Category Archives: Events

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Events, News, Volunteer, Volunteers

Young FOTAS Volunteers Making a Difference at County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
21
Sep

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director and Volunteer

On Diana Haltiwanger‘s tenth birthday, she did something unusual to celebrate the big day. She took her birthday money as well as food, leashes, toys and other treats to the Aiken County Animal Shelter and personally delivered the generous donation to FOTAS.

“I just love animals,” Diana said, “and I thought it might help make a difference in their lives.”

Diana’s selfless gesture is just one example of children steadily becoming a force in fulfilling the altruistic goals of FOTAS and the County Shelter.

Although the majority of community members who support the shelter are retirees and other adults, more kids are getting involved in assisting the orphaned dogs and cats at 333 Wire Road. Some children donate their time by participating in FOTAS events like the Dog Ears Reading Program, Dog Day Crafternoons, Woofstock, and other fundraisers. Others get involved through clubs, Scouts, and their schools (prime examples are the South Aiken High School Chapter of the Serteen Club and the Aiken High NJROTC). And some kids just decide to become FOTAS volunteers on their own.

Volunteer Holly Heiens became a volunteer after she did a report on shelter animals for school last year. Ever since learning more about their hardships, the driven 10-year-old has donated her time to animals in need.

“When Holly wants something, she goes after it,” said her mother, Kari, who volunteers with her daughter every Saturday. Kari said that even though there are lots of social events and parties on Saturdays, they work around them so she and her daughter can meet their weekly commitment to the shelter animals.

“It isn’t really hard work when you are there to help the animals and brighten their day,” Holly said. “It’s more like fun work.”

Noah Jacobs is another junior volunteer who juggles a number of responsibilities. Sports, school and hanging out with his friends are important to the 10-year-old, but he spends as much time as he can at the shelter with his mom, Kathy. The Jacobs family also fosters shelter animals at their home, helping them get prepped for adoption.

“I talk to my friends about it. I think more kids should volunteer,” Noah said. “Some of my friends are nervous about volunteering but they shouldn’t be. Even the big dogs are nice.”

Alex Robinson helps out at the shelter every weekend with his father, William, and sometimes his grandfather, Charles. One of the reasons the 12-year-old volunteers at the shelter is because he loves dogs but can’t own one where he lives.

“It has taught Alex responsibility,” William said. “I am impressed how quickly he picked up on what to do at the shelter. Overall, it’s been a very positive experience for him and we’ve met a lot of great people there.”

The County Shelter is always looking for more young volunteers to help out and work with the animals. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. If you are interested in volunteering and making a difference, please contact FOTAS at (803) 514-4313 or volunteer@angelhartlinedesigns.com.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

Adoption, Dogs, Events, News, Woofstock

FOTAS hosts 4th Annual Woofstock Festival and 1st Doxie Derby

Posted on by Angel Hartline
13
Jun

12 May 2015

FOTAS hosts 4th Annual Woofstock Festival and 1st Doxie Derby

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Imagine this: It’s Saturday morning, May 2nd, at the Woofstock Dogs, Cats and Music Festival at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. It’s 10 a.m. – almost starting time. Excitement is running high. Competitors and handlers crowd around the starting gate, jockeying for position, muscles tensed in anticipation. At last, for one brief second everyone settles. Then the bell rings and the announcer cries “They’re off!”

And so they are. 10 floppy-eared, muscle-bound short and long-bodied dachshunds erupt out of the starting gate and race to the finish line – or at least most of them do. Occasionally this one might get turned around, or that one might get distracted, or a few others might be unclear on the concept, but all in all, FOTAS’ first Aiken Doxie Derby promises to be a riot.

Here’s how it works. For a registration fee of $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the event (come early!), you can enter your “real” Doxie in the first 8 races or your “Wanna be” Doxie in a special race of their own – no prior experience is necessary. The winners of the races will qualify to compete in the Big Weiner Race Off for a chance to win real prize money ($100 for first prize, $75 for second, and $50 for third).

