Category Archives: Donate

2018, Bully Dogs, Donate, essay, FOTAS, News, Pibbles

Dads and Dogs: A Rewarding and Healthy Combination

Posted on by Angel Hartline
11
Jun

With Father’s Day just one week away, it’s time to think about his gift. What do you think he’d like this year? Another tie? Probably not. More cologne? No way. A shirt? A book? A coffee cup with “World’s Greatest Dad”? Boring, boring and OMG, what are you thinking?

Big Dogs available for just $30 starting this Thursday include Mason and Chevy, two strays that weigh 57 and 72 pounds, respectively.
Big Dogs available for just $30 starting this Thursday include Mason and Chevy, two strays that weigh 57 and 72 pounds, respectively.

Instead, how about giving him a shelter pet that needs a home? Bring him to the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) and let him select a dog or cat to adopt. Not only are pets great companions, but they’re also good for his health. Research suggests that owning a pet reduces stress, drops blood pressure and even lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Dog owners also exercise more because they

Goliath is as sweet as he is handsome.
Goliath is as sweet as he is handsome.

walk and play with their canine. If dad is more of a cat guy, scientists say that the purring of a feline reduces anxiety and its frequency creates a vibration that has the power to help heal bones, tendons and muscles. Ever hear of a tie or mug doing that?

And here’s an added incentive to take your dad to the shelter to get a pet: The FOTAS “Big Dog for Your Big Daddy” Adoption Special. From Thursday, June 14 through Saturday, June 16, all dogs 30 pounds or more will be available for only $30! (Cats and kittens are just $10 all month.)

The shelter has many wonderful big dogs available for dad, including:

Chevy: Nicknamed “Tank” by the Shelter staff, 2-year-old, mixed breed Chevy arrived as a stray with his buddy, Mason. Tipping the scale at 73 pounds, this boy is a true joy to be around and will make a great couch buddy for any dad.

Oscar arrived at the shelter with Bert and Grover.
Oscar arrived at the shelter with Bert and Grover.
Grover is still looking for a forever home.
Grover is still looking for a forever home.
Bert is a big cutie-pie.
Bert is a big cutie-pie.

Mason: Chevy’s BFF, 4-year-old Mason has expressive eyes and a good heart. He loves fetching balls and other toys, as well as rolling around in the grass. This 56-pound boy is starting to get a little depressed that no one has adopted him yet.

Goliath: A strikingly handsome mixed breed, 2-year-old Goliath loves to take car rides. Surrendered because his owners could not afford him, Goliath is 58 pounds of muscle and sweetness.

Preston is a big, happy boy.
Preston is a big, happy boy.

Grover, Oscar and Bert: These three mixed breed dogs are brothers and arrived at the Shelter as strays. They are just a year old and very athletic. Bert is white with black markings and both Grover and Bert are black and brindle. Grover is 72 pounds, Bert is 66 pounds and Oscar is the “runt” at 65 pounds.

Preston: Two years old and 57 pounds, Preston is a happy, playful mixed breed who was picked up and brought to the shelter as a stray. He gets along with most other dogs and is a staff and volunteer favorite.

Adopting a pet is exhilarating, rewarding and gratifying. Whether dad wants a big dog or a tiny kitten, the shelter has a furry friend for him. This Father’s Day, give your dad a present that he not only will love, but also will love him back — unconditionally!

Their lives are in our hands.

— by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

 


saveapetlogo

Pets of the Week

RAY RAY

RAY RAY POTWRetriever mix, female, 3 years old, 39 pounds – $35

 

KATHI

BREE POTWDomestic Shorthair kitten, female, 1-1/2 months old, orange Tabby, 1.3 pounds – $10

Adoption, Children, Donate, donations, essay, Heartworms

Nine-year-old Aiken boy raises more than $400 for shelter’s heartworm positive dogs

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Feb

Alex Mastromonico is on a mission to help the homeless animals at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS). The nine-year-old heard about FOTAS’s “Have a Heart, Save a Heart” program, a fund which supplements the treatment of heartworm positive dogs at the shelter, and decided he wanted to pitch in to this life-saving effort.

With his birthday on the horizon, Alex asked his mom, Lori, if instead of getting presents this year, could he ask for money to go to the shelter dogs? And could he have a birthday party, where his friends could be asked to donate to FOTAS instead of bringing traditional party gifts? Oh, and could he personally deliver the donation to the shelter, so they could visit the animals?

