Category Archives: Dogs

2024, Adoption, Dogs

County Shelter has dogs of various breeds and personalities

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Mia
04
Apr

If you are looking for a canine companion, the Aiken County Animal Shelter has a great variety of dogs looking for loving homes. There are strays and surrendered dogs of many different breeds, sizes, colors, shapes and personalities waiting for a path to a better life.

When people visit the County Shelter, they often are surprised to see so many wonderful candidates available for adoption. They are shocked that some of our best looking and well-behaved dogs are strays that nobody came to claim as their own.

“This dog can’t be a stray,” they’ll comment. “How could someone let a dog like this get away?”

Good question. But the reason is simple. Most of the dogs we receive at the shelter did nothing wrong. In the case of strays, their owners either lost track of them or abandoned them. These dogs didn’t end up here because they weren’t pretty enough or couldn’t sit on command. Their owners were having difficulties or exhibiting bad behavior. Not them.

In the case of surrendered pets, these pups are often just victims of circumstance. Their owners suddenly face financial troubles, personal issues, medical obstacles or housing problems. Wonderful pets also are surrendered to the County when their owners pass away.

Top dogs available for adoption
The Shelter currently has a number of outstanding dogs available for adoption, including:

German Shepherd Mia: Friendly German Shepherd Mia is new to the County Animal Shelter, so she is still adjusting to her new surroundings. However, she is doing well and slowly getting to know the staff and volunteers. Mia is one year old, 52 pounds and was brought in as a starving stray.

Chihuahua Chule: Two-year-old, 16-pound Chule is a handsome devil and extremely sweet. He was found as a stray but loves the staff. This boy has a shiny black coat with white markings.

Retriever Heath: Sweet, handsome Heath is 4 years old, 50 pounds and super athletic. The poor guy was found abandoned. Someone tied him to a stop sign and left him. However, he is ready to find a loving forever home. Easily the smartest dog on the adoption floor, Heath is a dog who likes to stay busy and active.

Retriever puppies Don, Prancer and Dasher: These adorable, 3-month-old siblings are black with white markings. They’re about 15 pounds now, so they will be at least 50 pounds when full grown.

German Shorthaired Pointer Martha: This 7-year-old, 63-pound doggo is incredibly sweet and sociable. She’s had a hard life but adores people and gets along with friendly dogs. She walks nicely on a leash and has a soft, tri-color coat.

The County Shelter also has a wonderful Retriever named Enzo; Presley, an awesome Coon Hound; and Macklyn, a handsome brindle Shepherd mix.

Our staff can help you find your match

Our adoption counselors will help you find the right dog for your wants and needs. You don’t need to make an appointment. Just stop by! Dogs and puppies are $35, cats and kittens just $10. All of our adoptable pets are vaccinated, microchipped & fixed. The Aiken County Animal Shelter’s hours are 11:00 to 5:00 Mon. through Fri., 11:00-4:30 on Sat. and closed Sun.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2023, Adoption, Dogs

Help change the luck of some deserving County Shelter dogs today

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Rosemary is a sweet girl who is hoping her luck improves today.
17
Mar

FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter are having a St. Patrick’s “Change Their Luck” adoption event today, Saturday, March 18, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Today only, FOTAS sponsors will be paying for all pet adoptions.

Stop by 333 Wire Road in Aiken, SC, enjoy some complimentary St. Paddy treats, and let the shelter’s adoption counselors help you find your furry lucky charm!

The shelter kennels are doubled up and we are housing many wonderful pets who just need a lucky break. These homeless animals deserve love and security.

Here is just a sampling of the County Shelter’s adoptable dogs:

Caprice: Sweet Caprice is a wonderful dog who is somehow being overlooked by potential adopters. She is a lovely black Lab mix who is six years old, 57 pounds and easy to walk.

Elle gets along with most dogs and is a cuddle bug.

Elle: Brindle and white Sweetie-pie Elle is wonderful with most dogs, walks wonderfully on a leash and is in urgent need of a good home. This mixed breed is three years old, 57 pounds and well behaved.

Handsome: Three years old, 81 pounds and extremely playful, Handsome is not a dog you can miss seeing on our adoption floor. This blue and white guy loves other large dogs. He’s like a big puppy!