No Doxie’s or “wanna be” Doxies in your house willing to take a run for the roses? That’s okay. You can donate $5 to FOTAS to sponsor the Doxie Derby for a chance to win $300. Visit www.FOTASAiken.org, click on Woofstock, and donate through PayPal, or visit any of these downtown stores: Aiken Dry Goods, Downtown Dog, The Screenprint Factory, and Palmetto Package and Fine Wine. The Doxie sponsor drawing will take place at 2:30 p.m. the day of the event. You do not have to be present to win.

The dashing Doxie’s won’t be the only canines competing for fame and glory at Woofstock. The afternoon dog contests will be the perfect venue to demonstrate the versatility and smarts of your lovable mutt. You can show off your bordering-on border collie’s captivating costume, your sort-of shihs tzu’s splendid hairdo, your doubtful dobie’s delightful smooches, your half-hound’s hair-raising fetching ability, your tenuous terrier’s talent for tricks, or your precious pibble’s powerfully-radiant smile.

Not interested in competing? That’s okay too. Load up the kids, dress up the dogs and head out to Woofstock for a carefree day of music, mindless fun and a few yucks.

Plus, there will be children’s activities, raffle baskets, give-a-ways, face painting, food, and local exhibitors. Admission is free.

And here’s the thing: not only will you and your family have a grand time on a beautiful spring day (fingers crossed on the weather), you will be benefitting the County’s thousands of homeless and abandoned animals.  Virtually all of the proceeds from the Woofstock Festival will be used by FOTAS to assist the County in its dauntless task of caring for all of those animals.

Come on down this Saturday and join us for the fun. Maybe you’ll even fall for one of our adoptable animals and go home with the greatest prize of all – a new best friend to love.

Adoption, Dogs, Events, News, Volunteers

FOTAS and the SPCA-Albrecht Center come together for Fences4Fido

Posted on by Angel Hartline
13
Jun

08 March 2015

FOTAS & SPCA-Albrecht Center come together for Fence4Fido

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

When the SPCA-Albrecht Center’s Development Director, Chrissey Miller, proposed a joint FOTAS/SPCA pilot to save dogs from the cruel existence of living their entire life at the end of a chain tethered to a stake, we were delighted. Not only was it a chance to make a joint statement about responsible dog ownership with our sister agency, it was an opportunity to join a growing national movement to eliminate the cruel practice of chaining a dog to a stationary object.

Thus Fences4Fido was born. The team picked a date – February 28th – and began the search for a family in Aiken or Aiken County who wanted to improve the life of their tethered dog with a more humane containment system that was beyond their means to acquire without assistance. In short order, FOTAS volunteer Connie Jeffcoat identified the perfect family:  long-time Wagener residents with 4 mixed bull-breed dogs chained to stakes in the backyard.

“This family was a great choice,” said the County’s Chief Animal Control Officer, Bobby Arthurs. “They loved their dogs, but had fallen on some hard times and just did not have the resources to provide fencing. They were grateful for the help.”

The family also presented a challenge because they had 4 dogs in the backyard: 2 that don’t get along and 1 escape artist, so containing all 4 dogs in one fenced-in area wasn’t going to work. The team chewed it over and came up with an alternate plan: 2 fenced-in areas and one long trolley with plenty of unobstructed space to run for the escape artist. Plus, each dog would get a brand new doghouse.

All the pieces came together last Saturday for the first Fences4Fido project, and the results were sensational – on all levels.

First of all, the family was friendly, receptive and accommodating. I was worried they might feel overwhelmed when this team of 20 strangers showed up and began digging in their back yard, but they didn’t. On the contrary, they tended to their dogs, chatted with volunteers and offered to help. It was a pleasure to meet and work with them.

Second, the team of FOTAS and SPCA staff and volunteers, joined by Bobby Arthurs and Assistant County Administrators Andy Merriman and Brian Sanders wielding shovels and post-hole diggers, was awesome. Everyone was relaxed and efficient, and by lunchtime, the work was done.

“I felt a kindred spirit and enthusiasm among all of us who donated their time and skills to complete the project on time and under budget,” said Jennifer Miller, President of FOTAS.

