Category Archives: Dogs

2020, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Can I Crash on Your Couch? Program, Doggie Day Out, Dogs, fostering, FOTAS, kennel stress, News

County Animal Shelter Dog Jay Shares His Adoption Story

Posted on by Bob Gordon
05
Feb

My name is Jay. I was recently adopted from the Aiken County Animal Shelter and have a story to tell.

I never wanted to end up at the shelter but, when it happened, I had no choice. The shelter isn’t such a bad place; it’s clean and healthy. I got food, shelter and medical care. The people were nice, too… but it still isn’t the same as being in a real home.

Jay in his shelter kennel before being adopted.

I was hoping for a short stay but became concerned when I saw other dogs getting adopted while I was still stuck in the shelter. I’m a good dog but have a big, wide head and was concerned that people who passed by my kennel weren’t giving me a second look.

I got stressed out as day after day passed and I was still stuck at the shelter. Even though volunteers came and walked us every day, I admit that I got anxious from being in my kennel and my behavior was starting to concern some people.

Just when I was feeling my lowest, this great guy named Kelly took me to his home for a weekend. It turns out he travels for his work during the week but takes a dog longing for companionship, like me, home for weekends. We took car rides, chilled out, watched TV and I got used to his comfortable couches. He told me I was becoming a couch potato, whatever that means.

Then it happened. A family came to the shelter looking to adopt a dog and they chose me! The staff called Kelly and he rushed to the shelter and met this family, the Martins, as they were filling out the adoption papers. He bragged about me to them and offered to drive me to their home and help me settle in with them to make sure everything was cool.

After Kelly left their home, the Martins called the shelter to tell them that they took me outside and I immediately did my business and then went into the house and hopped up on one of their comfortable couches. It took a few days for us to get to know each other but they are great owners (with great couches). I have everything I need.

Jay, aka Max, loves his new family and home.

They changed my name to Max and I kind of like it. I heard Mrs. Martin say that I keep them entertained and it was great to bring laughter back into their home. I am now definitely a part of their family.

I have Kelly to thank for my new, wonderful life and FOTAS is fortunate to have him as a volunteer.

I understand that after Kelly left the Martin home that first night, he went right back to the shelter. Why? To bring Gabriel home, Kelly’s next doggie overnight buddy.

Please consider volunteering like Kelly and participating in our “Can I Crash on Your Couch?” program. You can take home a shelter dog in need for a sleepover, giving him extra TLC and much-needed relaxation. The dog will be so grateful for a break from the daily stress of an institutional environment. Call (803) 514-4313 for more information.

— By Jay aka Max, Ex-shelter Dog

2020, adopter feedback, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, kittens, News

More than 3,000 Pets Adopted from ACAS in 2019

Posted on by Bob Gordon
29
Jan

The Aiken County Animal Shelter saved and adopted out 3,303 homeless pets in 2019. We thank our shelter staff, adopters, supporters, volunteers, fosters and donors for making this possible.

Abby and little Barkley cuddle

Here are some of the latest emails and notes we’ve received from people who have given homeless animals a second chance at a great life:

Abby and little Barkley are BFFs
Faith (who we renamed Abby) is doing wonderfully. She fits right in with our other dogs. Since day one, she and our little Barkley have been best friends. She eats well and plays all day with her toys. Any worries anyone had about her being a problem with other dogs or little kids is completely gone. She’s great with both. Whoever had Abby before us, treated her well and taught her how to behave. I’m sure they miss her, and I hate she’s no longer with them. But at the same time, our family loves her beyond any words.

Jarid Moon

Classic Tabby kittens Jasper and Casper

Dasher is a big cuddle bug
Dasher is doing great! He enjoys playing with my parents’ dog, Berkeley, and is typically well behaved. He loves going on long walks and being active, but is also a big cuddle bug! He’s definitely been a light in my life.

Eryn Cameron

Feline brothers complete their family
Casper and Jasper are happy and spoiled! I’m so glad we adopted them both and didn’t separate them! They get along beautifully with our dog, Hope. Our family has been completed. Thank you all for what y’all do!

