Category Archives: essay

2019, Adoption, animal abuse, Dogs, essay, FOTAS, injured animals, neglected pets, News, Shelter staff

Broken Beyond Repair? They Might Just Surprise You

Posted on by Bob Gordon
02
Apr

By Dr. Lisa Levy, ACAS Veterinarian

One of the greatest dangers to dogs running loose is being hit by a car. Unfortunately, injured animals being brought to the shelter is an all too common occurrence. Some of these injuries can be catastrophic and the animals can’t be saved. But some will defy the odds and recover.

Hiccup was in bad shape when he arrived at the Shelter.

Hiccup is a small terrier mix who came into the Aiken County Animal Shelter as a stray. He had difficulty standing and had very labored breathing. X-rays revealed that he had a ruptured diaphragm — the muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. The impact from the car had caused his diaphragm to tear which allowed abdominal organs (in his case liver, stomach and intestines) to move into his chest, putting pressure on his lungs. Further x-rays revealed that he also had broken both his hips. Some hip fractures will heal on their own with restricted activity and time, while some require surgery.

The more serious problem was the diaphragm (we named him Hiccup because hiccups are caused by a spasm of the diaphragm). Surgical repair is possible but complicated and is most often done at a surgical referral practice or university. I have never done this surgery myself. I went home and talked to my husband, also a veterinarian, Dr. Michael Wells. He said he had done a few when clients couldn’t afford referral and he would be willing to try.

Hiccup on his freedom ride, heading to his forever home.

Surgery was challenging as the tear was in an area with little visibility. Since we don’t have ventilators, I had to manually bag him to breathe for him during the procedure. But Dr. Wells was successful in repairing the diaphragm and Hiccup recovered beautifully.

Hiccup soon went into foster care to see how his hips would heal. His foster parents fell in love with him and adopted him – and now this remarkable dog is running and climbing stairs without any need for further surgery.

Cadyn came into the shelter as a 5-month-old puppy after being hit by a car.

Cadyn at her forever home

My heart sank when I looked at her x-rays. She had a broken hip on one side and a dislocated hip on the other, plus both of her back legs were broken below the knee. She was trying to walk on just her two front legs! Most dogs would just give up, but Cadyn wagged her tail and gave kisses. I had my doubts but Betty, one of the vet assistants, talked me into trying to save her. Puppies do heal faster, so that was in her favor.

I splinted the more severely broken leg and hoped she would walk on the other one since it was much more stable. We kept her cage confined and slowly she started walking. The splinted leg healed but she still may need hip surgery on that side. Cadyn was adopted by Amanda, one of the shelter’s adoption counselors, and has become instant best friends with her other dog.

The resilience of the canine spirit never ceases to amaze me, and these are two shining examples.

Their lives were literally in my hands.

BY THE NUMBERS
From March 1- 27, the Aiken County Animal Shelter received 360 strays and surrendered pets

PETS OF THE WEEK

ZEUS
Mixed breed, male, 5 years old, white and black, 70 pounds – $35

PRECIOUS
Domestic Shorthair, female, 5 years old, white and black, 7 pounds – $10

2018, Adoption, Dogs, essay, FOTAS, News

Surrendered Pets Desperately Want to Be Home for Christmas

Posted on by Bob Gordon
17
Dec

With more than 1,000 strays and surrendered pets arriving at the shelter over the last two and a half months, there are going to be adoptable animals who get lost in the crowd and take longer to find their forever homes.

Zeus is an amazing athlete and loves to play fetch.

But here are three hidden gems who will make wonderful companions for you and your family. All of these dogs were surrendered by owners facing dark times. These people gave up their dogs for such reasons as financial loss and personal health issues. One owner had to move into special care housing that prohibits pets.

Hoppy has a lot of energy and is very affectionate!

Difficult situations all – but ones these dogs don’t understand. All they know is that they were at home, loved and happy – and then suddenly a car ride turned into a nightmare when they were left in an animal shelter with strangers.