“Of course, I said, ‘Yes,’” Lori said. “I was incredibly proud of him. Alex has never been materialistic, so this was the perfect way for him to celebrate his birthday.”

But for Alex, it was not enough. He told his aunt about what he was doing, and she helped him to take the mission to another level by setting up a temporary fundraising page on Facebook. In just weeks, Alex’s Facebook page and birthday party combined to raised $425 for FOTAS and the shelter dogs.

Nine-year-old Alex Mastromonico with his adopted dog, Bailee.
Nine-year-old Alex Mastromonico with his adopted dog, Bailee.

Alex has always loved animals “because they’re great company, unpredictable and fun,” and his family has three pets adopted from the ACAS – Bailee, a one-year-old Chihuahua mix, and kitten siblings Melania and Mingus. But what sparked his interest in animal advocacy was overhearing his mom talk about FOTAS.

Lori teaches fifth grade at Tall Pines STEM Academy and the school started a Junior FOTAS club this year with the assistance of FOTAS Programs Coordinator Kathy Jacobs. The students in Junior FOTAS meet after school to learn about different aspects of the ACAS and FOTAS. For their first meeting, Kathy brought a heartworm positive dog who was up for adoption and explained how heartworms are treated and how the “Have a Heart, Save a Heart” program saved about 200 dogs last year.

“Alex overheard me talking about the Junior FOTAS meetings, and his idea snowballed from there,” Lori said.

But what really motivates a boy to work so hard to make that idea come to fruition and miss the chance to be showered with gifts on his birthday? Is it the joy of giving? Is it to impress his family and friends?

“Well, I do feel very good about doing it,” Alex said. “But you can’t donate for any of those reasons. You have to do it with your whole heart. Not because someone tells you…it has to because you want to do it.”

Their lives are in our hands

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

 

 

By the Numbers

Feb. 7 to 14: Find “the One” Valentine’s Special: Dogs & puppies $14, cats & kittens $0

paw_print_heart_stickers-r368b69be3802466f8feff0ba57adc012_v9w0n_8byvr_512Pets of the Week

PRINCESS
Princess valentine picMixed breed, female, 5 years old, brown and white, 55 pounds – $14 (through Feb. 14)

 

BARTON
barton potw feb 11Domestic Shorthair, male, 2 months old, dark gray, 1.6 pounds – $0 (through Feb. 14)

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Heartworms, Spay/Neuter, Volunteer

Resolving to do better by our animals

Posted on by Angel Hartline
29
Dec

It’s that time again—the end of one year and the promise of a new one. Most of us (myself included) resolve to be better—to exercise more, lose weight, spend less time on our cell phones—and although our resolve is genuine, our willpower and attention span are, shall we say, less than perfect.

My own New Year’s resolutions fail because they are “self” centered, involving changes to my own behavior. When my resolve wavers, so what? Do those extra five pounds matter to anyone but me?

My theory is this: resolutions to take action for the greater good—to help make a life a bit better, happier, easier—are easier to keep and harder to abandon.

There are so many worthy ways to spend your time, but if you happen to love animals the way we do at FOTAS, then we can resolve, collectively, to do better by the thousands of homeless animals in Aiken County.

Let’s resolve to spay or neuter our animals … all of them.

If our own animals are fixed, then let’s lobby our friends, relatives, and neighbors to fix their animals.

Imagine … a spring and summer at the Aiken County Animal Shelter when staff and volunteers are not inundated with, literally, hundreds of unwanted puppies and kittens.

Imagine the Shelter with empty kennels because no new unwanted babies were born to fill them up.

Imagine a world where every home has a pet, and every animal has a home.

It is possible to do; it’s been done in many other communities. Why do you think our sister rescue agencies in other parts of the country have the space to take our unwanted animals? Because everyone fixes their pet as a matter of course.

It’s the right thing to do.

Let’s resolve to volunteer our time at the Shelter.

There are so many ways to help—greeting visitors, walking and socializing dogs, loving-up the cats, fostering animals approved for transfer or providing a safe, healthy home for mamas and their babies, working off-site adoptions, social media, and fundraisers.