“Plus,” said Frank Townsend, FOTAS Treasurer, “it was fun. The teamwork was impressive and at the end of the day, the pups were happy.”

Yes they were, which brings me to the most significant result of all – the reaction of the family’s 4 sweet, lovable dogs. They were visibly and undeniably happy. The 3 dogs romped around their assigned pens, elated with their newly found freedom. The escape artist explored every new inch of his greater movement on the trolley with a light cable and better fitting collar, wagging his tail furiously.

Every single one of us who witnessed their joy was deeply moved. Our efforts have made an enduring difference in the lives of these dogs.

After all, isn’t that what it’s all about?

PETS OF THE WEEK

HOPE      Female, Lab mix — 1 yr old — 86 lbs — $70.00

SYLVESTER     Male, Domestic Short Hair — 2 yrs old — 9 lbs —  $35.00

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Events, News

Notes from a busy day at the Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

07 February 2015

Notes from a busy day at the Shelter

By Ellie Joos, FOTAS Director, On-Site Activities Coordinator

It was a busy afternoon at the shelter last Wednesday, when FOTAS hosted another Dog Ears Reading Program in conjunction with the Aiken County Library.

Jenny Beck from the library waited with me for our first arrivals, along with volunteer Sharon Kahl and several Serteens.

Shortly thereafter, the first mom showed up with her daughter Lane, Lane’s friend Megan and her little toddler. They had been at the shelter the day before and heard about the Dog Ears Reading Program and came back to read specifically to the five adorable Chihuahua puppies on the adoption floor. Sharon sat on the blanket with Lane, Megan and two of the Chihuahua puppies on blankets in the outside portion of the kennel while the girls took turns reading to the puppies and loving them up. What fun!

More kids arrived over the next 2 hours. Stella read to Owen, an enthusiastic border collie mix, with Serteen Stephanie, while her brother Sam read to the bouncy and ever so eager Belinda, a sweet hound dog mix who loves the attention, with help from Serteen Jade.

Young Christian and his mom came to the shelter to read to the cats – he can’t have one at home since his dad is allergic. First he read to a kitten he had selected from the new cat condo in the lobby with Jenny, then he repaired to the shelter feline house with Serteens Kate and Brandon to share the love with the feline residents residing in the colony.

Cindy from the “Aiken Standard” was on hand to photograph the activities. She told me how much she enjoys being assigned to the shelter to cover these events, which is evident from her terrific photos published in the on-line edition the next day. If you missed them, be sure to look them up – she really captured the joy of the participating children and the animals.

I also set up a craft table with all the necessary supplies, like paper, markers, stickers, rubber stamps and such, so the kids could make their own cards when they finished reading with the help of the Serteens.  They created some samples for the kids to see so the children could make their own cards when they finished reading.

Lane said she was making her Valentine card for the puppy she had named Cupcake. She had mounted a serious campaign to adopt little Cupcake, but her mother was not having it. Too bad for Lane and Cupcake – they did make a cute couple.

Next up at the shelter is the Valentine’s Day Yard Sale and Bake Sale to be held from 10 am to 1 pm, on Sat. Feb. 14. Come on over and check out the great bargains on pet supplies, household items, toys, books, maybe even some tack and equine supplies, and of course, some fabulous baked goods. The Valentine Card craft table will be set up for the kids to show their artsy side. In addition, photographer Janice Freeland will be on site to take photos of attendees with their pets in front of a Valentine backdrop.  The address is 333 Wire Road.

And don’t miss our Valentine’s Cat Adoption Special – only $2 to adopt a fully vaccinated and spayed or neutered adult cat, one day only — Sat., Feb. 14. If you’ve been thinking about adding a feline friend to your brood, now’s the time.

The Dog Ears Reading Program will be held at the shelter on the first Wednesday of each month, which is early release day for the schools. Be sure to check the FOTAS web site at www.fotasaiken.org for reservations information.

Thank you, and as always, remember – their lives are in our hands.