Lynn Feltham

Dasher and his new mom

Kitten Burt is a life-changer
I love my Burt! He can be a challenge since he discovered leftover food goes in the trash. But my life is forever changed. I am 52 and Burt is my first pet! My son also has a cat, which was my inspiration. I tell everyone that Burt is my grandchild!

Janet Tate

Brandy has a new name and a great new life
Brandy is now Mamma Mia and doing well. She loves my other dog and they are always together. We are so grateful for her and believe that she is very happy now. I promise she will have a great life with us.

Brandy aka Mamma Mia

Kristin Pearce

— by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2019, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Dogs, FOTAS, Have a Heart, Save a Heart, Heartworms, News, Pibbles

No More Tears: Hamilton’s a Happy Dog and Facebook Star

Posted on by Bob Gordon
13
Jan

This is a story that began with a dog crying real tears when he was surrendered to the Aiken County Animal Shelter nearly a year ago.

FOTAS Programs Coordinator Kathy Jacobs described the dog, Hank, and his reaction to being separated from his owner in this weekly column space on Feb. 24, 2019.

Hamilton gets ready for a Georgia Bulldog football game on his birthday.

“I saw something that I had not witnessed before, something that I will never forget,” Jacobs wrote. “The black Lab had tears in his eyes, with some trickling down his face. His cheeks were puffing in and out and his breathing was rapid. It was like watching a child be taken from his parents. He was heartbroken.”

Meredith Anderson, a popular anchor and award-winning investigative reporter at WRDW News in Augusta, saw the column and photo of Hank on Facebook. She read how this poor, 2-year-old, 55-pound dog had been waiting for a new home for many weeks and was getting depressed from being passed over by potential adopters. The dog’s story touched her, so she drove to the ACAS to meet Hank on Feb. 25. Anderson was quickly smitten with Hank and took him home that afternoon. She already had a new name for this special dog: Hamilton.

“Hamilton was absolutely meant to be my family’s dog…no question,” Anderson said. “I love him so much. I am beyond happy he is part of our family.” While Hamilton is a charmer and an amazing dog, the Anderson family knew this sweet boy came with some challenges and responsibilities – all of which Meredith chronicles on her WRDW Channel 12 Facebook page.

Hamilton is “interviewed” about his DNA test.

“Hamilton initially took a lot of work, love, investment, and patience. All totally worth it…but I don’t want to give the impression this journey has been an easy one,” she said. “I just want to be a responsible dog owner…and I think part of that is making sure people know adopting a dog is a big decision that really does require a lot of thought.”

Since adding Hamilton to her family, Anderson has posted entertaining photos of him in various outfits, hats and glasses. Her latest post is a video of Hamilton vigorously shaking his favorite rope toy to the Outkast song, “Hey Ya!” She’s also celebrated Hamilton’s third birthday; revealed his DNA test results (mostly Staffordshire Terrier with some Beagle and other smaller breeds); and about a month ago announced he was heartworm-free.

WRDW Channel 12 News Anchor/Reporter Meredith Anderson and Hamilton

“Christmas came early this year,” she posted. “GREAT NEWS. Hamilton is officially heartworm negative!” FOTAS paid for and provided the treatment to cure Hamilton of this mosquito-borne infection, as it does for any heartworm positive dog at the ACAS through its “Have a Heart, Save a Heart” program.

“Last year, Hamilton was at the Aiken County Animal Shelter,” Anderson noted. “This Christmas, he posed with his presents. Turns out, he was just as much a gift to my family as we were to him.”

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

PETS OF THE WEEK

TURNER: Hound mix, male, 8 yo, black, 88 pounds – $35

SISSY: Domestic Shorthair, female, 4 mo, chocolate, 4 pounds – $10

2019, Dogs, donations, Events, FOTAS, Fundraisers, Junior FOTAS, News, Volunteers

Educating Local Students Is Key to Helping Homeless Pets

Posted on by Bob Gordon
13
Jan

I am constantly blown away by the kindness of young people in our community, especially during the holiday season. Local students care deeply about the homeless animals at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) and are eager to learn all they can to help them.

Matthew and Joy David visited the shelter with toy donations. They enjoyed their tour of the facility and met the homeless pets — and Santa Claus!