The list is endless. Tell FOTAS what you want to do, and we’ll find a place for you. Volunteering at the Shelter is a great way to spend your free time and make friends, and at the end of the day, you will have made a difference in the life of some unfortunate animal.

Let’s resolve to vaccinate our animals and make certain they are protected from fleas, ticks and worst of all, heartworms. Too many animals suffer needlessly, particularly when treatment options are so affordable.

Let’s resolve to adopt all of our pets from the Shelter.

The Shelter takes in over 4600 animals every year—they all need homes. Other rescue agencies can close their doors when they are full, but the County shelter cannot; it is obligated by law to take all comers.

FOTAS and Shelter staff go the extra mile with attention, exercise, training and medical care to make every adoptable animal happy and more sociable, because we know those animals will be better pets and family members when they go home with you.

No other rescue organization in the County saves more lives than FOTAS … none.

These are resolutions worth keeping. Let’s do them together.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

 

Some Recent Happy Adoptions at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

 JESSICA STORY OF GRANITEVILLE ADOPTED GOLDIE DEC 23    RUDOLPH THE PUPPY WAS ADOPTED BY THE DOWLING FAMILY, AIKEN    BEAGLE MIX MARLIN WAS ADOPTED BY THE WILLIAMS FAMILY , AIKEN ON DEC 23

By the Numbers
54 Adoptions between December 18 and December 23! Thank you.

Missed our Christmas adoption specials? No worries! 
January Adoption special – dogs/puppies $35, cats/kittens $10

Pets of the Week

LACEY POTW DEC 31
LACEY: Retriever mix, female, 2 years old, black, 63 pounds – $35

CLARENCE POTW DEC 31

CLARENCE: Domestic shorthair kitten, male, 3 months old, black & white, 3 pounds – $10

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Spay/Neuter, Transfer, Volunteer

FOTAS: Christmas spirit, gratitude and saving animals

Posted on by Angel Hartline
21
Dec

Every Sunday, the ‘Aiken Standard’ allows us this space to tell you about the Aiken County Animal Shelter, FOTAS and the plight of the 5000 homeless animals consigned to the Shelter every year, and we are deeply appreciative for that opportunity. Over the years, we have used this column to tell you about initiatives designed to save the lives of more animals and to report on our progress. We have written about the special people who have made a difference in the lives of the Shelter animals, and we have showcased particular dogs or cats who had captured our hearts and needed a little extra “ink” to find them that perfect home.

This Christmas Eve, however, we are not going to use this space to report or convince or to ask you for help; instead, we are simply going to thank you … all of you:

Chairman Gary Bunker and the County Council, County Administrator Clay Killian, and Assistant County Administrators Ashley Jacobs and Brian Sanders for being responsive and responsible public partners;

Councilwoman Kathy Rawls, believed in our mission from the very start and helped us build the successful public/private partnership between the County and FOTAS;

Paige Bayne, Director of Aiken County Code Enforcement, and our beloved Bobby Arthurs, Chief Animal Control Officer and Shelter Manager, who directly oversee and manage the Shelter operations with thoughtful and dedicated attention to the welfare of the animals;

The County Shelter staff—the intake administrators, adoption coordinators, vet assistants, kennel techs and custodians—who make certain that all of those animals are properly documented and cared for with compassion and efficiency;

Dr. Lisa Levy, the Shelter Vet, whose medical prowess and big heart has saved the lives of hundreds of animals who arrive at the Shelter abused, mangled and injured, giving them a second chance;

The FOTAS volunteers, who work on bookkeeping, social media, and special fundraising events; who work with FOTAS Fix-a-Pet and curbing the population of community cats; who organize and work on special fundraising and on-site events; who foster mamma dogs and cats and all their progeny, who care for animals designated for transfer; who shuffle animals to off-site adoption events; who greet the public and man the front desk, walk the dogs, love up the cats, work with play groups, and show animals to potential adopters—the dramatic and steady increase in the Shelter’s live release rate since 2009 (84% so far this year) is directly related to their efforts; and

Last but not least, you, the Aiken community, who have supported our efforts with enthusiasm and generosity, adopted your pets from the thousands of deserving animals who end up in the Shelter, and who are working to end the excessive population of homeless animals by spaying and neutering your animals—you have designated the Shelter as your community shelter, and we could not be prouder.

