and is often the last member of the FOTAS team to leave at the end of the day. She moved to Aiken from Montana about a year ago, when she retired from a successful career as an ecologist and soil scientist for the USDA. Karen grew up around animals in Denver and currently has three adopted dogs of her own.

Since joining FOTAS, Karen has gained a reputation as a model volunteer. She not only comes in to walk and socialize the dogs six days a week, but also fosters puppies at home (with the help of her daughter, Genny) and takes shelter dogs to off-site FOTAS adoption events. She is supportive to her fellow volunteers, great with animals and helpful to those who visit the shelter to adopt a pet.

“I do this work for the animals but I also love the social activity,” she said. “Everyone here is very nice and has it in their hearts to do good where they can. I think that’s why I keep coming here. We have a really good team and have a lot of fun.” Karen noted that sometimes volunteers have get-togethers on the weekend or meet for lunch after the shelter work is done.

Besides the social advantages, Karen listed other benefits of volunteering at the shelter:
Great exercise. Karen has lost 10 pounds since becoming a volunteer and a colleague of hers has lost 40 pounds from walking the dogs. “It’s cheaper and a lot more fun than joining a gym and walking on a treadmill,” Karen said.
Animal education. If you like dogs and/or cats, you get the chance to see a wide variety of breeds and learn how to treat and care for animals with different personalities. “You also get an education about how these animals find homes and how much is done for them while they’re here,” Karen said.
Rewarding adoptions. “It’s so exciting when your fosters get forever homes,” she said. “Sometimes you miss them a bit, but you’ve reached your goal. You’ve given them a second chance!”
The shelter always needs more people to foster and volunteer and the population of unwanted and stray animals increases in the spring. So, if you are interested in becoming a FOTAS volunteer, please email info@FotasAiken.org or call the FOTAS hotline, (803) 514-4313.
“Give it a try,” Karen said. “It’s a blast and never boring or routine. And when we have more people, the teamwork is better and we can give more quality time to the animals.”
Their lives are in our hands.

 

The photo above is of FOTAS Volunteer Karen Brady spending time with adoptable shelter dogs Iago (left) and Octavia in one of the facility’s play yards.

Adoption, Cats, FOTAS, Volunteer

The love of a cat

Posted on by Angel Hartline
20
Feb

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice-President

“What greater gift than the love of a cat.”
Charles Dickens

“Cats are smarter than dogs. You could never get eight cats to pull a sled through the snow.”
Jeff Valdez, television writer and producer

As much as I love my shelter dogs, Maggie and Jack (and I do love them a lot), 35 years ago I had a pet who was so special that, to this day, the thought of her makes me weep.

Poo Cat was a tuxedo cat of advanced years who appeared on my doorstep one bitterly cold December day in 1978 when I was cramming for exams. She quickly settled in and made herself at home, crouching on the table and playing with my pencils while I read, perching on the toilet each morning as I dried my hair, and curling up on the pillow next to me while I slept. Poo Cat was the best friend and companion I could have asked for in those trying times. She asked for little and gave so much.

I love cats, so if cats have gotten short shrift in this column over the past years, it’s only because all of those big and small goofy, funny, friendly, lovable dogs that pass through the Aiken County Animal Shelter take up so much time and energy. They really need our companionship. They crave our attention—all the time.

Cats, on the other hand—eh, not so much. They spend their days quietly surveying the world around them. They don’t ask for much – a little food, a little water, a warm place to sleep and a cuddle from time to time.

Which is why cats make ideal companions for people who work, people who live alone, and people who don’t have the time, space or facilities to care for a dog. They are self-sufficient. They don’t need to be walked three times a day. Give them a barn, and they’ll control the rodent population and live a happy, productive life. Playful and kind, they make great pets for children.

No wonder cats are the most popular pets in the world.

Until recently, hundreds of cats were received at the shelter. Of the adoptable domestic cats, very few are microchipped, and on average, less than 1% of the cats at the Shelter are claimed by their owners. Many of the cats received at the Shelter are feral and unadoptable. As a result, sadly, more cats are euthanized than dogs.

But here’s the good news: through aggressive adoption pricing and the implementation of the County’s new TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) program, in January, for the first time ever, the live release rate for cats hit a record high of 93%: of the 79 received, 37 were adopted, 34 were TNR’d, and 3 returned to their owners.
From experience, we know these numbers will skyrocket in the spring and summer months because cats are particularly and prolifically fertile, but still, it’s a start.

Here’s more good news. During the month of February, you can adopt a fully spayed/neutered, wormed and inoculated cat or kitten for only $7. What are you waiting for?

Their lives are in our hands.

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Volunteer

Dear Valentine

Posted on by Angel Hartline
04
Feb

By Joanna D. Samson, Vice President, FOTAS

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways . . .”
William Shakespeare

Although I am certain Willie the Shake did not write the 43rd Sonnet for his dog, I am equally certain that most of us with canine or feline friends could rattle off their virtues without hesitation.

They keep you company, follow you around, sleep with you. They make you laugh. They walk with you. They comfort you when you’re sad. Rescued animals know you saved them. They are forever grateful.

In return, we overlook the hair; the drooling; the smell; the muddy paws; the cost of food, clothing, medical care, treats (so many treats); the occasional mistake in the house; and the small dead rodents left on the porch as an expression of their appreciation.

It’s a small price to pay, don’t you think?

Yesterday, I asked a couple of friends and their rescued pets to tell me what they love about each other.

Ellie Joos, about her 14-year-old tabby cat: “I love it when Sheba hops on the bed, curls up next to me, and purrs like a freight train (if only it wasn’t 3:30 in the morning!)”

Sheba: “I love to sit on the counter and watch Ellie. I’ve trained her well; she always feeds me on time.”

Kathy Jacobs, about her retriever mix: “Sherman’s got issues: he’s overweight, in bad health and not the smartest bulb in the pack. But I love it when he sits on my lap (all 75 pounds of him) and lays back like a big baby.”

Sherman: “I’m insecure. I love Kathy to baby me.”

Peter Miller, about he and Jennifer’s St. Bernard mix and pit mix: “Buster and Beethovan give me the same crazy, frantic, joyous greeting at the door whether I’ve been gone 20 minutes or five days. I love that.”

Buster and Beethoven: “We love it when the man yells, ‘Naptime!’ and we all pile on the bed.”

Heather Wiseman, about their 10-year-old bird dog: “Missy has the craziest eyebrows; they go every which way. We love to play with them, make them stick up in a Mohawk.”

Missy: “The world’s a scary place. I love them for protecting me from birds, puppies, and loud noises.”

Uma Seaman, about her 3-year-old shepherd mix: “Izzy loves people—when she meets someone new, she bows and puts both paws over her eyes, like she’s flirting.”

Izzy: “I love it when she calls, ‘Snuggle-muggle!’ and I get to roll around like crazy on the bed.”

Edie Hubler, about Zeus and Meg: “When I walk them, I love to watch their little fannies just bobbing along, side by side – happy as clams.”

Meg and Zeus: “We love to watch her all day long. We think she’s a goddess.”

The Aiken County Animal Shelter is celebrating Valentine’s Day every day through February 14th: you can adopt your next canine Valentine for only $14 and your feline Valentine for only $7. Your new Valentine will be fixed and fully inoculated.

And of course, your new Valentine will come home full of love and devotion. It will be the beginning of a romance that will last a long, long time.

What a deal.

Their lives are in our hands.