South Aiken Baptist students bring toys at Christmas
South Aiken Baptist Christian invited Shelter Manager Bobby Arthurs and I to bring dogs to their school in early December and speak to students about pet responsibility. We were later surprised by one of their teachers and her grandchildren who visited our shelter with many items to donate.

Aiken Elementary makes cat toys and organizes donation drive
Paula Simmons is a fabulous volunteer at the shelter. A retired teacher from Aiken County Public Schools, she has been instrumental in helping form a Junior FOTAS Club at the school. In December, Paula and I took adoptable hound mix JD to visit the students and they made toys for the shelter felines and organized a holiday donation drive for FOTAS.

Horse Creek Academy collect goodies for homeless pets
Horse Creek Academy Kindergarten teacher Jennifer Kelley adopted a dog, Cooper, from the ACAS three years ago. Since then, she has organized a kindergarten supply drive for FOTAS. All the kindergarten teachers allow me to come into their classrooms, meet their students and talk to them about the shelter. The children spend time with one of our shelter dogs before forming a line and walking the supplies out to the FOTAS van.

Junior FOTAS members from Tall Pines STEM Academy read to the adoptable dogs.

North Augusta High School delivers astounding amount of donations Students at North Augusta High School also collected items for shelter pets during this holiday season. We were overwhelmed by the amount of donations we received! Thank you to Amanda Jones and her amazing students for all their support!

Tall Pines Junior FOTAS team reads to ACAS dogs
Our Tall Pines Junior FOTAS Club is always busy collecting donations, helping with events and educating our community about spay/neuter, heartworm prevention and pet responsibility. Last month, the students read to shelter dogs. The dogs, stressed in their kennels, relaxed at the sound of the students’ voices. In January, these same kids are helping us make videos and public service announcements about our programs.

Kennedy Middle School adds FOTAS to mini course schedule
We are looking forward to our third year of being a part of the mini courses at Kennedy Middle School. In March, we meet once a week with students, discussing key animal advocacy topics. Vet techs, animal control officers and adoption staff will speak to students about working with homeless animals in our community.

Kindergartners from Horse Creek Academy greet the FOTAS van with donations.

We are grateful for the schools and educators who support the shelter and allow us to speak to their students about our programs. If you are involved with a school in Aiken County and would like us to come and speak to students about pet responsibility, please call us at (803) 514-4313 or send an email to info@fotasaiken.org.

Educating our young people is the only way we will ever solve our pet overpopulation problem and reduce animal neglect. Their voices are powerful and can influence so many!

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2019, Dogs, FOTAS, News, Volunteer, Volunteers

A New Year’s Resolution to Satisfy the Soul

Posted on by Bob Gordon
31
Dec

When Joanne Goble’s husband of fifty plus years died, she knew she had to get out of the house and stop feeling sorry for herself. That “something,” she decided, should satisfy her lifelong love of dogs. She called the Aiken County Animal Shelter and signed up for a volunteer orientation class.

Joanne Goble cuddles mixed breed Glenda.

That was in early 2018. Today Joanne works with the dogs on the adoption floor, mans the front desk, helps the staff with clerical duties, fosters puppies—anything she can do to help, she does.

By the way, Joanne volunteers all day, five days a week. She is 82 years old.

Here’s the thing: for all the things Joanne does for the shelter, she gets so much more in return.

“There’s an inner peace,” says Joanne, “that comes from putting my energy into a dog and knowing I’m making a difference in his or her life—that I can help a confused, homeless animal find a home and a loving family. You can’t imagine what that means to me.”

I’ve been thinking a lot about Joanne’s story and her commitment to the shelter in these final days of 2019 as I prepare my list of New Year’s resolutions for 2020. I don’t know why I bother because the list is the same every year: exercise more, eat less, clean my closets, and organize the piles of papers on my desk. Moreover, I suspect that this year, like the years before, despite my initial enthusiasm, I will get distracted and my commitment will wane with each passing week, and by spring, all that will remain of my lofty intentions will be a nagging, low-level guilt.

Joanne with Charlie, a three-legged dog.

Why is that? I’m no psychologist, but I’m going to hazard a guess here: self-serving resolutions that only involve physical activity and busy work do not nourish the spirit and are too insubstantial to inspire meaningful, enduring change.