The Board of Directors of FOTAS—Jennifer Miller, Mary Lou Welch, Edythe Hubler, Frank Townsend, Dr. Charlie Timmerman, Caroline Simonson, Ellie Joos, Ellen Priest, Grant and Heather Wiseman, Shanna Ryberg Pearsons, Jeri Barrett, Allison Tyler, myself, and FOTAS Program Director Kathy Jacobs, wish you and your family Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

By the Numbers

December specials – dogs/puppies $35, cats/kittens $10

January through November: FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter saved 3,706 dogs and cats.

Please adopt and help us save 4,000 by the end of 2017!

Pets of the Week

MARIELLE: Shepherd mix, female, 3 years old, black w/white, 31 pounds –$0 (adoption sponsored by FOTAS donor)

MARIELLE POTW DEC 24 2017

MILA: Domestic medium-hair cat, female, 1 year old, gray, 6 pounds – $0 (adoption sponsored by FOTAS donor)

MILA POTW DEC 24 2017

 

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Volunteer

FOTAS volunteers get back as much as they give to shelter animals

Posted on by Angel Hartline
15
Dec

With Christmas just a week away, FOTAS Volunteer John Berk reflects on what he will be doing on the holiday. His children are coming to visit and he and his wife, Sally, have plans to celebrate with them. But he also plans to make another stop.

“I’m sure I’ll be at the shelter on Christmas morning walking the dogs and visiting with the cats,” Berk said. “It’s a constant need that we serve. I don’t think Christmas feels any different to these animals in need.”

FOTAS Volunteer John Berk enjoys walking and spending time with shelter dogs like Arthur.
FOTAS Volunteer John Berk enjoys walking and spending time with shelter dogs like Arthur.

Berk came to Aiken 20 years ago, ready to retire after a successful career as a plant manager for a large corporation. An avid and skillful golfer, he used to spend much of his time on the links. But about four months ago, at the urging of a friend, he decided to sign up as a FOTAS volunteer. After completing a short application and taking a two-hour orientation class, he hit the ground running and immediately felt at home.

“Once you walk one of these dogs, it’s hard not to come back,” he said. “I get great satisfaction from giving comfort and a little bit of happiness to a dog or cat that really just wants to be loved and accepted.”

Another new FOTAS volunteer who has found a second home at the animal shelter is Jackie Edel. A professional horse rider and trainer most of her life, Edel and her husband, John, moved from Connecticut to Aiken 11 years ago.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Edel said. “But everyone was so friendly and welcomed me right away. I’m really impressed with how much effort people put in to get the dogs exercise and feeling more confident. And how hard they work to get them adopted.”

Volunteer Jackie Edel works with the County Shelter dogs nearly every day.
Volunteer Jackie Edel works with the County Shelter dogs nearly every day.

Edel has always been around animals and currently has four dogs and a cat at home. But it wasn’t until she and her husband decided to downsize from their farm to a smaller house, freeing her from her horse care duties, that she decided to give volunteering a try.

With her experience and comfort level around animals, she’s already become a star volunteer. She’s at the shelter nearly every day and even helps with play group, an advanced program in which dogs are brought together to interact and burn off energy in the shelter’s large, fenced-in yard.

But Edel’s favorite part of volunteering is seeing the dogs and cats finding their human matches and getting adopted.

“I certainly have become attached to some of the dogs, but I’m just so happy when they go to good homes,” she said.

If you would like to become a FOTAS volunteer, please stop by the County Shelter, 333 Wire Road, or call the FOTAS hotline, (803) 514-4313.

Their lives are in our hands.

above article written by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

BY THE NUMBERS

December specials – dogs/puppies $35, cats/kittens $10

Through November, the Aiken County Animal Shelter received 4,475 dogs and cats, and 3,722 were saved.

Please adopt and help our community shelter save 4,000 by year end!

PETS OF THE WEEK

BOO: Hound mix, female, 7 years old, black and red, 45 pounds – $0 (adoption sponsored by FOTAS donor)
BOO: Hound mix, female, 7 years old, black and red, 45 pounds – $0 (adoption sponsored by FOTAS donor)
STAR: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 1 year old, gray and black Tabby, 6 pounds - $10
STAR: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 1 year old, gray and black Tabby, 6 pounds – $10
Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Transfer, Volunteer

FOTAS needs your Christmas spirit

Posted on by Angel Hartline
03
Dec

“Every charitable act is a stepping stone towards heaven.”
Henry Ward Beecher

It’s the time of year when the spirit of Christmas thrives. It’s a time for gratitude, for family and friends. It’s a time to rejoice our faith. It’s a time for love.

