Category Archives: essay

County and FOTAS Work Together to Keep Dogs Off Chains

The County, FOTAS and other concerned citizens worked together for months to pass a tethering ordinance. Many animal cruelty and neglect cases include dogs permanently attached to heavy chains that […]

Abandoned Shelter Dog Now Comforts People in Need

Beth and Gary Bode adopted Buck, a two-year-old Retriever mix, from the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) nine months ago on Halloween. They had lost both of their chocolate Labs […]

Feline FIV is a Virus, Not a Death Sentence

Each day as I finish my rounds at the shelter, I leave a list of things to be done for our team of veterinary assistants (three of the hardest workers […]

Why You Should Spay or Neuter Your Pet

On Wednesday, July 31, 44 animals were surrendered to the Aiken County Animal Shelter between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., the shelter’s posted intake hours. Forty-four animals in four hours […]

Tips for Choosing the Purr-fect Shelter Feline

Adding a cat to your home can be one of life’s most rewarding experiences. They are terrific companions and easier to care for than dogs. Plus, most felines are great […]

So Many Abandoned, Neglected Animals

Last Monday, I returned to the Aiken County Animal Shelter after my one-week summer vacation and was stunned and dismayed at the number of animals that had been taken in […]

Year of the Dog: FOTAS honors canines with adoption events this Saturday. July 28

Dogs and the experience of adopting them should be celebrated. At least, we think so. That’s why FOTAS, the Aiken County Animal Shelter and Mellow Mushroom are co-hosting Year of […]

Dog Days of Summer: County Shelter Population Doubles!

I used to love summer and particularly the 4th of July with all of its patriotic fervor, but now I dread it—not because I am less patriotic, but because I […]

Mason Is Mostly a Gentleman, Partly a Rascal and All Love

Hi! I’m Mason, a resident at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Actually I’ve been here a very long time, and that’s a bad spot to be in, particularly now that […]

Two FOTAS Family Members Honored as Heroes

The American Red Cross honored FOTAS fosters Becca Babineau and Chenoa Shields with its local hero award for “going above and beyond the line of duty to save lives and […]