Adoption, Events, News

A good day at Fox Nation

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

05 January 2015

A good day at Fox Nation

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

The horse trailers started rumbling down the dirt road around 8:30 on Monday morning, December 29th, to attend the Fifth Annual FOTAS Hunter Pace held at the Fox Nation, a magnificent 1300-acre farm in Windsor owned by Sarah and Jim Wildasin. Despite a cloudy day with occasional drizzle, by noon 24 teams totaling 62 riders had signed up, tacked up, mounted up and taken off on a picturesque 6-mile course through verdant meadows and groves of stately pines.

Also in attendance were four residents of the Aiken County Animal Shelter: Duke, a happy, yellow lab cross; Charlie, an affectionate, scruffy-haired gray terrier; Robert, a quiet, low-key, black coon hound cross with brown markings; and Rusty, a 35-pound, pretty 8-month-old female of indeterminate breeding with an affectionate and exuberant personality. They were escorted around Fox Nation all morning by long-time FOTAS volunteers and supporters: Girl, Randy and Caroline Wolcott and Elizabeth, Kelsey, Bennett and Celia van Liew.

“What a place!” said Duke, lying on his back and squirming ecstatically on the grass. “Is this heaven or what?”

“Oh yes,” said Rusty, wagging her tail furiously and ogling the crowd. “And look at all these people! So many people! Oh my, oh, my – this could be my day. Maybe someone will take me home! I’m so excited I can hardly stand it!”

Charlie moved closer to Caroline. “Did you see all those gigantic horses with those huge hooves? They don’t make me nervous, though, not one bit.  No, siree. Well . . . maybe it would be safer . . . Hey! Caroline! Down here! Down here!” he barked, jumping up and dophotos courtesy of Barry Koster Photographywn. “Pick me up, will ya? I really need a cuddle.”

“No worries, little guy,” said Robert, “you’re totally safe. This Pace was planned by crackerjack FOTAS supporters – Sarah and Jim Wildasin, Melanie Oldham and Gina Salatino. They’re total pros.”

“Uh huh.” said Duke, leaning against Randy’s leg for a possible scratch behind the ear. “Know what else? Nigel and Jim built 31 jumps built around the property, and on each jump is a snazzy sign made by Wendy Gutfarb with the name of a sponsor and a photo of one of the Shelter alumni – how cool is that?”

Charlie peered down at them from Caroline’s arms, “What? Horses jump? Oh dear, those hooves . . .” He shivered and buried his head in Caroline’s sweater.

“Huh,” said Robert, sniffing the grass for varmints, “that’s twice as many sponsors as last year. The community has really rallied around this event – big time.”

“Oh yes!” said Rusty, “and all the money they make here goes directly to help all us animals at the shelter, you know, with medicine, supplies, leashes – where would we be without leashes for our walks? ”

“Whoa! A life without walks? Too awful to imagine,” said Duke, with a vigorous shake and a roll in the grass for good measure.

“For sure,” said Robert. “I’d like to tell all those volunteers and organizers and the whole darn community how grateful we are for everything they do for us!”

“Us, too!” they all agreed and wagged their tails with ebullient enthusiasm.

It was a great day for everyone.

Betsey Minton and Ann Kinney won first place in the First Flight Division. Tom and Caitlin Tiernes and Scout and Paris Beddington blew everyone out of the water with the fastest course time. Betty Alexander, Douglas Berry, Sue Sisco and Jean Bickley took home the Third Flight first place ribbons.

Charlie found his true love at the Pace and went directly to his forever home. Duke and Robert were adopted the next day and in a loving home by New Year’s Eve.

The beautiful Rusty is still waiting at the Shelter for someone to take her home.

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

Happy New Year and God Bless.

PETS OF THE WEEK

RUSTY     Female, mixed breed, 8 months old, 40 lbs — $70

FRECKLES   Female, Calico, 2 years old, 7.6 lbs — $35

Adoption, Events, News

The Season of Giving Begins

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

07 December 2014

The Season of Giving Begins

By Edie Hubler, FOTAS Director

The little brown and white hound dog named Mae sat at perfect attention in her kennel at the new Aiken County Animal Shelter and looked up at Jeri Barrett, the owner of Herbal Solutions, with earnest brown eyes. “Like she was saying,” says Jeri, “’Please, I’ll be a good girl.’ ”

Jeri wasn’t looking for a dog – Herbal Solutions was an exhibitor at the FOTAS Woofstock Festival and she was touring the new facility – but she was touched by the hopeful Mae sitting quietly in her kennel. She called the shelter on Monday and was relieved and delighted to find that Mae had been adopted.