It is also a time for charitable giving, and if your mailbox is anything like mine, it’s filled with requests from worthy local charities for year-end contributions. They all do good works, but you can’t give to them all. How do you decide?

I am going to take a leap of faith here—that if you are reading this column, you care about the plight of abused, abandoned and homeless animals. If that’s true, then FOTAS, the private partner of the Aiken County Animal Shelter, is the right choice for your charitable urges. Here’s why.

FOTAS provides critical assistance to 5000 Shelter animals a year. In the first ten months of this year, 3456 animals have been saved. That’s an average of 340 animals a month. No other organization comes close to saving that many animals—day after day, month after month, year after year.

FOTAS has funded the design, construction and equipping of a wellness and isolation building at the Shelter to isolate and treat contagious, treatable illnesses—a much-needed project that has been two years in the making and is close to completion. FOTAS also purchased a new anesthesia machine for on-site surgeries and a commercial dishwasher that properly sterilizes feed and water bowls. It arranged for the donation of an x-ray machine and paid for the setup and training of medical clinic personnel.

FOTAS goes the extra mile to find every animal a home.

FOTAS Super Foster Manuela Segre-Amar holds puppy Rose
FOTAS Super Foster Manuela Segre-Amar holds puppy Rose

It aggressively markets adoptable animals through print and social media and transports animals to off-site adoption events in a van donated by FOTAS. It supplements adoption fees for active Military Personnel and veterans and pays for heartworm medicine for HWP dogs adopted from the Shelter (150 this year).

FOTAS developed a network of rescue partners in other parts of the country and organizes and pays expenses for transfers of adoptable animals. FOTAS recruits foster families (and funds their provisions, if necessary) to provide interim care for animals approved for transfer and longer-term care for animals in “a family way.”

FOTAS addresses the cause of high Shelter intake: rampant overpopulation of dogs and cats. Since 2013, FOTAS has paid for over 2427 spay/neuter surgeries and neutered and returned to field 880 free-roaming community cats.

Since its inception in 2009, the Shelter’s live release rate has increased from a dismal 5% to 82.9%. That’s literally thousands more animals saved annually thanks to the substantial supplemental resources (both financial and manpower) provided by FOTAS.

Last month, the South Carolina Secretary of State honored FOTAS as one of the ten “Angel” charities in the state. FOTAS spends 83 cents of every dollar on its charitable purpose, which means you can be certain that your donations will make a difference.

The success of FOTAS is a testament to the generosity of the Aiken community, but there is still so much to do. Please send your much-needed donations to FOTAS, PO Box 2207, Aiken SC 29802 to help us continue the good work.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

By the Numbers

On Tuesday, Nov. 28, the County Shelter received 26 strays and owner-surrendered animals.

December Adoption Special: cats/kittens $10, dogs/puppies $35

Pets of the Week

BOJACK: Shepherd mix, male, 8 years old, brown, 43 pounds, calm and sweet – $35
BOJACK: Shepherd mix, male, 8 years old, brown, 43 pounds, calm and sweet – $35
DEUCE: Domestic Medium-haired cat, male, 1 year old, black and brown Tabby, 5 pounds, very friendly - $10 (available at Aiken PetSmart)
DEUCE: Domestic Medium-haired cat, male, 1 year old, black and brown Tabby, 5 pounds, very friendly – $10 (available at Aiken PetSmart)
Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Spay/Neuter

Hurricanes and crowded shelters

Posted on by Angel Hartline
16
Sep

By Joanna D. Samson, Vice President of FOTAS

The destruction wreaked by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma over the past weeks is almost unimaginable: hundreds of thousands of homes severely damaged or destroyed, tens of thousands of people in temporary shelters. As of the day I write this, there are still 6.5 million people in Florida and Georgia facing 80- to 90-degree temperatures without power.

While the impacts on people are catastrophic, the impacts on animals are equally heart-breaking. Some human shelters made arrangements for household pets, but thousands of people were forced to flee their homes without their pets. Owner surrenders at animal shelters skyrocketed as the storms crawled ashore. As heartbreaking as it is to imagine turning a beloved companion over to a shelter, it was a far better choice than abandoning them to the elements.