If you’re looking to add a dog to your home, please take a look at these adoptable candidates. They have already proven to be terrific pets. Now, they just want a second chance at a good life with another person or family.

Hoppy: This 5-year-old Boston Terrier mix is happiest when he’s running and playing, but also will sit patiently while you stroke him under his chin and behind his ears. Hoppy tends to jump a lot when he’s on a leash, so he’s not the ideal dog for a family with young children. But he’s a terrific pet for people who are active and want a dog to match their lifestyle. Hoppy is available to an approved home for no charge – his adoption fee has been paid for by FOTAS.

Theia’s adoption fee has been sponsored and paid for by Coldwell Banker Realtor Erika Ramsey.

Theia: When you visit Theia, you’re likely to see her with a Nylabone in her mouth. She picks it up and shows it off to anyone who stops by her kennel. This gorgeous Pibble is 2 years old and 57 pounds. She loves people but doesn’t like to share, so she must be the only dog you own. If you can provide her with a loving home, Theia’s adoption fee will be waived. She’s been sponsored by a FOTAS donor.

Zeus: Such a regal dog! Zeus is a Rottweiler/Boxer mix with magnetic eyes – one light and one dark. He’s 1-1/2 years old and 83 pounds. One of the most athletic dogs ever to grace the shelter, Zeus needs a home with a fenced-in yard that will allow him to run and play. He’s very smart and will make a great companion for the right home. Zeus is available for $0 – his adoption fee has been paid for by a generous FOTAS sponsor.

Stop by and see these wonderful dogs and the many other animals who need homes. The County Animal Shelter is located at 333 Wire Road in Aiken. You can also call the Shelter at (803) 642-1537 and speak to a staff member or volunteer. They’d be happy to answer any questions and help you find a pet!

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2018, Adoption, Dogs, essay, FOTAS, microchipping, News

Reunited by a Microchip — Eight Years Later!

Posted on by Bob Gordon
12
Dec

This is a story with a happy ending, one that spans eight years, six states, and a dog named Beanie.

In 2010, the Wilson* family found a hungry and scared shepherd puppy on the side of the road. They took her home, fed her, and cleaned her up. They actively searched for her owners, but no one claimed her. After some time had passed, they named her Beanie, took her to the vet, had her vaccinated and microchipped, and found her a home with a couple who lived up north.

This past October, Kate Wilson, who now lives in Delaware with her family, was contacted by the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Beanie had been picked up as a stray by animal control officers, who found the Wilson’s contact information through their original microchip registration.

A microchip is only the size of a grain of rice but it can be the lifeline to your pet.

The Wilsons were stunned. How could this have happened? Certain that Beanie was just lost and not abandoned, they searched for the family who had adopted her, but the contact numbers from eight years before were disconnected. Then they posted Beanie’s information on “lost pet” sites all over social media, but by the end of the shelter’s mandatory “stray” hold period, no one had claimed her.

In the meantime, the Wilson family couldn’t stop thinking about Beanie. The decision to rehome her eight years before had been a hard one. At the time, they already had family pets as well as another stray puppy they were trying to place, so when they found Beanie what they thought was the perfect home, they reluctantly let her go, but they never forgot about her.

I spoke and texted with Kate often during the week Beanie was held at the shelter. Both Kate and her husband had come to see the hand of God in this unexpected reappearance of Beanie in their life, and they made the decision to bring her home—so long as she was kid-friendly and could get along with their other two dogs. We tested Beanie at the shelter with both children and other dogs and she passed with flying colors—the sweetest dog ever! We arranged for Beanie to catch a ride north with one of our transfers, and Kate met the truck on the side of the road at 3 a.m. to pick her up and take her home.

The reunion was magic. Beanie was happy to see Kate and her husband, and she bonded immediately with the children and the two dogs. She even sleeps with their little pug, who can be prickly with other dogs. “It’s like she’s always been here,” says Kate, “part of the family—like she never left.”

