Category Archives: County Animal Control

County Animal Shelter is a resource, not just a destination

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 […]

Shelter Dog Spirit Overcomes Adversity, Hopes for a Forever Home

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 […]

Community Outreach More Vital than Ever During Difficult Times

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 […]

Animal Cruelty: If You See Something, Say Something

Animal cruelty comes in many forms and is more common than we want to believe. It can be seen in such diverse ways as physical abuse, neglect of basic care, abandonment, dog fighting, and animal hoarding. It can be as blatant and evil as intentionally hurting or torturing an animal, or as a result of […]

A Tale of the Crooked Little Puppy

Animal Control brought in a puppy one morning and said there was something wrong with his front legs. I was in surgery so could not look at him immediately but thought to myself, “Maybe he has some hair loss, maybe a cut or, at worst, a broken leg.” When I was ready to examine him, […]

Dede Blossoms After Love and Care at the County Shelter

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. She was, as you can see from the featured photo, hard to look at without grimacing […]

Animal Control Officers: Friends, not Dog Catchers

by Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director I often go to area schools to talk to students about responsible pet ownership and proper animal care. When we talk about how animals come into the Aiken County Animal Shelter, I tell the students that animal control officers as well as members of our community rescue and bring […]

Save Lives and Stop Needless Suffering by Fixing your Pets

When people talk about our chronic dog and cat overpopulation problem, they usually focus on the overwhelming numbers – and rightfully so. Millions of pets lose their lives each year because people don’t spay/neuter their animals. Stray dog Thaddeus arrived at the shelter with a gunshot wound so severe, his right back leg was turned […]