In anticipation of the storms, many of the animal shelters in the affected southern states made a desperate effort to transfer their animals to shelters in other parts of the country so they could make room for the inevitable deluge of abandoned and surrendered animals. Here in Aiken, for example, the SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare took in an additional 28 dogs.

The effort and resources needed to conduct rescue operations and to handle that many additional animals are enormous: hundreds of dedicated volunteers, substantial amounts of food, thousands of extra crates, and medical supplies. Many private vehicles were pressed into service to haul the animals to safety. Already overworked shelter staff worked overtime to accommodate the influx of extra animals. It’s exhausting, time-consuming and stressful work.

Although superstorms like Katrina, Harvey and Irma seem to be increasing as the earth’s temperatures rise, at least the hurricane season is limited to three months out of the year, and thankfully not every year produces a storm of these magnitudes. However, at large public shelters in the southern climes like the Aiken County Animal Shelter, intake skyrockets during the spring and summer months every year, creating the same strain on resources, funds and manpower as an extraordinary weather event.

This summer has been no exception. From May 1st to August 31st, the County Shelter took in 1,920 animals. Over a period of sixteen days in May, the Shelter took in 376 animals, that’s 23 a day. In a single week in August, the Shelter took in 186 animals, that’s 31 animals a day. Those are hurricane-like intake numbers at the Shelter without the hurricane.

The County Shelter is a public facility, obligated by law to take all animals, even when full. Staff and FOTAS volunteers shift into overdrive to accommodate these numbers. It’s an exhausting, time-consuming and stressful time. Superstorms may wreak havoc every couple of years, but super summer intake at the County Shelter happens every year, and it will continue to do so until every County pet is fixed.

The dedication and generosity of the animal rescue communities and their citizens during these recent tragedies has been remarkable. Thank God, because there’s nothing more heart-wrenching than bewildered, scared, suffering animals left homeless through no fault of their own.

We know. We see it week-in and week-out, day-in and day-out, every month during the spring, summer and early fall months. Your County Shelter needs your help all the time—not just for the occasional emergency.

Please, volunteer, donate, adopt. Their lives are in our hands.

By the Numbers
May- August:

1,920 dogs and cats were received at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

September Adoption Special:

Cat and kittens are $10, dogs and puppies $35

Pets of the Week

LINZY: Terrier mix, female, 3 years old, black & white, 47 pounds – $35
x LINZY: Terrier mix, female, 3 years old, black & white, 47 pounds – $35
AGATHA: Domestic Shorthair kitten, female, 3 months old, black & gray Tabby, 3.4 pounds – $10
AGATHA: Domestic Shorthair kitten, female, 3 months old, black & gray Tabby, 3.4 pounds – $10
Donate, FOTAS

Medical Equipment Donations Making a Big Difference

Posted on by Angel Hartline
01
Sep


By Dr. Lisa Levy, ACAS Veterinarian

The Aiken County Animal Shelter has received some amazing donations in the last few months and I am pinching myself to be sure it is real! FOTAS received an email from Lisa and Ken Kasper asking if we would be interested in a slightly used x-ray machine that they were willing to donate. They had heard about FOTAS from Dr. Kathy Bissell, a local veterinarian who was instrumental in starting FOTAS’ Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) program in the county.
A free x-ray machine! Are you kidding me?

In the past, when an animal needed to be x-rayed, it required them to be transported to a local animal hospital. My previous employers, Drs. John and Jennifer Hurd of Silver Bluff Animal Hospital, were gracious enough to allow me to use their x-ray machine whenever the need arose and never charged anything to do so. Despite their amazing generosity, I felt I needed to pick and choose my cases so as not to take advantage of them.

And there was the issue of transportation. I drive a Mustang, so for a cat or small dog it was no problem. But I could not fit a big dog in a crate in my car. Since I am technically not a county employee, I cannot drive a county vehicle, so a shelter employee (most often Randy Bush, our head kennel technician) had to drive the shelter van.