Beanie’s microchip helped her find a forever home and two canine BFFs.

Meant to be? Hand of God? Works for me.

There are so many lessons to be learned from this story, but here’s the most important: microchips are an inexpensive, effective way to keep your pet safe when the worst happens and they get lost—all you have to do is keep your microchip contact information current. Microchips can be inserted quickly and painlessly by your vet or a local clinic.

Beanie was lucky; her microchip got her home. Will your pet be that lucky?

Their lives are in our hands.

*Name changed at the family’s request.

— by Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director

 

 

By the Numbers

Over the last two months (Oct 1 to Dec. 5), the County Animal Shelter has taken in 927 strays and surrendered pets! Please spay/neuter your dogs and cats.

 

Pets of the Week

JACKS: Shepherd mix, male, 2 years old, white, 80 pounds – $35

 

FROST: Domestic Shorthair kitten, male, 2 months old, orange and white Tabby, 1.7 pounds – $10

 

 

 

2018, awards, essay, FOTAS, News, Spay/Neuter, surrendered pets, TNR Program, Volunteers

Giving Thanks at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Bob Gordon
26
Nov

Thanksgiving is a time of reflection for those of us at FOTAS — a time to take stock of our blessings; to consider the remarkable progress we and the County have made in making the world a better place for Aiken County’s homeless, abandoned and abused animals; and in particular, to celebrate the many people who have contributed to our success and made this journey so meaningful.

Thanks to our committed partner, Aiken County, for making it possible to save the lives of thousands of homeless animals in the County.

Volunteer Joanne Goble with recently adopted Retriever mix GLENDA

Thanks to Paige Bayne, the County’s Enforcement and Animal Services Director, Bobby Arthurs, the Shelter Manager and Chief Animal Control Officer, Dr. Lisa Levy, the Shelter’s veterinarian, and all the Shelter staff for their dedication to increasing the opportunities for each adoptable animal to find a forever home.

Thanks to the army of volunteers who make the work of FOTAS possible—everything from manning the front desk, walking and training dogs, managing canine play groups, working special events and fundraisers, fostering dogs, organizing transfers, manning off-site adoption events, working on publicity and social media, to financial records and bookkeeping.

Finally, thanks to you, the Aiken Community, for your extraordinary generosity and support. You have made it possible for FOTAS to help the County provide the best possible care for shelter animals and to find them forever homes. As a result of all our collective efforts, FOTAS was one of ten recipients out of thirty-three thousand charities in South Carolina recognized by the secretary of state as an “angel” charity for its effective and efficient service in the community.

That’s a very big deal.

Abby Grant, who won the Adopt a Shelter Pet Coloring Contest in the Aiken Standard, plays with a kitten at the shelter.

But there’s still so much to do. Intake at the shelter has exploded— in the last six weeks over 700 animals were surrendered to the shelter. The strain on the system, our resources, volunteers, and staff is huge, and eventually the system will not be able to keep up. It just can’t.

The answer to reducing these extraordinary intake numbers is to reduce the homeless population by fixing every pet. Adopting a pet into the family requires commitment and responsibility for shelter, food, and medical care for the pet’s entire life.

Sure, sometimes awful things happen to good people and they are forced to do the unthinkable and give up a beloved pet, but surrendering an animal to a public shelter must be the very last resort. We are pleading with folks to network with their friends and family, use social media, do everything they can to rehome their pet into a safe and healthy situation. No matter how good FOTAS and the county shelter are, a pet surrendered to the shelter is at risk because there are just so many animals that can be absorbed into an already pet-saturated community at any given time.

Please join us in our fight to reduce the homeless population of pets through spay/neuter and educating the public about pet responsibility. Thank you, and God bless you and your family during this holiday season.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

 

 

By the Numbers
In the last six weeks, more than 700 animals have been received by the Shelter as strays or surrendered pets.