Janna has a gorgeous white coat and likes other dogs.

Janna: Pretty, white Janna is three years old, 50 pounds and extremely sweet. She is a little shy but quickly bonds with people she knows. This girl gets along with most dogs and deserves the best home. 

Rosemary: Poor Rosemary arrived at the County Animal Shelter covered in bite marks and some of her teeth filed down. She likely was used as a bait dog by a dog fighting operation. But despite her past abuse, this three-year-old, 54-pound stray is a cuddly sweetheart. (tongue out picture above)

Merry: She’s been here longer than any other dog in the adoption wing. She’s one of the friendliest dogs you’ll ever meet and gets so excited when prospective

Pretty Merry is wonderful but has been at the County Shelter longer than any other dog.

adopters visit her. Blue and white Merry is three years old, 52 pounds and playful. She would do best as an only pet.

 

Sosa is loving, playful and likes playing with other big dogs.

Sosa: Two-year-old, 56-pound mixed breed Sosa is a playful, active and goofy dog. He insists on giving you a hug when you greet him. He likes running in the play yard and enjoys rolling around on his back and chasing tennis balls. Sosa has a rich, red coat and likes big dogs who enjoy playing rough & rowdy style.

For more information about Saturday’s “Change Their Luck” adoption event, please go to fotasaiken.org, where you can view photos and details about all the animals available for adoption. Or contact the Aiken County Animal Shelter, (803) 642-1537 (option #3).

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2023, Dogs, Volunteer

Learn to take great pet pics from top photographer Verrecchio

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
27
Jan

Taking top quality photos of our pets can be a challenge. Even the latest smart phones with advanced camera technology are often no match for a squirming puppy, shy dog or grumpy kitty. The photos come out blurry. Or they’re too dark or overexposed. When we do manage to get our pets in focus with decent lighting, they’re facing away from the camera or they look tense and nervous.

Well, no worries because help for taking better pet photos is on the way. Renowned photographer Vince Verrecchio is coming to the Aiken County Animal Shelter this Saturday, Feb. 4, to share his tips for taking great animal photos. His free demonstration will start at 1 p.m. and is open to the public.

Verrecchio is an award-winning photographer who has had his work published in countless publications. He founded a highly successful advertising firm and has been a professional shutterbug for more than 55 years. He currently volunteers his time to take photos of homeless dogs and cats at the County Shelter, which are promoted on FOTAS’s social media platforms to help get them adopted to loving homes.

In advance of this Saturday’s event, we sat down with Verrecchio and asked him some questions about pet photography:

What is the biggest mistake people make when they take photos of their pets?
Impatience. People don’t take enough time. They just take a snapshot and they’re done. You’re not going to get a good photo that way. You need to talk to your pet and relax them. If you rush the photo, the body language of the dog or cat is not going to be positive. People also tend to frame the pet too far away. You want to capture the pet’s personality and focus on their eyes. So, you want to get up close.

Can you teach anyone to be a good photographer?
Yes, anyone with patience and attention to detail. They also need to be flexible in their thinking and have a willingness to improve. You can’t teach people to be an artist, but you can teach them to practice greater creativity.

What elements make for a good photograph?
I call them the six C’s of a good eye. The six ‘C’s are applicable to any photography whether it be of products, events, landscapes, people or animals. The C’s are: concept, content, composition, color, contrast and crop.

What drives your passion for photography and desire to share your knowledge with people?
Photography helps me stop time and make sense of the world. It captures a moment we can keep with us. Plus, photography is a great way for me to exercise my creativity. That’s my sense of purpose. I consider it a gift I’ve received, and I want to share it with others.

To reserve a spot at Vince Verrecchio’s pet photo tip session this Saturday afternoon at the County Animal Shelter. 333 Wire Road, please email info@fotasaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

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, Adoption, Dogs

We found our new best friend at the Aiken County Shelter

Posted on by Bob Gordon
07
Jul

Last May, I received a diagnosis that would require either arthroscopic or replacement surgery to correct. I knew it in my heart when I had to give up jogging due to the pain, but now it was named and clouds of gloom filled the not-so-distant future. I reluctantly forfeited my other sports and bitterly sold my riding horse and trailer. When my retired senior horse had to be put down, my bruised heart felt the loss even more keenly when stacked upon all the others. 