So now, thanks to the Kaspers, the shelter has its own high-quality digital x-ray machine. They donated the machine, the cassettes, the computer, and even the lead gloves and aprons needed to safely take the x-rays. FOTAS volunteers Peter Miller, Bill Joos, and Dr. Mike Wells drove to Lexington to pick up the equipment. After deciding where to locate the equipment, Paige Baine, head of Code Enforcement, and Bobby Arthurs, Shelter Manager, coordinated with county services to upgrade the electrical system. FOTAS paid for the installation, registration with DHEC, and training.

Ken and Lisa Kasper donated a digital x-ray machine to FOTAS.
Ken and Lisa Kasper donated a digital x-ray machine to FOTAS.

Last week, on the day of installation, I took my first x-ray! It was of a super sweet husky that had been hit by a car. I could feel that she had a pelvic fracture but I did not know how badly it was broken. The x-ray revealed two breaks, but neither involved the hip joint, so she should heal fine with just rest. She will be going into foster care for several weeks to recover before she is adopted.

Also last month we received a donation of an autoclave, a machine that sterilizes our surgical instruments, from Augusta Urology Surgicenter. This was made possible through a connection with Erica Lowe, a veterinary technician at North Augusta Animal Hospital. We had one autoclave which can sterilize four surgical packs at once. Since we started the TNR program for the feral cat population in the county, the number of packs used in a day has doubled – so this donation could not have come at a better time.

I am so grateful for the Kaspers, Augusta Urology, and FOTAS for contributing to the care and well-being of all the animals that pass through the shelter on their way to forever homes. It truly does take a village!

 

Pets of the Week

PENELOPE: Shepherd mix, female, 4 years old, red with white, 71 pounds - $35
    PENELOPE: Shepherd mix, female, 4 years old, red with white, 71 pounds – $35
CLIO: Domestic Shorthair kitten, female, 2 months old, gray and black Tabby, 1.8 pounds - $10
CLIO: Domestic Shorthair kitten, female, 2 months old, gray and black Tabby, 1.8 pounds – $10

By the Numbers


September Adoption Special:

Cat and kittens are $10, dogs and puppies are $35

Children, Donate, FOTAS, Fundraisers

Kids today, they’re so generous to shelter animals in need

Posted on by Angel Hartline
11
Aug

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

We’ve all heard and read the negative comments about today’s youth. Kids are lazy these days! They’re more interested in their iPhones and video games than the world around them. They’re not as engaged with society and care more about taking selfies than reaching out to others.
But despite such negativity and the glut of news stories about today’s children being more selfish, we are not seeing it. In fact, just the opposite. More kids than ever are donating time to the shelter and FOTAS has received a wave of donations from children who want to do something special for the homeless animals at 333 Wire Road.
In many cases, the kids leverage their birthdays to raise donations for the animals. Seven-year-old Marli Cook is a great example. Rather than receiving traditional birthday presents, she asked her party guests to instead bring animal food donations. Ten-year-old Christina Proctor did the same. So did Harper Still on her fifth birthday.

Seven-year-old Marli Cook with the donations her guests brought to her birthday party.
Seven-year-old Marli Cook with the donations her guests brought to her birthday party.

Audrey Dietzel even hosted her eighth birthday at the shelter last year and did the same on her ninth birthday, donating all of her cash gifts to the animals. Thanks to her asking for donations and the generosity of her party guests, FOTAS received $300 from Audrey last Saturday.

Birthday girl Audrey Dietzel (holding cash donation) hosted her birthday party at the Coun
Birthday girl Audrey Dietzel (holding cash donation) hosted her birthday party at the Coun

“We gave Audrey other options for parties – the girly spa, a pool party, Air Strike, the Great Wolf Lodge – but she loves the animals and the shelter,” said Audrey’s mom, Wendy. “That’s where her heart is right now.”
Most recently, three very young but enterprising friends from Wagener sold lemonade and used the full $100 they raised to buy food and other goodies for the shelter’s animals.

Three young friends from Wagener sell lemonade to raise money for FOTAS.
Three young friends from Wagener sell lemonade to raise money for FOTAS.

Eight-year-old Hayden Collum and his 6-year-old brother, Colton, joined their 6-year-old pal, Natalie Tyler, to raise money for the FOTAS donation. Natalie asked for a lemonade stand on her birthday and her mother, Nikki, obliged.