What if, then, like Joanne Goble, we were to resolve to engage in activities that demand commitment to others, to a cause greater than ourselves? Activities that make a difference in the lives of overworked shelter staff and homeless animals? Activities that call forth love and compassion to make an abandoned puppy feel safe, to comfort a scared, trembling dog, or to keep a motherless kitten warm? Based on the experience of Joanne and so many FOTAS volunteers, those resolutions might just be winners.

On Tuesday night, as the ball drops on Times Square and the party favors pop and confetti fills the air, why not usher in the new year with a resolution to make a difference? To exercise your heart, your humanity, your body, and your civic duty, and in the process, help save the lives of thousands of vulnerable animals?

Joanne and one of her favorite Pibbles relax and socialize on the shelter couch

“I can honestly say that volunteering at the county shelter has saved my life,” says Joanne. “I look forward every day to a new challenge and the fellowship with other FOTAS volunteers and shelter staff.”

Now is the time to resolve to join us in this important work—to satisfy your soul with good deeds. The shelter is packed, and we need male and female volunteers and short-term fosters.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice-President

PETS OF THE WEEK

CHIP: Carolina dog, male, 1 year old, tan, 32 pounds – $35

BELLE: Domestic Shorthair, female, 1 year old, orange Tabby, 6 pounds – $10 (Aiken PetSmart)

2019, Bully Dogs, Dogs, donations, Events, fostering, FOTAS, Fundraisers, News, surrendered pets, TNR Program, Volunteers

The Christmas Season of Kindness and Hope

Posted on by Bob Gordon
30
Dec

The good doctor was on his way to work in Augusta when he spotted two large bully dogs on the Aiken-Augusta Highway. Concerned about their safety on the busy, four-lane road, he pulled over and coaxed the dogs—who were healthy, well-behaved, and in good shape—into his car. Figuring they had to be someone’s pets, the doctor turned around and headed for the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

A young volunteer reads to a shelter dog to help socialize him and keep him company.

Bobby Arthurs, the shelter manager, was on site when the doctor arrived with the dogs. He agreed with his assessment that the dogs were well-cared for, so he scanned them for a microchip. Turns out, they were microchipped, and in short order, Bobby had identified the owner and a contact number. The owner, who was at work, was both alarmed his beloved dogs had escaped their yard and relieved they were safe.

Wait—the story gets better. The good doctor offered to drive the dogs to their owner even though he was late to work. First, he called the hospital; then he loaded the dogs into his car (again) and drove back to Aiken to reunite the dogs with the owner.

We often fill these pages with stories of hard luck and sadness—distressed, baffled dogs surrendered to the shelter by their owners or dumped on some county road—and we are often pleading for help to relieve overcrowding at the shelter or to save a particularly special dog. But today I want to celebrate the many acts of kindness and sacrifice, both large and small, that make it possible for FOTAS and the shelter to save thousands of dogs every year.

Dasher was fostered by the Simons family during the Christmas holiday, and shortly after he was adopted to a good home.

Whether it’s a volunteer making calls for one little lost dog, or Bobby Arthurs organizing a pre-dawn pickup to feature adoptable animals on the local news at 6 a.m., or the shelter adoption coordinator giving up a day off during the busy holiday season, or FOTAS volunteers taking dogs to a special event on a hot summer day, or someone who fosters a hard–to-place dog who has been on the adoption floor for a long time, or school children who pool their allowances to buy much-needed supplies for the shelter, or kind citizens who bring in community cats for TNR or adopt senior dogs or foster medical-needs dogs or the folks who bring in wishlist donations on their own time. . . the amount of effort expended to save these animals breathtaking.

FOTAS volunteers bring shelter dogs to USC Aiken Pet-a-Pup event.

What is Christmas but the season of good will and hope?

Here’s to hoping for the day that all pets are fixed, no dogs are tethered to logging chains, no animals are dumped by the side of the road, no boxes of abandoned puppies and kitties are dropped off at the shelter, and every pet is a cared-for, cherished family member.

Thank you and God bless you and your family this Christmas season.

By the way, if the Christmas spirit moves you to adopt your next pet, now’s the time!