The memory of Mae plagued Jeri, and although she was already a veteran supporter of FOTAS – Herbal Solutions had been a frequent exhibitor at Woofstock and Jeri has donated dozens of “thunder shirts” over the years to calm anxious shelter residents – she wanted to do more.

Jeri came up with a $10,000 idea. She would recruit other Aiken businesses to sell paper dog or cat ornaments for $1.00 to hang on a special Christmas tree in the store, and all the proceeds would be donated to FOTAS.

All she needed was enough good citizens and customers to buy 10,000 paper ornaments and some willing Aiken businesses to participate.

Jeri began to call other local businesses, and in short order, she had recruited Susan Boland, Vic and Sheri Scarborough of Downtown Dog (who have been extraordinarily generous to FOTAS since they opened last year), Gaye Cain of Aiken Antique Mall, Jay Watts of Family Pharmacy, Dr. Kim Hammond-Beyer of Hammond-Beyer Health Center, Dana Hall of Security Federal Bank, Edie Conway of Riverfront Antiques Mall, and Philip Martin of Powerhouse Pet Resort.

“Hang One for FOTAS” was born.

Here’s how it works.  Visit any of these businesses during December, donate $1.00 and hang a paper dog, cat or horse in honor of someone you love.  Even better, buy 5 ornaments: the tree will be adorned more quickly, more money will go to the County’s abandoned, abused and neglected animals, and your karma will brighten a notch on the enlightenment scale.

The money will help FOTAS acquire some of the items on the Shelter Wish List: an enclosed fenced in play area for vulnerable puppies, a stainless steel wash tub and a pet dryer for the intake wing, a cat condo for the main lobby, a curtain system to shield the outdoor kennels from rain and wind – all items that keep the animals healthy and make them more adoptable.

There are so many animals to keep healthy – so many that need a new home and a second chance.

Fortunately for them, there are special people in the world like Jeri – people who expend their time, energy and personal capital to help helpless animals.

It seems like a hard lift and a lot of paper animal ornaments, but Jeri is confident the $10,000 goal will be met. “I learned something very valuable from this experience,” said Jeri. “The Aiken business community is so generous; all I had to do was ask for help.”

The season of giving has begun. Stop by one of these businesses and buy an ornament (or 2 or 5) to support FOTAS.

Better yet, come to the County Shelter and take advantage of our ½ price Holiday Adoption Special, and bring home an early Christmas present for your family.

BY THE NUMBERS

 

January/14 – October/14                                                         January/13 – October/13

Total dogs/cats received = 3821                           Total dogs/cats received = 4446

Total dogs/cats adopted/transferred = 1826         Total dogs/cats adopted/transferred = 1274

Total dogs/cats euthanized = 2133                          Total dogs/cats euthanized = 3274

Adoption, Events, Fundraisers, News, Volunteers

Community Comes Together for the Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

05 October 2014

Community Comes Together for the Shelter

Aiken’s Community Shelter

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

It’s happened.  The new Aiken County Animal Shelter has become a community place to be proud of – a place where folks like to come and volunteer their time and effort.

For those of us who experienced the dismal, depressing conditions of the old shelter, the transformation has been nothing short of amazing.

The FOTAS volunteer program is thriving.  The dedicated volunteers work closely with the County staff and are a critical, consistent, enthusiastic presence at the shelter.

Jay Lyda from Southern K9 Solutions in Augusta and Susi Cohen from the Palmetto Dog Club in Aiken come to the shelter weekly to help FOTAS volunteers and County staff with basic dog training skills.

The new shelter is host to a number of on-site community events, like the very popular Woofstock and the Children’s Dog Ears Reading Program.