The three musketeers who raised money to buy food and other gifts for the County Shelter animals: Hayden Collum, 8; Colton Collum, 6; and Natalie Tyler, 8.
The three musketeers who raised money to buy food and other gifts for the County Shelter animals: Hayden Collum, 8; Colton Collum, 6; and Natalie Tyler, 8.

“As a parent, I think it’s important to get the kids out there doing something besides playing video games and watching TV,” Nikki said. “Learning responsibility is important and Natalie enjoyed working and giving goodies to the shelter animals.”

The three kids had a great time and informed their customers that all the proceeds from the lemonade sales were going to FOTAS.

Lynn Collum, Hayden and Colton’s mother, always encourages such altruistic actions from her boys. “A lot of kids have enough these days,” she said. “In my family, we were taught to give back to the community and raise money for other causes.”

Children don’t always wait for their birthday to give money or food to the animals. Nancy Bates and her two daughters Rheney, 10, and Robbie, 7, donated $120 to FOTAS when they adopted Cotton, a beautiful cream-colored kitten. The girls donated $60 of their own money to the Shelter animals, and their mom matched their donation.

Sisters Rheney and Robbie Bates donated their own money to FOTAS and adopted Cotton.
Sisters Rheney and Robbie Bates donated their own money to FOTAS and adopted Cotton.

Thank you to all the children who have been so generous to FOTAS and the Shelter animals this year! With the large intake of animals each month, these donations are crucial to the well-being and comfort of the felines and canines forced to spend time in the County facility. To donate to or learn more about FOTAS, please go to FOTASaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands.

BY THE NUMBERS

In the first week of August, the County Shelter received 186 animals.

PETS OF THE WEEK

MONTI: Retriever mix, male, 1-1/2 years old, black with white, 59 pounds - $35
MONTI: Retriever mix, male, 1-1/2 years old, black with white, 59 pounds – $35
RAY: Domestic Shorthair cat (blind), male, 8 years old, silver black, 9 pounds - $10
RAY: Domestic Shorthair cat (blind), male, 8 years old, silver black, 9 pounds – $10
Adoption, Dogs, Donate, FOTAS

Damon’s Story

Posted on by Angel Hartline
14
Apr

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

I used to have a home, and then I lost it. I went on a ride with my human—one of my favorite things to do, by the way—and the next thing I knew, the car was gone and so was the human. I was confused. I didn’t know what to do, so I started walking.

By the time the nice men in the big truck picked me up, I had been walking for days. I was tired and scared out of my wits. I was also hungry, so there was no way I could turn down the treats the nice men offered me, even if it meant they caught me, which they did. I figured they would take me home, so I curled up for a little shut-eye before the big reunion.

As it turns out, the nice men in the big truck did not take me home; they took me to big building called a Shelter full of barking dogs and people I didn’t know. I was really scared until Kathy, the FOTAS lady, came along. I had picked up some nasty fleas, and I was itching like crazy. But that Kathy is a miracle worker. She lathered my whole body up with soap, and all those blasted fleas disappeared like magic! Whoa! I decided right then and there that there were humans as nice as my human, maybe even nicer if they could get rid of fleas and remember to put me back in the car, and maybe I should give them a chance.

But no one wanted me. Sure, Kathy and the volunteers played and walked with me, but day after day, I watched my pals go to their new homes—not one person ever even stopped by my kennel. It was so depressing, I stopped even looking up when people came through the door.

So when Kathy told me some college kids needed some dog love to de-stress, I knew I could help; I know a thing or two about stress—big time. Kathy took me and two pals to a place called a college. Someone had come up with this brilliant idea, you see, to charge each student $1 to “Pet a Pup,” and for the whole afternoon, all these cool kids lined up to play with us. They paid a buck and I got all the belly rubs! Plus, the college donated all those dollar bills to buy us more treats and toys! What kind of deal is that? The best deal, that’s what.

And I tell you what else: those kids were as happy to rub my belly as I was to be rubbed because they missed their own dog pals at home. How cool is that? But I have to confess: I was flat-out exhausted from all those belly rubs, so I conked out in the car on the way back.

What a day—kids, car rides and belly rubs. Now, if someone will just take me home, life will be grand.

Damon has recently been adopted and now lives happily with his new humans. We love a happy ending.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

DAMON HELPS A STUDENT RELAX DURING USC AIKEN PET A PUP EVENT

Damon
Damon

damon march 16