My sweet and supportive fiancé Jeremy suggested that we not wait for joy to find us, but hunt the elusive spirit down. What about getting a dog?


Well… I would be working from home more. We did have a fine fenced backyard. Our cats would adjust, wouldn’t they?

It was never a question: we would adopt. The shelters and rescues are overwhelmed with unwanted animals. Both of us had fond memories of family dogs in our homes when we were kids, but neither of us had owned or trained a dog as an adult. We would be ill equipped to handle a dog with significant emotional or physical health problems, but we trusted the staff at the Aiken County Shelter to guide us.

We were drawn to Jeter because of his friendly doggy grin and direct gaze at the camera in his photo on their website. He was clearly part Pit Bull with his beautiful brindle color and boxy head. He was two years old, an ideal age for us because he was housebroken and trained to walk on a leash, but still had youthful puppy-like energy.

When we met him at the shelter, Jeter leapt into Jeremy’s lap like he was a long-lost friend. I knew we had found “our” dog. No way could we send him back to his kennel! He was coming home with us, and his enthusiasm was a balm for my beleaguered spirit.

Once home, he took on the job of looking after us both, following Jeremy from room to room and then dashing off to quickly check on my whereabouts if I wasn’t in his line of sight. He was very affectionate, hardly barked, and happily slept in a crate. He snuggled endearingly with both of us, a 66-pound lapdog.

Our big concern was how he and our two cats would coexist. The shelter sent us home with instructions for introducing new dogs to resident cats. We followed them very carefully and so far have been successful with controlled interactions with minimal stress.

“Jeter” has a new name, Atticus, and we have a house that’s a little messier, but our hearts are more joyful. While horses and cats have always been our main companions, “Atti” has been teaching us the wisdom of the saying, “Dogs are man’s best friend,” and it’s clear how much we needed each other.

Written by Kendra DeKay with Jeremy McCoy

FOTAS note: The shelter is over capacity and there are so many more wonderful dogs at the County Shelter who desperately need loving homes. Like Jeter, they just need a chance to prove what great companions they can be. All this week – through Saturday, July 17 – we will be participating in a statewide adoption event called Pick Me! SC. During this period, the shelter will offer significant discounts and, in many instances, waive adoption fees.

2022, Adoption, Dogs, FOTAS, surrendered pets

Old FOTAS friend adopts, brings happiness to senior dog

Posted on by Bob Gordon
27
Feb

When 14-year-old, 70-pound, Buster was brought in earlier this month, it was sad for all. Buster’s owner had health issues and could no longer care for him. No one was at fault here; just bad circumstances.

Buster was examined by the County Shelter’s vet staff and put into a kennel. I went to check on him and found his kennel soaking wet. He was so nervous, he was lapping up water as fast as he could and shaking in fear. It was so sad; we immediately took his picture and were going to reach out to the public to find help. I wasn’t super hopeful as most people don’t want senior dogs, especially large senior dogs.

Just as I was about to post his picture, I had a visit from an old friend.

I looked over my shoulder and there was John Berk.

John Berk at home with Buster, his newly adopted, 14-year-old canine companion.

John was a daily volunteer with FOTAS and a friend to us all. Just over three years ago, we were all shocked and surprised when John fell for Hobbes (then Milton). Hobbes was a senior dog with fur loss and little “cage appeal.” John started to take him out for overnight visits and doggie days out and realized that the poor old soul never had much happiness. John adopted Hobbes and gave him the absolute best life any dog could have. He was his constant companion. We saw John and Hobbes all over town, best buddies.

When John arrived for a visit, it didn’t take long to see the tears in his eyes. His friend had passed away at home the day before. John wore the pain on his sleeve and yet asked me if we had a senior dog that needed help. How unselfish is that?!

Ok…so these things don’t just happen! I am a big believer that God had his hand in this.

I told John that I had only just met this older lab named Buster less than an hour ago, but he needed help. John took the leash and walked him to his car. He said he wanted to give it a try. It was a little tough for Buster to get in the car, so John pulled out the steps that he had used to help Hobbes get up into the passenger seat.