The shelter is also the beneficiary this year of the Aiken Lowe’s Project Heroes, a program in which Lowe’s employees volunteer to perform community service for a local nonprofit organization.

Lowe’s employees Mark Brown, Chip Poston, Yvonne Fitzgerald, Matt Diggin, Patrick Casper and William Frashuer are providing the labor and care necessary to install wiring and speakers throughout the shelter for a much-needed public address system, which can also be used to pipe-in calming music (a little Om Guitar, anybody?) for stressed-out shelter animals, staff and volunteers.

Then there’s Logan Gibbons, an Eagle Scout candidate with Boy Scout Troup 432 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who also chose the County Shelter to be the focus of his community project.

Logan and his troop members, under the supervision of his dad, Grant Gibbons, constructed a gazebo shelter in the dog exercise yard. The boys poured concrete footings, constructed new posts and moved the roof of the overhang from the shelter created by FOTAS at the old shelter.

Now, as a result of their generosity and hard work, the dogs, volunteers and staff have a place to relax in the exercise yard shielded from the scorching summer sun.

The 6th graders from Aiken Girl Scout Troup 2409 were also busy at the shelter this summer.  In order to earn their Bronze Award, the girls must perform community service. They resolved to help the homeless – both people and animals.

The girls came to the shelter twice a week for a month to help wherever needed, doing everything from weeding, cleaning and helping walk and groom the animals.

“They loved it,” says troop leader Wendy Dietzel, those daughter Ella is a member of Troup 2409. “Because they were there on a regular basis, they got to know the animals – they felt a part of it. They were thrilled when the dogs found homes. They learned about the need to spay and neuter, and they learned about the sad realities of a crowded shelter.”

“The experience really had a positive impact on the girls. It ended up being much more of an educational experience than I had anticipated.

The growing connection of the Aiken community to the County Shelter, as illustrated by these few examples, is heartwarming.  More and more, folks are adopting their new pets from the shelter, practicing responsible pet ownership, and committing to spaying and neutering their animals to reduce the overpopulation of unwanted pets.

Thank you good citizens of Aiken. Together we are making a difference in the lives of the County’s thousands of homeless and unwanted animals.

ADOPTION SPECIAL AT THE SHELTER:

SILVER PAWS & SENIORS — half price adoption special for adopters over 60 who adopt dog/cat 6+ yrs — $35/dogs — $17 cats

PETS OF THE WEEK

LOUISE   female, Shepherd mix, 4 months old, 28 lbs — $70.00

MELISSA   female, Tabby, 3 years old — $35.00

Adoption, Events, Fundraisers, News

And Then It Rained Golf Balls ….

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

28 September 2014

AND THEN IT RAINED GOLF BALLS ...

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

It really did. Last Monday afternoon, a helicopter dropped 1000 golf balls on to the driving range at Houndslake Country Club for the FOTAS Playing Fore the Pets Golf Tournament.  It was quite a spectacle.

But first, some great news: both Andrew and Skittles, the long-term shelter residents I wrote about last Sunday, have been adopted and are now adjusting to their forever homes. We couldn’t be happier or more relieved.

If you are thinking, “Well, shoot! I wanted to adopt Andrew (or Skittles),” do not despair.  There are so many affectionate, sensational dogs like Andrew and Skittles at the shelter right now – dogs that have been loved and socialized and in many cases, trained by our volunteers and will make genuinely devoted pets.

They too need homes before their time runs out. Sadly, the County Shelter is filled way beyond its capacity, because as a public facility, it is not permitted to turn away any owner-surrenders or strays due to lack of space.

Playing for the Pets was a great success thanks to the amazing and feverish efforts of FOTAS volunteers Sandy and Ross Staiger, along with Jim Johnson, Barbara Gunter and an army of dedicated volunteers. We are profoundly grateful to all of them.