 

Pets of the Week

LINNETTE
Domestic Shorthair, female, brown Tabby, 2 months old, 1.8 pounds – $10

 

PUMPKIN
Boxer mix, male, brown & white, 2 years old, 63 pounds – $35

2018, Adoption, Doggy Treadmill, Dogs, essay, FOTAS, Junior FOTAS, News, Training, Volunteers

Doggy Treadmill Works Wonders at the County Shelter

Posted on by Bob Gordon
19
Nov

Working out on the treadmill helped TORI build back her confidence.

When someone suggested to FOTAS a few months ago that using a doggy treadmill at the Aiken County Animal Shelter would help our shy, scared dogs and overly-energetic dogs to adapt faster, I was skeptical. But when I spoke with Susi Cohen, an amazing dog trainer who helps us with behavioral issues, she was all for it.

So we thought, why not? If it can help us save more dogs, let’s give it a try.

Susi located (and FOTAS paid for) a canine treadmill and trained seven volunteers how to work with the dogs on the treadmill. Besides being great fun, I was stunned at the results.

For example, Tori, one of our shyest dogs (and the longest resident on the adoption floor) cautiously stepped on the treadmill, lured by a treat. Susi started the equipment slowly. At first, Tori stumbled, then she walked, but she still wouldn’t make eye contact. As we increased the speed, she had to focus, and then she relaxed. Amazing! She was engaged; she was responding to praise, to us. She was becoming … a pet!

HANK, now adopted, was one of the first Shelter dogs to use the doggy treadmill.

Or take Nero, who was admitted to the shelter with a collar embedded in his neck. For two weeks, he sat motionless in his kennel, unresponsive, unable to make eye contact. After a bit, he attached to one of our intake volunteers (she is a dog whisperer—they all fall for her eventually), who was able to coax him out of his shell. Once he took that step, he emerged as a high-energy bull in a china shop—pulled on the leash, distracted by dogs, squirrels, you name it. He was a happy boy, probably for the first time in his short life.

Junior FOTAS students meet and read to NERO during their recent visit to the Animal Shelter.

Could time on the treadmill help big Nero calm down and focus on us? I wasn’t certain. Nero started working on the treadmill on Monday, and I missed his first three sessions. On Thursday morning, I took him for a walk first thing (he’s housebroken—he waits), and Whoa! What a difference!

Nero and I had just started on our walk when Pat, a friend and volunteer, stopped me to chit-chat. As we were talking, Nero sat patiently on my foot. He didn’t pull. He didn’t bark. He just sat, relaxed and behaved. I was floored! I walked him straight into the lobby and announced the amazing transformation in this dog thanks to the treadmill, the volunteers, and lots of praise.

This past Saturday, after our Junior FOTAS group finished reading to the dogs (our Dog Ears Reading Program), I brought Nero out to meet the kids. They all ran to him and hugged him, and he rolled into their arms, gentle and snuggly. I have to confess, I cried.

Nero and Tori still need a forever home (they are such great dogs now!) All of us — FOTAS volunteers and shelter staff—are so grateful for our generous supporters that make it possible to purchase tools, like the treadmill, that help transform a scared, abandoned dog into a pet. We are also grateful for the dedicated volunteers that convince those lost and unloved animals that humans aren’t so bad, so that one day they will be able to return that love to a new family in a forever home.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Coordinator

 

By the Numbers
From Nov 1 to 15, the Aiken County Shelter received more than 200 stray animals and surrendered pets.

 

Pets of the Week
SKYE
Retriever mix, female, 2 years old, tan, 58 pounds – $0 (adoption fee paid for by FOTAS donor)

 

GIBLET
 Domestic Shorthair, male, 2 months old, gray Tabby, 1.5 pounds – $10

2018, Dogs, essay, FOTAS, News, Training, Volunteers

FOTAS and USC Aiken Partner on Program that Helps Save Shelter Dogs’ Lives

Posted on by Bob Gordon
21
Oct

When you take Dr. Meredith Elzy’s Behavior Modification class at USC Aiken, not only do you learn the key concepts of this psychology therapy in a regular classroom setting, but you also make weekly visits to the Aiken County Animal Shelter to learn how to train homeless dogs.

