By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

I love a good love story. Not the stuff of steamy bodice-ripping romance novels, but stories where love triumphs over tragedy and compassion trumps cruelty. The kind of stories where opportunity and luck sprinkled with a little magic create a bond that transcends the wounds of the past and fashions a new reality based on love and trust.

Like the story of Sheneneh and James Boyd. Sheneneh is a sweet strawberry blond “pibble” (that’s a pit bull cross without the negative baggage, by the way) that was chained to a stake and abandoned by her owners – an act of incomprehensible human cruelty. Painfully thin and dehydrated, Sheneneh was scarred around the neck by the heavy chain and heartworm positive. But for the concern of a neighbor who called the County Animal Control, she would have died on the end of that stake. Sheneneh went quietly with the kindly animal control officers, grateful to be released from the chain and even more grateful for a little kindness.

At the County shelter, Sheneneh caught the eye of a young custodian, James Boyd.  Although James had fostered puppies from time to time, he did not have a dog. He was waiting for the right dog – one that loved to play fetch.

He was waiting for Sheneneh.

“James is one of those compassionate, patient souls that puts everyone at ease,” says Martha Chadwick, the shelter manager. “He is a calming influence on the animals. He and Sheneneh bonded immediately. She is happy to fetch anything James can throw.”

160 dogs at the shelter, a dozen staff and scores of volunteers, and somehow James and Sheneneh found each other. Opportunity, luck and a little magic, and viola! – another love story is written by fate.

The stars also aligned for Morgan Zakis and Palmer – a handsome red “pibble” with striking white markings on his face. Morgan owned two dogs in her past life, and she had been searching for the right dog for a long time after she relocated to Aiken. Then last week she visited the County shelter and found Palmer.

Says Morgan, “I was walking past his kennel. He looked up at me with those sweet eyes and reached out with his paw – like he was saying ‘Hey, I’m the one!’ and I just knew he was. He went home with me that day.”

Palmer bonded immediately with Morgan and her boyfriend, Andrew. From the very beginning, he was quiet and well-mannered in the house – no accidents.

“He loves to snuggle and be close to us,” says Morgan. “He gets excited when Andrew comes home from work. We are so fortunate to have him,” she says, amazed at her good luck.

Yup. Good luck, opportunity and a sprinkle of magic.

We are all about love stories at FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter. We have to be. With 4300 homeless animals to care for each year, it’s the love stories that keep us going day after day.

Create a love story of your own. This month, you can adopt a bully breed “pibble” for only $20 and a cat for $10 at the county shelter – a bargain for the opportunity to witness the healing powers of love in action.

Please don’t wait. Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

My husband David and I are proud owners of shelter dogs. We have always adopted shelter dogs as a matter of choice, pride and civic responsibility to do our part for the thousands of homeless animals that pass through the shelter system. Our shelter dogs have never disappointed us. They were all mutts: true individuals, clever and affectionate. They enriched our lives. We were lucky to have them.

Our experience is not unique, yet some folks are reticent about adopting shelter dogs. They are concerned the dogs are damaged by their past experience or that they wouldn’t be in the shelter if they were good dogs.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, most animals end up in shelters through no fault of their own.

The Gordon family household has always included dogs – big dogs, multiple dogs, older dogs, hard to place dogs such as shepherds, bully breeds, rottie crosses and, always, rescue dogs.

“It’s a tradition in our family,” says Laura Gordon. “We adopt the dogs other people overlook because of their size or their breed, last chance dogs, dogs that are euthanized in higher numbers in public, open-admission shelters. We have never had a single problem with any of them. In fact, we always say each dog is the best dog we ever had.”

As their three rescue dogs passed on after moving to Aiken 20 years ago, the Gordons began adopting from local shelters. First there was the beloved Beau, a massive, striking tri-colored Akita who, according to Laura, would have been a lap dog if anyone in the family had had a big enough lap.

Now there is Laya, a lumbering black and tan sweetheart of a Rottie-cross that Laura adopted virtually sight-unseen from the Aiken County Animal Shelter at the urgent bequest of Jennifer Miller, President of FOTAS.

“Laya was a favorite of staff,” says Laura, “but she had been at the shelter for too long and was days from being euthanized. I had just lost one of our dogs, and Jennifer called and said to me, ‘You know you’re going to get another dog, and it ought to be this one. You’ll love her.’ She was right. I did, and I do.”

After Laya came Oscar, a yellow lab cross and a canine love machine, brought home from the County shelter by daughter Allison before she left for school. “Oscar adores people,” says Laura, “he loves everyone, and everyone loves Oscar. Everyone. No exceptions.”

And finally there’s Storm, rescued by Jonathan from the County shelter as a puppy when he was 6 months old. The love of Jonathan’s life and 78 pounds of energy, goodwill and unwavering affection, Storm even won over Jerry, who had been wary of “bully” breeds.

“I have never had a single problem with any of our dogs,” says Laura, “not individually or as a pack. Sure, I spend extra time with them when they first come, figure them out, watch them with the other dogs, especially around food. I establish the rules and the pecking order right off, like the senior dog is the alpha when it comes to feeding and going through doors. All it takes is patience and a little common sense.”

So true. If you are thinking about adopting an older dog, a bully breed, a 2nd or a 3rd dog, please don’t hesitate. It can and will work out. We will help you through it, if necessary.

Their lives are in our hands.