John and his amazing wife, Sally, have cats and another small dog that they rescued recently, so I wasn’t completely sure this would work. But it just seemed to me there was a plan in play.
Two days later I received a text from John: “Sweet dog and starting to settle in.” Then I started getting pictures of Buster on the bed, at the dog park, in John’s car. It wasn’t a week that passed before John came to the shelter to make it official.

“We’ve made one dog very happy, thank you for picking him for me,” John said.

Some may think that a 14-year-old dog won’t adapt to a new owner or a new home. Some worry about adopting a senior and not having a long time with them. But think of what John does. He takes these older dogs that are scared and homeless, and he gives them friendship. He doesn’t think about how long he has; he thinks about how great the time will be.

This story just touches me more than most. To see Buster’s adoption unfold was inspirational.

In Memory of Hobbes.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2022, Dogs, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, neglected pets, News, PUPPIES, Volunteers

Angels work together to foster, save orphaned puppies

Posted on by Bob Gordon
09
Feb

On January 5, a woman brought seven puppies to the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Their mother had been hit by a car and didn’t survive.

They arrived with umbilical cords still attached, eyes closed, and desperate for care.

I reached out for help to our fosters and within two hours, three incredible women came to help.

seven puppies fostered.

Linda Cooper took two puppies, Beth Platt took two and Shana Pearsons took three.
These women were unbelievable! All asking immediately what to do and how to help them. They all had done research before coming, watched videos and knew the basics. I can’t tell you how heartwarming it was to see these women arrive at the shelter, calmly and confidently ready to help.

Shelter Staff Member Amanda Kaminski prepared pet carriers lined with fleece blankets and small beds. She also had bottles and puppy formula ready for each foster, along with detailed instructions.
Each of these women woke up every two to three hours during the night to feed these babies. It was no easy task as motherless puppies this young often don’t survive. Initially, they do not know how to drink formula from bottles. They are cold and need help staying warm.

“Bottle feeding puppies is certainly time consuming, exhausting and you spend lots of time worrying about them,” Beth Platt said. “However, it is also incredibly rewarding when they do well. It definitely has brought me back to when I had my babies and was up for very late-night feeds, but also a sweet time as well.”

“This was my first time bottle feeding pups as well,” added Shana Pearsons. “Wow, so cool to watch them progress!”

The women emailed back and forth, texted for advice and compared notes. They weighed the pups, took notes on potty times and kept track of how much they fed them. They worked hard to save them.
When Linda Cooper had to go out of town, Betsy Holmes took her puppies home to continue taking care of them. Betty Ryberg stepped up and took care of Shana’s pups when Shana had another obligation. It is a real community effort.

Every one of the puppies found good homes.

“The feeding schedule for these newborn pups has been demanding, as well as making sure they are peeing and pooping,” Linda Cooper said. “But this first-time experience has been very worthwhile, seeing the puppies grow and thrive against the odds and getting a second chance at life.”

Good news: all of the puppies found homes waiting for them through the shelter’s adopter wish list.

Currently, we are struggling to find foster homes for dogs (much easier to care for than puppies), puppies and soon kittens. Can you spare a week or two? Can you open a stall in your barn? Can you add one more dog to your home for five days? Questions? Call 803-514-4313 or email us at info@fotasaiken.org and we will answer any questions or concerns that you may have.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

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

2022, Adoption, Dogs, FOTAS, kennel stress, News, Pibbles, Shelter staff, SOCIAL MEDIA, Volunteers

Longest shelter resident Christopher finds his dream home

Posted on by Bob Gordon
18
Jan

Christopher had us worried. The two-year-old, 66-pound, mixed breed known for his soulful eyes, mahogany brindle coat and sweet personality was showing signs of kennel stress. He was sleeping too much during the day, refusing to greet visitors and seemed to be sinking into depression.

Christopher: loved by everyone including volunteers.


You couldn’t blame him for losing hope. As a huge favorite of the staff and volunteers, we had promoted him endlessly on our Facebook and Instagram pages, illustrating his calm and loving disposition with videos and photos. There were videos of him chasing tennis balls, getting his chest and tummy rubbed as well as photos of him hugging volunteers and cuddling staff members.