The USCA students work closely with and get to know the dogs during their training.

“My role is taking what students are doing with the dogs and facilitating how it pertains to what they’re learning in the classroom,” Dr. Elzy explained.

Now in its second year, the program has already gained popularity at USC Aiken with students eager to spend time with shelter dogs for credit. Three hours a week are devoted to lecture and discussion at USC Aiken, but one hour a week involves working closely with dogs on the adoption floor.

This year, Dr. Elzy decided to join the students during this hands-on part of the program.

“I’ve learned the importance of getting to know the personalities of the dogs and what it means to work with a dog that may have been neglected and is now craving love and attention,” she said. “I think it’s a really important skill to perceive what each dog’s strengths and weaknesses are from both a behavior modification aspect and a broader psychological aspect.”

Besides teaching students psych concepts and providing them with valuable learning tools, the class also helps to prepare dogs for their forever homes.

Susi Cohen’s (left) dog training class at the ACAS is helping USC Aiken Psychology students learn their craft while also preparing dogs for adoption.

USC Aiken Assistant Professor Dr. Meredith Elzy (left) walks Tiger as one of her students works with Billie. Both shelter dogs are steadily gaining more confidence through training.

When shelter canines receive more time and attention, it makes them more trusting and confident – which makes them more adoptable. In fact, the extra human attention can save their lives by better ensuring they will make good pets and be on their best behavior once adopted.

Students come to the Shelter on Tuesdays and Thursdays to work with the dogs for an hour and follow the instruction of Susi Cohen, one of the Shelter’s lead dog trainers. During the first five weeks of class, the students enjoy the group instruction from Susi; but during the second five weeks, they’ll take what they’ve learned and apply it on their own, socializing and walking dogs as FOTAS volunteers.

“I’ve been amazed at how sweet these dogs are,” said USC Aiken student Rachel Hopkins. “They seem so sad at first…but once they get out there with us, they do a complete 180 because they’re so happy being with people and getting attention.”

Hopkins said she’s gotten a little emotional at times seeing the many unwanted dogs, but the chance to learn while giving back to the community has been a valuable experience.

“During my first class, one of the dogs, Jett, rested his head on my lap for five straight minutes and it really pulled at my heart how much he just wanted to be accepted and loved on,” she said. “But I was just informed that he was adopted this week, and that makes me feel wonderful.”

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

 

By the Numbers
In the first half of October, the County Animal Shelter received more than 300 strays and surrendered pets!

 

Pets of the Week

CARLIN
Domestic Shorthair, male, gray Tabby, 2 months old, 1.8 pounds – $10

 

POLO
Retriever mix, male, white and tan, 3 years old, 49 pounds – $35

2018, donations, essay, Events, FOTAS, Fundraisers, News, Volunteers

Leadership & Teamwork Make FOTAS Golf Tourney a Signature Event

Posted on by Bob Gordon
09
Oct

FOTAS just held its Fifth Annual Playing Fore the Pets Golf Tournament and Helicopter Ball Drop on Oct. 1. The event was bigger than ever, with 176 golfers participating in the tournament and 996 ball drop raffle tickets sold.

A golf tournament participant checks out the prizes and gift baskets provided by sponsors.

In just five years, this special event has become the biggest FOTAS fundraiser of the year. It’s quite an achievement but such success doesn’t happen by accident. The event has grown and progressively raised more money to benefit the homeless pets at the Aiken County Animal Shelter due tostrong leadership and a lot of hard work.

The leadership? Sandy and Ross Staiger, co-chairs of the event. When Ross retired in 2011, the couple moved from New Hampshire and made their home in Aiken. Sandy joined FOTAS in 2012 as a dog-walking volunteer and soon put her photography skills to good use, taking high-quality pictures of shelter dogs to promote their availability and use in their profiles. She helped out at various FOTAS events, including the organization’s annual Woofstock festival, and

On tournament day, Sandy Staiger reviews final details with a representative from The Reserve Club at Woodside.

thought adding a golf tournament to the FOTAS schedule of events could be a nice fit.