PETS OF THE WEEK

DIESEL — American Bulldog — Male — 2 1/2 years old, 57 lbs —$35 black dogs thru April 30)

GREMLIN — Domestic Short Hair—Female — 1 year old, 6 lbs — $15  (Black cats  thru April 30)

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Remember Dante? The handsome gray and white pit bull cross who has been at the shelter a dangerously long time? A favorite among FOTAS volunteers and staff, the stress of shelter life was making Dante more stir-crazy with each passing day, common for active dogs held in a shelter environment for lengthy periods of time. Desperate for human attention and exercise, his tail bled from wagging it feverishly against the kennel wall. We worried he was becoming less tolerant of other dogs.

Dante’s prospects diminished the longer he remained in the shelter.

So we asked Toni & Gary Urben, a FOTAS foster family with lots of experience with and love for pit bulls, if they would be willing to foster Dante even though we have not yet found him a home.

We were delighted when they agreed.

* * *

Hi Gang,

Whoa! I’m loving my foster family and the peace and quiet of their yard. I have a large outdoor run with a shed and lots of hay – a place where a big guy like me can stretch out and doze in the sun, and I doze a lot on account of all the exercise I get. We go for long walks in the woods every day. Sometimes my people let me run off-leash, and there is nothing like a good hard run to calm a dog’s soul, I tell you. I stay real close when I run – I want my people to know what a good boy I am. (Plus, there’s the matter of the soup bone I buried in a safe place in my run).

Your relaxed dog, Dante

Dear Dante,

I miss your smiley face and wagging tail at the shelter. I have tried to teach your pals Barcley and Titan to catch the rubber frisbee, but alas, they will never be as graceful or athletic as you, my handsome friend.

Be a good boy, okay? Be sure to play nice with the other dogs while we search for your forever family. By the way, do your people know how much you like a good belly rub?

Your best FOTAS volunteer friend, Ellie Joos

****

Dear Ellie,

My new people are world-class belly rubbers, and I let them rub my belly for a long time on account of I don’t want to hurt their feelings. They are teaching me manners, whatever those are, but if manners are those tasty little bacon treats I get when I sit or stay or lay down, then hey, I’m all for manners!

Today I went walking with my people’s dogs for the second time, and we get along just fine. What’s all the fuss about anyway? Okay, maybe I got a teeny bit cranky at the shelter, but now that I’ve got my manners and my soup bone and my walks and a nice place to rest in the sun, I’m a friendly guy. Really.

Your happy dog, Dante

****

Dear Jennifer,

How quickly love, consistency and exercise brings the best out of a dog! Dante is an amazing dog. He will be an affectionate, loyal pet for some lucky family.

Love, Toni

****

Dear Jennifer and Ellie,

Please find someone to take me home forever. I promise to make you very proud of me.

Your (very) good dog, Dante

****

Please don’t wait. Dante’s time is running out. His life – all their lives – are in our hands.

 

PETS OF THE WEEK

TITAN — Male, American Bulldog, 5 years old, 64 lbs — $70

KEYS — Male, Domestic Short Hair, 7 months old, 6.7 lbs. — $35

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Dante is one handsome guy. He sports a sleek blue-gray coat and a dashing white mask that spreads over one eye and down his neck and chest. He is a gifted athlete. Quick and nimble, there is no Frisbee too high or ball too fast that escapes his grasp.

Dante is a hit with the ladies. At the shelter, they vie for the honor of escorting him to the play yard to throw the coveted Frisbee. They love to stroke his muscular body and pop juicy treats into his mouth. Mesmerized by his charisma, they rub his belly for long periods of time. He accommodates their attentions with good humor and patience. Can he help it if he’s irresistible?

So if Dante is handsome, healthy, athletic and affectionate, if he is so adored by FOTAS volunteers and shelter staff, then why has he been on the adoption floor at the Aiken County Animal Shelter for close to 30 days?

Because Dante, through no fault of his own, through a random act of pure fate, was born a pit bull, and pit bulls make people nervous. Why is that?

“It’s their reputation and history as fighting dogs,” says Jerry Lyda, the President of Southern K9 Solutions and Veteran’s K9 Solutions, “yet pit bulls are not inherently dangerous or aggressive; in fact, just the opposite. They are generally people-lovers – eager to please and easy to train. We use them as service dogs all the time.”

Like any dog, their disposition and personalities are a direct reflection of the people who care for them. Sadly, the “bully” breeds are the most abused dogs on earth – most likely to be bred indiscriminately, starved and neglected on the end of a tether, or mistreated by criminals or cruel owners as a senseless demonstration of machismo and power.

“The fact is,” says Lyda, “pit bulls, like all strong, intelligent dogs, need to be properly socialized and trained by responsible owners, and when they are, they make extraordinary pets and companions.”

At the County shelter, all dogs, but especially the bully dogs, are carefully screened by staff for aggression to people and other animals. No dog is released to the adoption floor unless staff is certain it will be a safe companion. Once cleared for adoption, the dogs are scrutinized and handled by volunteers and trainers virtually every day.

Moreover, because of the unfortunate bias against the bull breeds and the high number that populate open admissions shelters like the County shelter, it takes longer to find a home for dogs like Dante. But here’s the good news: the longer they stay at the shelter, the more time, effort and attention they receive. So much so that by the time they are adopted, FOTAS volunteers and shelter staff can say with certainty: this is a good dog.

Dante is a good dog. He needs a home – badly. The inevitable stress of shelter life is beginning to wear on him. He’s a little stir crazy. He’s dropping weight. His tail bleeds from thumping anxiously against the kennel wall when someone walks by. He desperately needs a person to love and a place of his own to run and play. His time is running out.

Please don’t wait. Dante’s life – all their lives – are in our hands.

BY THE NUMBERS

2/5/15 — 2/25/15  ten day period

In supplementing the County Shelter’s local  adoptions, FOTAS organized 6 transports, transferring 43 dogs who now can have forever loving homes.