Despite a little spotty drizzle (nothing that would keep a real golfer away from the tees), 117 golfers participated in the tournament. The winners were:

  • 1st place — Stephen Welch, Terry Green, David Wolfe, John Perara
  • 2nd place — Charles Mims, Brian Epperly, Charlie Berensden, Steve Kubik
  • 3rd place — Dick Funkhouser, Rick Arkin, Brent Boore, Don Carlberg
  • Putting contest/Men — Art Sotak
  • Putting contest/Women — Peggy Sharp

About the 1000 balls dropped from the helicopter: each ball had a number corresponding with a ticket issued for a $10 donation. When the balls were dropped out of the helicopter, the person whose ball landed closest to the hole won $1000. Ball #628 assigned to Emily Hanna fell closest to the hole (2” to be exact). Congratulations Emily!

FOTAS is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization funded wholly through private donations. Fundraisers like Playing Fore the Pets are critical to its ability to supplement the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s resources to care for its animal residents.

Last year alone, almost 5000 animals passed through the shelter doors. Caring for that many animals is expensive, and FOTAS funds are necessary to bridge the budgetary gap between public funding through tax dollars and actual funding needs.

In addition, FOTAS helps its foster families with expenses, pays costs of transfer to other rescue facilities when necessary, and pays the costs to spay/neuter associated with FOTAS Fix-a-Pet, as well as FOTAS’ Lenny’s Brigade, which traps, neuters and returns feral cats in the County.

So, to all of you who supported and participated in Playing Fore the Pets – thank you.

FOTAS also is deeply grateful for the support of our sponsors: Honda Cars of Aiken, Atlantic Broadband, Carolina Outdoors, Prime Steakhouse, Chesterfield Court, Chesterfield Interiors, Fatz Café, Chick-Fil-A, and the other 60 local Aiken businesses that sponsored golf holes, golfer goody bags, and door prizes.

And of course, many thanks to Houndslake Country Club, and particularly to Rob Lee, the Houndslake Pro, for graciously hosting the golf tournament and organizing the golfers. We hope it will be the first of many.

BY THE NUMBERS

FOTAS’ Lenny’s Brigade Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) spay/neuter results

January through August 2014 = 115 community cats fixed

 

Adoption, Events, News

On the Move: the Spiffy New FOTAS Van Saves Lives

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

14 September 2014

ON THE MOVE -- New FOTAS Van Saves Lives

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

Summers are hard at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. As temperatures soar, so do the intake numbers for homeless animals.  As temperatures soar, so do the intake numbers for homeless animals. When that happens, a sense of urgency grips shelter staff and FOTAS volunteers – as many adoptable animals as possible must be moved out of the shelter quickly to make room for the hundreds of other dogs and cats abandoned, picked up as strays or surrendered by their owners.

It’s deadly serious and grueling business, trying to save all those lives, and FOTAS and its army of dedicated volunteers are busy.

Last week Larry Mitchell drove 15 adoptable shelter dogs to a partner rescue in South Carolina that will care for them until they have found new homes.

FOTAS volunteer Ellie Joos and her husband Bill take adoptable animals downtown on Thursday nights to the Farmer’s Market.

Heather Wiseman, the FOTAS Off-Site Adoption Coordinator, held an off-site adoption event last Saturday at Ladd Britt Auto Sales, a FOTAS corporate supporter who invited FOTAS to bring the animals to their business in the hopes of finding them new homes with their customers and employees.

Girl Conger, another long time FOTAS volunteer, transported adoptable shelter animals to PetSmart for a recent in-store adoption event.

And there are many more off-site events planned in the upcoming months.

For example, on September 22nd, Girl will take adoptable animals to the Play Fore the Pets golf tournament at Hounds Lake Country Club.

In October, Girl and Heather will also take adoptable animals to the Chocolate Festival at St. Mary’s and to the Blessing of the Animals at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

As you can see, saving more animals takes a lot of moving around, travel, securing the animals in their crates and properly loading the crates for safe transport. In the past, that meant FOTAS volunteers had to strap crates into the back seats and cargo holds of their personal cars and trucks to make trip.

But not anymore.  Thanks to the generous donation of Trout Farms, FOTAS has a brand new, highly functional, easy to drive High Top Cargo Van to haul its precious cargo.