Never one to sit quietly when she has a suggestion, Sandy shared her idea to start a golf-themed fundraising event with FOTAS President Jennifer Miller. The event would include their signature attraction, a helicopter hovering 300 feet in the air, dropping hundreds of numbered golf balls onto a target below. Each ball would represent a $10 raffle ticket and the person whose ball landed closest to the target would win $1,000. Miller and the FOTAS Board liked the idea and held the premier Playing Fore the Pets fundraiser in 2014.

“The goal of this event is not only to provide a fun time for amateur golfers and raise money for the animals, but also to build awareness of the needs at the County Shelter and inform the community about FOTAS’s many helpful programs that help these unwanted pets,” Sandy said.

The hard work of planning and executing the tournament is done by the Playing Fore the Pets event committee. According to the Staigers, this group is the “heart” of the tournament’s success. No outside contest experts are hired. No consultants provide support. It’s up to this small unit to minimize expenses and do all the leg work. FOTAS volunteers fill the role of the event’s service staff on tournament day.

During the helicopter golf ball drop event, nearly 1,000 golf balls are released from 300 feet onto a target below.

The committee includes: four-year veterans Karen Loughran, Sharon Johnson and Connie Jarzmik; two-year vets Jan Barker and Cori McCorkle; and Cindie Davidson, who joined the committee this year. These women start organizing and seeking sponsors in May and their work doesn’t let up until the day of the tournament and golf ball drop.
This year, sponsorship signs, banners, and beautiful prize baskets dominated the tournament grounds more than ever — all due to the work of committee members and the generosity of both long-time and freshman sponsors.

“The best part for Ross, me and the committee is seeing the result of our efforts,” Sandy said. “It’s all about benefiting the County Shelter animals.”

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

 

By the Numbers
In the first four days of October, the County Animal Shelter received 120 strays and surrendered pets – an average of 30 animals per day!

 

Pets of the Week

TULIP
Domestic Shorthair, female, tortoiseshell, 1 year old, 7.2 pounds – $10

ALLEN
Retriever mix, male, brindle, 1 year old, 52 pounds – $35

Bully Dogs, Doggie Day Out, Dogs, essay, FOTAS, News, Pibbles, Uncategorized, Volunteer, Volunteers

Love Is in the Air at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Bob Gordon
24
Sep

Sandra Procter, one of FOTAS’s first volunteers, was walking her favorite dog, Stanley, on the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s trails this week. She stopped to pet Stanley and praise him for his good behavior.

As she enjoyed this warm moment with the young Retriever mix, Sandra looked around her and saw something that really touched her – four other volunteers enjoying similar quiet moments with shelter dogs.

Kathy Jacobs calms an excitable, young Pibble.

Jeff Martin had Choco on the trail and was petting and reassuring the handsome Doberman mix; Jeff’s wife, Bonnie, was hugging sweet Bulldog mix, Princess; and Jackie Edel was sitting on a bench, loving on petite Beagle mix, Suzette. Meanwhile, John Berk was gently loading Carter, a red Shepherd mix, into his car for a “Doggie Day Out” to Starbucks. No one was actually walking; they were each giving their shelter dogs some quiet time, love and affection – helping them to learn trust.

Often people think they can’t walk dogs because it will be too physically demanding. There are some dogs that do need a lot of exercise and time to run, but so many others would much rather sit with a person on a bench or a couch, and be loved. Hours are spent in their kennels each day, some only getting out for half an hour. They are lonely. Dogs are companion pets, “man’s best friend”.  They crave love from people.

Our shelter cats also need volunteers to sit with them, pet them, talk to them. There is nothing better than bringing a book and sitting on the bench in the cat facility. Within minutes, you will have furry friends curling up with you.