Volunteers Jen Jotblad and Kathy Samaha each shot their own special videos, expressing why they thought he would make a wonderful pet. Samaha took Christopher home for a weekend to give him a break from the noisy shelter. So did Olga and Nicole Simons. Just about every FOTAS volunteer spent extra time walking him or giving him cuddles. Jotblad put extra time into teaching him commands and enrolled him in her dog training class for volunteers. We even had a “Christopher Day” on Nov. 13 to try to attract prospective adopters. No one on our team was going to give up on this special dog.

Still, more weeks passed and no one was calling about Christopher. By far the longest resident of the shelter, he was growing tired of waiting and hardly any prospects were coming to visit him.

Then, on Dec. 3, George Straub and his family walked into the shelter lobby and asked to see Christopher.

“We saw Christopher on the FOTAS page and fell in love,” said Elizabeth Farthing, George’s significant other. “When we met him, he walked directly to my 9-year-old daughter, Rae-Ann, and then George. We spent months trying to find the perfect addition to our family. We contacted so many people and other shelters about dogs and for one reason or another, none worked out. But with Christopher, we felt like it was just meant to be. He knew we couldn’t leave there without him.”

Christopher gets selected!

Now Christopher has a real home and loving family as well as a new name, Glock. He follows Elizabeth everywhere and she considers him a “Velcro dog who loves to cuddle.” Glock spends most of the day with Rae-Ann during her home schooling and sleeps on 17-year-old Chase’s bed most nights. When the family is at the dinner table talking or playing board games, Glock puts his head in George’s lap.

“I’m glad other people passed on him because I love him to death,” George said.

The shelter is full now and there are many hidden gems, like Christopher. So, please visit the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 333 Wire Road, and visit our homeless dogs and cats in need. To see all the pets available, go to FOTASAiken.org. Dogs are $35 and cats and kittens are only $10.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

Christopher is loved in his new home.
2022, Dogs, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, kennel stress, News, Volunteers

Fostering saves lives, helps homeless pets get adopted

Posted on by Bob Gordon
17
Jan

When you put a leash on Little Bit, he wouldn’t move. The 28-pound, tan Terrier mix just shook and gazed up at you with a forlorn look on his face. The poor dog was overwhelmed with being on the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s adoption floor and just wanted to curl up in his kennel and be left alone.

After a couple of days, Little Bit began to trust the staff and volunteers enough to walk a short distance before stopping and resisting the leash, his eyes pleading to be picked up and carried back to his kennel. Each day, he was progressing – but very slowly.

Little Bit gets comfy before going home.

Despite Little Bit’s shyness and poor leash etiquette, visitors to the shelter began asking to see him. His smaller size and cute looks drew potential adopters. However, when he backed away or flinched when they tried to pet him, they either asked to see a different dog or left the shelter disappointed.

Then Rob and Stacy Wagner took Little Bit home to foster him during the four-day Christmas break. This time, the change of environment did him good. Being away from the noise and stress of the shelter helped him to relax and build confidence. He was a new dog when he returned to the shelter on Dec. 27, walking on his leash with confidence, greeting people and looking so happy! The result of his newfound poise and self-confidence? Little Bit was adopted that day.

Crypto is another dog who benefitted from fostering over the holiday break. Yvonne and Colin Brookes took the 48-pound mixed breed home and used the four days to help him decompress and learn to wait, sit and offer his paw on command. Like many of our fosters, Yvonne posted photos and videos of Crypto’s training and other activities on social media. Such promotion of shelter dogs thriving in a home often helps them get adopted.

“Crypto’s been at the shelter for so long…he keeps getting overlooked yet he’s a huge softy and lives for cuddles,” Yvonne posted on her Facebook page. “He is perfectly housebroken, sleeps in his crate all night long, and loves car rides and woodland walks. He is a very quick learner and just wants to please.” Since returning from his fostering experience, Crypto is in higher spirits and doing well. He can be adopted to a loving home for just $35.

Crypto loving life with his foster mom, Yvonne Brookes.

If you live in Aiken County and would like to become a FOTAS foster, please email info@fotasaiken.org or call us at (803) 514-4313. Or just stop by the shelter, 333 Wire Road in Aiken. It is easy to sign up and get paired with a shelter dog!

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director