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice-President

BY THE NUMBERS

The Aiken County Animal Shelter has greatly reduced and waived adoption fees through Jan. 1. The shelter is full, so now is the perfect time to adopt a dog or cat.

PETS OF THE WEEK

TANNER: Retriever mix, male, 1-1/2 years old, 73 pounds – $35

BIRDIE: Domestic Shorthair cat, female, 2 years old, 14 pounds – $10

2019, adopter feedback, Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, kittens, News

We Love a Happy Ending! Adopters Share Their Success Stories

Posted on by Bob Gordon
18
Dec

Thank you to everyone who has adopted pets from the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Here are some of the latest emails and notes we’ve received from folks who have given homeless animals a second chance at a great life:

Blake goes on nature walks with his new family.

I Have Found My Best Friend
We are absolutely thrilled to have Blake! He has been to work with me and been by my side since day one. He loves to play tug of war and I run him at Odell Weeks park to get his energy out. I have found my best friend. In fact, yesterday someone commented that I must have invested a lot of time and money into training him because he is so well-behaved at work on a construction site. I was lucky to find the perfect dog. The work y’all must have done with him really shows.

John Eubanks

Jellybean Is Part of Our Family
Liana, who we renamed Jellybean, is amazing with our daughters and seems to like the cat. She thinks she is a small dog and wants to climb in your lap for snuggles. If it gets cold and the girls are outside, she will insist on them going back inside. Jellybean likes bedtime because she gets to help tuck in her sisters. She is part of our family and we love her so much. Thank you for helping us find our perfect doggie.

Scott Farrar & Wendy Morgan

Super furry selfie: Jellybean and he new dad.

Rubble Is No Rabble-Rouser
Rubble is amazing!! We couldn’t have asked for a better match. He’s such a lover! Well-mannered in the house and the car, and is getting along great with his new sister, Sugar. Loves his bed and is also good in his crate.

Melissa Beck

Rubble give some love to his adopter.

Lebowski: A Big, Goofy Lapdog
Chazz is wonderful. He now goes by Lebowski (The Dude) and gets along great with his big sister, Bizkit. He fit in right away and listens well. He’s just a big goofy lapdog that we wouldn’t trade for anything.

David Webb

Kitten Parker Is Growing Up Quickly
Parker is doing great. He’s eating well – both dry and canned kitten food – and growing very fast. He’s playing with the other three cats and explores everything.

Ann Willbrand

KItten Parker makes himself at home.

Velcro Dog West Loves His Beagle Bro
West is sweet, well-behaved and doesn’t leave my side whenever I’m at the house. He also sleeps next to me when he doesn’t want to be in his crate. I love him to death, and he loves his Beagle brother, too.

Taylor Swan

– By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2019, animal abuse, Bully Dogs, Chained dogs, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, injured animals, kennel stress, neglected pets, News, Spay/Neuter, Volunteer

Christmas Heartbreak at the County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Bob Gordon
14
Dec

Help! Strays and owner-surrenders are pouring into the county shelter — 47 animals in the first three days of December! While the good citizens of Aiken County embrace a Christmas season of festivities, family, and hope, the shelter is experiencing the kind of intake numbers normally reserved for summer—the kind that keep us up at night.

Why is this happening now? It’s a mystery—maybe it’s the longer breeding season caused by the very long summer, maybe it’s overwhelmed pet owners dumping their pets like unwanted baggage on county roads and at the shelter, maybe it’s both. We can only guess.

Jay deserves a second chance at a great life. He is going to make a wonderful pet for the lucky person who adopts him.

Even more alarming is the number of abused and neglected animals coming into the shelter. Like Red, a large, exuberant hound scarred with wire marks all over his body. He’s a big puppy who needs the company of other dogs.

Then there’s Jay, an affectionate dog who spent most of his earlier days at the end of a chain. You would think he would be angry and sullen, but he’s one of the sweetest, happiest dogs ever to arrive at the shelter. He’s a 70-pound, white and brindle Bulldog mix who just wants to be loved.

When the Animal Control officers brought in a sweet, gold with white markings hound-mix (now named Carole), she was so skinny, you could count her ribs.