FOTAS Volunteer Joanne Goble enjoys some quiet time with sweet Charlie, a special needs, three-legged dog.

Joanne Goble came to us as a new volunteer. She had trouble getting some of the more excitable and larger dogs out of their kennels. But other volunteers were happy to help get the dogs out for her if she would just pet the lonely animals and spend time with them. Joanne is a great dog walker but an even better dog lover. She also gives the best

Volunteer John Berk and Kromer.

belly rubs, according to Charlie, a senior three-legged dog who would much rather sit by Joanne on the couch than take a long walk on the trails.

“Being at the shelter walking the dogs and interacting with the other volunteers has helped me more than anything else since my husband’s death in February,” Joanne said. “I just need to know my size limitations on which dogs I should walk.”

“All I would say to a prospective volunteer is, for me, being at the shelter makes everything right with the world,” she added.

Dogs and cats give us just as much love as we give them. If you are struggling with stress, anxiety, loss or just feeling lonely, you will benefit from spending time with shelter pets. Hug a dog or a cat, spend time interacting with a pet and you will both feel so much better!

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director

 

By the Numbers

The County Shelter received 493 strays and surrendered pets during the month of August.  In the first five days of September, the shelter received 52 animals.

Pets of the Week

CASS
Domestic Medium haired cat, female, 4 years old, 14 pounds – $10 (available at Aiken PetSmart store)

 

PRINCESS
American Bulldog mix, female, 4 years old, 47 pounds – $35

Cats, essay, FOTAS, kittens, News, PetSmart cats, Uncategorized, Volunteers

Aiken PetSmart Cats Get Care and Comfort from FOTAS Volunteers

Posted on by Bob Gordon
24
Sep

“I like their purring – I love that sound,” says FOTAS PetSmart Volunteer Twylia Stewart as she strokes the fur of Kendi, a male black kitten who’s just arrived from the Aiken County Animal Shelter. “I also think they sometimes don’t get as much attention from people as dogs do. Everybody loves dogs, including me, but I think cats are sometimes seen as the second-class citizens of the pet world.”

Michelle Greene gets some help from kitten Bess while cleaning a PetSmart cat condo.

Stewart’s passion for felines is shared by all the members of the FOTAS volunteer team who take care of the cats at the Aiken PetSmart Store.

“We love what we do,” said Judy Albert, who leads this special team. “We want to help and make sure the cats are well-cared for and give these animals a second chance to live with a loving family.”

The Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) receives many unwanted felines in need of homes each month, but the partnership with PetSmart helps ease the load, providing a second location for cats to be showcased and adopted. While most of the adoptable adult cats and kittens are available at the County Shelter located at 333 Wire Road, PetSmart provides FOTAS with 10 cat condos at its Aiken store on Whiskey Road.

PetSmart has 10 cat condos at the back of the Aiken store that attractively display the Shelter cats.

Once ACAS staff transports the cats and all their medical records and paperwork to PetSmart, the FOTAS volunteers keep the felines watered, fed and clean. They follow a strict schedule, making sure that someone comes in to maintain the kitties’ condos and living area twice a day, every day. The volunteers also take notes on the cats’ behavior and special needs and most stay for hours to play with the felines, helping to socialize and prepare them for their future forever homes.

“Cats are funny and entertaining,” says Michelle Greene, who started volunteering three years ago because her 10-year-old daughter, Ansley, wanted to help and be around the PetSmart cats. “We enjoy working with them, try to make sure they feel comfortable around people and let the compatible ones play together. I like volunteering here because it’s something I can do once a week that benefits the animals and it’s also teaching my kids responsibility. We call it our ‘fuzz therapy.’”

FOTAS Volunteer Twylia Stewart cuddles PetSmart Calico kitten, Eileen.

Thank you so much to the FOTAS Pet Smart volunteers: Leader Judy Albert, Eileen Livesey Allen, Kathy Bissell, Meagan Boehl, Kayla Cox, Cheryl Dillinger, Lynn Edwards, Michelle Greene, Allison Hamilton, Leah Holt, Lauren Jennings, Diane Moore, Twylia Stewart and Emily Smith.