Everyone loves the new van.  Girl Conger says it’s easy to drive, and unlike hauling a trailer, anyone can drive it.

“It’s also easily recognizable,” says Girl.  “When I pull into the parking lot at PetSmart, people smile and wave. They come over to the van to talk and check out the animals.

Bill Joos says it’s easy to maneuver down the narrow downtown streets and alleys, easy to park, and easy to load and unload the animals.

Assistant County Administrator Andy Merriman is also thrilled.

“For years,” says Merriman, “the Aiken County Animal Shelter has needed a practical vehicle capable of easily transporting its animals to offsite adoption events, as well as meeting other routine day-to-day transport needs so critical to our ability to save more shelter animals.  We are deeply grateful to our partner FOTAS and to Trout Farms for making that happen. It’s a godsend.”

Yes, it is.

By the way, if you have been thinking about volunteering your time, please don’t wait.  Come by the new County animal shelter on 333 Wire Road and fill out a volunteer application.

You can also call the FOTAS hotline at (803) 514-4313 or email us at info@angelhartlinedesigns.com.

The lives of all those animals are in our hands.

 

Adoption, Dogs, Events, Volunteer

CHILDREN AND DOGS, READING TOGETHER

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

31 August 2014

CHILDREN AND DOGS, READING TOGETHER

By Ellie Joos, FOTAS On-Site Program Coordinator 

A serious child sits on the kennel floor with a book in his hands, and a floppy-eared puppy sits attentively by his side with a look on its face that says, “Tell me a story, I’m all ears.”

This will be the happy scene on Wednesday, September 3, 2014, at the Aiken County Animal Shelter when FOTAS, in proud partnership with the ABBE Regional Library System, launches the “Dog Ears” reading program.

Like many shelters and libraries nationwide, the Shelter and the County Library recognize the joy and magic that happens when eager children read out loud to shelter animals who crave and need loving human attention.

What a fabulous idea!

Dog Ear-type reading programs have been studied by several prominent veterinary schools, including the University of California Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine and the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.

UC Davis reported that reading fluency improved as much as 30%, with 75% of the parents reporting that their children read aloud more frequently and with greater confidence.

The Cummings School compared reading programs where children read to dogs with reading programs where children read to people.

And guess what?  The Cummings study concluded that children who read to dogs gained in reading ability and had a more positive attitude toward reading all together, and that the children who read to people showed no significant improvement in ability or attitude.

How can we explain that?

Animals make wonderful reading companions. They listen attentively, allowing the child to read at his or her own pace and in their own words.  As a result, kids improve their reading skills in a non-judgmental, stress-free environment.

And, as the child is learning and building self-esteem, the shelter dogs and cats bask in the sounds of a sweet, soothing voice.  The experience calms and relaxes the animals, making them a more adoptable prospect.

How cool is that?

The first “Dog Ears” reading session will take place from 1pm to 3pm at the County Shelter at 333 Wire Road.

Jennie Beck, the Children’s Services Coordinator from the ABBE Regional Library System, will train FOTAS volunteers to serve as reading assistants for the children during each 20 minute reading session.

Children age 5 and over are invited to attend. They will be given a choice of age-appropriate books selected by Jennie and her staff to read to one of the dogs or cats living in the Shelter.

Then each child will sit with a volunteer companion and his or her selected animal companion at a designated quiet spot on the grounds of the Shelter.

This first session does not require advance registration.

The “Dog Ears” reading program is one of several new on-site events that are taking place at the shelter and coordinated by FOTAS volunteers with support from the new shelter manager, Martha Chadwick, and her staff.

There are so many loving and lovely adoptable animals at the County Shelter that need love, attention and most of all, a new place to call home.

Events like the Dog Ears reading program, birthday parties, doggie reunions, and other programs now in the planning stages are bringing together the County Shelter, other County agencies and the community to give these animals a second chance.

For further information about “Dog Ears” or other events, please contact 803-514-4313   or    info@FOTASAiken.org

 

NIKKI    American Bulldog, female, 10 mos., 39 lbs — $70

HECTOR   Domestic short hair, male, 3 yrs, 11 lbs — $35