Sky, a beautiful freckled pup, was so weak when she came to the shelter, she couldn’t stand. Once she was given a bed, she wouldn’t leave it except to scarf down a few treats and enjoy a little “me” time with shelter staff and volunteers.

The list goes on and on.

We are baffled and discouraged. The shelter has come so far over the past ten years, yet these abnormally high-intake numbers during a normally low-intake period feels like a setback. Unless and until rampant overpopulation of homeless pets is checked and intake numbers come down, our goal of never having to euthanize another adoptable pet will be in jeopardy.

Carole was skin and bones when she arrived at the shelter — but she was treated and recovered from her neglect –and was recently adopted.

In the meantime, shelter staff and FOTAS volunteers have shifted into hyper-drive to handle the onslaught of animals. They’ve pulled out all the stops: begging transfer partners to take extra animals, aggressively working the new Home-to-Home program, marketing animals regionally on social media, and recruiting more volunteers and fosters.

But we need your help, too.

First and foremost, if you are in a position to adopt a pet, or if you know someone who is considering adoption, now is the time. These animals urgently need responsible, loving homes. Plus, for every animal you adopt or foster, you save two lives—the animal you adopt and the animal that is moved to the adoption floor when the space opens up.

Second, be a spay/neuter ambassador—fix your animals and talk your friends and family into fixing theirs. If you or they cannot afford the cost to spay/neuter, you may be eligible for County or FOTAS financial assistance.

Finally, please make a tax-free donation at www.fotasaiken.org to help us carry on the good work. FOTAS and the county shelter save more animals than any other rescue agency in the CSRA—period.

Their lives are in our hands

— By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

BY THE NUMBERS

In just the first three days of December, the Aiken County Animal Shelter received 47 homeless pets. That’s more than 15 animals per day. Please spay and neuter your pets.

PETS OF THE WEEK

RUSTY: Retriever mix, male, 2 years old, brown & white, 54 pounds – $35

CRYSTAL: Domestic Shorthair cat, female, 11 months old, brown Tiger Tabby, 7 pounds – $10

2019, Adoption, animal care education, Dogs, FOTAS, News, Proper Pet Care, Training

Bringing Your New Dog Home

Posted on by Bob Gordon
30
Nov

You did it! You made the decision to get a new dog, and you also decided to adopt your new dog at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Armed with scientifically proven suggestions about how to choose, you drove to shelter, walked through the kennels on the adoption floor, and promptly fell in love with the goofy-looking spotted mutt with the big ears in #12. You name him Wally (after your cousin, Wally, who also has big ears), pay your fees, and sign the papers. You and Wally jump in the car and head for home, sweet home.

Now what?

Mixed breed Martin gets a hug from his new sister before heading home.

“The very first thing you need to do,” says Susi Cohen, President of the Palmetto Dog Club and a FOTAS volunteer trainer, “is teach your dog to be a good family member. It’s likely Wally has never had any basic obedience training (many shelter dogs haven’t), but if you invest some time into teaching him basic commands (sit, stay, wait, heel, and down), the rules of the house, and developing a schedule for sleeping, eating, play time, and exercise, the payoff will be huge.”

Like any relationship, it takes time for you and your dog to get to know each other—figure each other out. Like people, dogs are a product of their breeding and their environment, with their own personality, likes and dislikes, fears and preferences. But unlike (most) people, dogs are the most adaptable (and forgiving) animals on earth.

“It’s all about helping Wally make the transition,” says Karen DeCamp, also a FOTAS volunteer trainer. “In addition to the loss or abandonment associated with ending up in the shelter, life in the shelter can be stressful. Going to another new place may be confusing at first, but dogs, particularly shelter dogs, want to please you. All it takes is a little love and patience.”

This initial energy and focus pays off in spades. It’s exciting, too—you are creating a bond with your new pal, and FOTAS is here to help with that, too. Both Cohen and DeCamp provide adopters with a free obedience lesson at home. They will help you come up with a personalized game plan to make sure you and your dog enjoy a lifetime of joy and companionship.

Mary Scott Valentine and Taylor Swan love their new dog, who they adopted from the County Animal Shelter and renamed Jerry Garcia.