Thank you also to PetSmart, especially Aiken PetSmart Store Manager Steve Block, Assistant Store Leader Ken Gunter, Customer Engagement Leader Lauren Amundsen and the many store associates who assist customers.

It’s a team effort and a lot of work but the results speak, or rather, meow for themselves.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

 

 

Pets of the Week

EILEEN: Calico kitten, female, 4 months old, 4.5 pounds – $10 (available at Aiken PetSmart store)

 

TOOTOO: Terrier mix, female, 10 months old, 33 pounds – $35

2018, County animal laws, Dogs, essay, FOTAS, News, Stray hold requirements, surrendered pets

Shorter Stray Hold Requirement Will Reduce Kennel Stress

Posted on by Bob Gordon
24
Sep

It’s Friday, August 24th and the Aiken County Animal Shelter is full. I make my way to Intake to check out the new arrivals. There are so many in all shapes and sizes: fluffy, shiny, furless, battered, blonde, red and black. They are scared and anxious. It breaks my heart.

A Pibble waits for her chance to be moved to the County Shelter’s adoption floor.

Near the back in #28, a beautiful female Shepherd picked up as a stray cowers in the back of her kennel. I sit by the door and talk softly to her, offer her treats. Eventually she crawls forward and licks my hand. That’s a good sign. It means she will probably be a highly-adoptable dog.

Seven days later, however, that same Shepherd is jumping, barking, spinning in circles in her kennel. She is anxious, frantic. That’s not a good sign. She is showing signs of extreme kennel stress already, and yet she cannot be moved to the adoption floor for at least six more days.

Why? Because county regulations currently require stray dogs to be held for five business days (the day of arrival, weekends and holidays don’t count) before they can be released for adoption.

I do the math: my girl in kennel #28 came in on Friday; day 1 will be Monday. Technically her five-day hold will be up at closing-time on Friday, August 31st, but it’s a holiday weekend, so she can’t be spayed until Tuesday, September 4th. If she does well, the earliest she could be moved to the adoption floor is Wednesday the 5th.

That’s 13 days before she even gets the chance to be adopted. During that time, experienced volunteers will walk her and evaluate her behavior, give her some much-needed love and attention, but she is only one of hundreds of dogs who need attention at the shelter. I watch her spin and bark and pace in her kennel, and I pray she can stay sane that long.

The five-day rule is intended to allow owners the chance to claim their lost dogs, however, it just doesn’t happen that way. Here are the facts: only 8% of stray dogs are claimed by their owners, and that 8% are almost always claimed within three days of pickup.

Only 8%. Three days.

Nine out of 10 stray animals at the Shelter are never claimed by owners.

In the meantime, our girl in kennel #28 is suffering. No matter how good the facility, the shelter is an unknown, noisy, busy place full of barking dogs and strangers. It is particularly hard for the dogs, who are social animals by nature. They must be housed separately for their own safety, but that separation, coupled with the noise and activity levels, wears on them, and like people, their ability to adapt varies widely from animal to animal. We’ll try to give the pretty Shepherd more time in the play yards and additional walks, but the shelter is full. There are so many animals and only so many volunteers.

I am happy to report that our pretty Shepherd persevered with a little help from her human friends at the shelter: she has a new home and humans to love her every day. It’s a shame she had to suffer all those extra days needlessly. Fortunately, last Tuesday, Aiken County took steps to change the stray-hold requirements to five calendar days. We applaud the County Council and Administration for their efforts.

Their lives are in our hands.

— by Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director

 

By the Numbers

Nine out of 10 stray animals received by the shelter are never claimed by owners.

 

 

Pets of the Week

ROSETTA: Mixed breed, female, 5 years old, 48 pounds – $35

 

JEN: Domestic Shorthair kitten, female, 2 months old, 1.3 pounds – $10