It’s been two weeks since Wally joined your family, and you’ve spent a lot of time together. He adores your toddler and is terrified of your cat. He flings his squeak toys around with wild abandon. He’s wary of strangers at first and loves to play with other dogs. When he’s not cleaning up the crumbs under the baby’s highchair, he trails your wife around the house like a wake. He never tires of a car ride, looks forward to his walks, and snores when he sleeps. He’s so fast, squirrels tremble at the very sight of him. He’s learned to sit, does his business outside (you’ve been consistent with his routine), and comes when you call him—most of the time. He loves nothing more than to curl up on the couch with his head on your leg.

He is, quite simply, the best dog ever. Even your cousin Wally thinks so.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

BY THE NUMBERS
According to the Humane Society of the United States, 71 percent of domestic violence victims report that their abuser also targeted pets..

PETS OF THE WEEK

INDIA
Mixed breed, female, 1 year old, brindle & white, 45 pounds – $35

RAVEN
Domestic Shorthair, female, 3 years old, 10 pounds – $10                               

2019, Adoption, Dogs, FOTAS, News, SELECTING A PET, Uncategorized

Adopting a New Canine Family Member

Posted on by Bob Gordon
20
Nov

You’ve made the decision: you’re ready to bring a new dog into your life. Since you are reading this column, I’m guessing you’ve also decided to rescue your new pal from a shelter—maybe because your heart goes out to the thousands of homeless dogs who need and deserve a loving family, or maybe because you know, either from experience or through the experience of others, that shelter dogs are overwhelmingly grateful for a second chance and they express that gratitude through devotion and unconditional love.

I salute you for your wisdom and your humanity. Quite simply, you rock!

ALEK is 2 years old but acts like a puppy.

So, you hop into your car and head over to the Aiken County Animal Shelter, and there you find dogs of every color and shape, age, and gender. Some dogs bounce around their kennels, some bark, some cower in the corner, and then there’s that goofy-looking spotted mutt in Kennel 12 calmly assessing every passerby with a look that says, Are you the one?

Overwhelming, right? Here’s the good news: county adoption staff and FOTAS volunteers are there to help you choose. There are a number of factors to consider.

Do you live alone or with a family? Do you have small children? Are there other dogs in your home? Cats? Do you work all day? Do you have an outdoor area for your dog to run and play? Is your idea of heaven a hike through the Hitchcock Woods or a night on the couch watching Law and Order reruns? Do you prefer small dogs or large dogs?

Of course, there are no hard and fast rules, but there are some guidelines that may help. For example, if you live alone and work all day, you might want to adopt a mature, even a senior dog, who is happy keeping your place on the couch warm until you return. If you have small children, you might consider a calm, gentle dog that won’t accidently knock your toddler over in an exuberant burst of affection.

ANGEL gets along with most other dogs.

If you’re an active person who spends lots of time outdoors, then a younger, energetic dog would make a great companion. On the other hand, if your idea of rigorous activity is gardening, you might look for a companion that is happy to stroll around the yard with you and watch for squirrels while you weed.

Do you have another dog? Is that dog sociable with other dogs, indifferent, or dog aggressive? Do you need a dog that likes, or at least, tolerates cats?

You get the picture. Shelter staff and FOTAS volunteers will explore all these issues with you to help you make the right choice for your life and circumstances. Why? Because a wrong choice only increases the chance that the dog you select might end up in the shelter . . . again.

INDIA loves people and even tolerates cats!

But here’s the thing: despite our best efforts to help you make rational choices, the heart isn’t always an obedient servant. Maybe you’ll walk through the kennels and lock eyes with that goofy-looking spotted mutt in Kennel 12 and inexplicably, somewhere deep in your soul, desire sparks love and your spirit responds to Are you the one? with Yes! I am the one.

You know what? That’s okay, too. We’re suckers for a good love story.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

BY THE NUMBERS

From Nov. 1 to 15, the Aiken County Animal Shelter received 182 strays and surrendered pets – an average of 12 animals per day. Please spay/neuter your pets!

PETS OF THE WEEK

JAY
Mixed breed, male, 5 years old, brindle & white, 67 pounds – $35

DINA
Domestic Shorthair kitten, female, 2 months old, Calico, 2 pounds – $10