Category Archives: Foster

2024, Foster, fostering, Volunteer

Giving Tuesday: supporting Aiken County’s homeless animals

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Aiken County Shelter dog smiling up
25
Nov

This Tuesday, December 3rdh, is Giving Tuesday, which kicks off the annual Christmas-giving season with a world-wide celebration of selfless generosity. There are so many worthy charities in the Aiken community, so how do you choose a charity for your donation?

If you’re an animal lover and you want your hard-earned dollars to make a difference, then FOTAS, the private partner of the Aiken County Animal Shelter, is the choice for your charitable generosity. Here’s why.

  • FOTAS, working with the County Shelter, saves more animals than any other 501(c)(3) organization in the CSRA. Period. Full stop. For the past SIX years, every adoptable animal at the shelter was saved, and thanks to the extraordinary efforts of FOTAS, this year will be no exception.
  • FOTAS AND AIKEN COUNTY fund more spay/neuter pet surgeries for folks in financial need than any other charitable organization in the CSRA.
  • FOTAS AND AIKEN COUNTY fund more TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) surgeries for community cats than any other charitable organization in the CSRA.
  • FOTAS saves more heartworm positive (HWP) dogs than any other charitable organization in the CSRA.
  • FOTAS supplements adoption fees for active military personnel and veterans.
  • FOTAS helps county animal control take dogs off the chain by funding humane runners for distribution to county residents.
  • FOTAS gives out more pet food to Aiken County pet owners in need than any other charitable organization in the CRSA. This critical assistance makes it possible for folks to feed (and, thus, keep) their animals in hard times.
  • FOTAS also funds the costs of flea medication, toys, leashes, and pet food supplements, as well as subsidizing equipment and extraordinary medical needs at the shelter.
  • FOTAS is 100% supported by private donations, and we need your help now more than ever. The shelter, like all public shelters post-Covid, is overwhelmed with shockingly high intake. More people are abandoning their animals than adopting new ones.

Here in Aiken County, the problem is compounded by an explosion in population growth in the county, as well as a severe shortage of veterinarians and low-cost spay/neuter services. This means more and more animals are joining the ranks of the unwanted and the homeless—a tragedy after so many years of progress.

Have all those private donations to FOTAS made a difference?

You bet! An incredible difference! In 2009 (the year that FOTAS was created) over 90% of the animals consigned to the shelter were euthanized. Today that number has been turned on its head. From 2018 through this year, 2024, every adoptable animal at the shelter was (and will be) saved. That’s over a 90% save rate.

Our success is your success: FOTAS’ ability to save so those thousands and thousands of shelter animals is the direct result of your generosity. From our hearts to yours, thank you and God bless.

Please send your much-appreciated donations to FOTAS, PO Box 2207, Aiken SC 29802, or go to fotasaiken.org to make your donation online. By the way, when you donate to FOTAS, you can be certain your monies go to our life-saving programs because our administrative expenses are so low: FOTAS is a volunteer-based nonprofit with no brick and mortar.

Their lives are in our hands.
By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice-President

2024, Adoption, Foster, PUPPIES

Puppies, puppies, puppies!

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
One of the litters arrived, stuffed in a hot, dirty kennel.
27
Sep

A dozen puppies at the Aiken County Animal Shelter are looking for good homes, another 15 desperately need fostering, and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight as more stray pups keep pouring into the shelter.

Why are we getting so many puppies? Well, there are a number of factors, including people overbreeding and dumping puppies on the side of the road or on other people’s property. In addition, adult dogs are increasingly being abandoned on the street, often by people facing financial hardships who can no longer afford to feed or house them. These wandering strays are breeding and producing pups. Also, Aiken County is growing and our veterinarian offices are not able to keep up with appointments. This means citizens sometimes find that spay and neuter surgeries are booked up and an appointment for surgery may not be available for months, resulting in many accidental litters.

Adopters needed for cute puppies
Because of this puppy explosion we’re experiencing, we have adorable canine babes available for adoption. Dilly, a chunky four-month-old, is squishy, lazy and loves snuggle time! Delilah is a more petite, super fun pup that loves to play.

The Hound/Shepherd litter is amazing! These pups, which include Bandit, Carrie, Rex, Rocky, Tina, Spicy, Zyla and Zeek, came to us shoved in a hot and filthy crate. They are so grateful for love, baths and no more fleas! This crew adores toys and any attention given.

The Labby litter, which includes Nigel, Niko, Nathan and Nolan, breaks our hearts. We couldn’t find a foster home for them so by the time we could get them fixed and ready for adoption, they were a little more shy than we would prefer. However, these cuties will be fine; they just need homes soon, so they can build confidence and gain more trust in people.

Short-term fosters needed now more than ever
Every kennel in our puppy section is full of litters. This is so hard to see. These babies need love and care. Are they safe and cared for? Of course. We have an amazing staff. But the shelter is full, and no one has enough time to work with puppies.

We need short-term foster homes now. What does that mean exactly? We have litters that need safe places to stay healthy and receive love until we can get the proper vaccinations for them. Every pup gets vaccinated when they arrive at the shelter. But they need a series of vaccinations, so they don’t get parvo or other awful things. FOTAS provides food, crates, toys… anything you need.

Foster homes are extremely important because they help puppies get proper socialization. If you have a farm, we would love to fill an open stall with a cute, grateful litter of puppies! A stall gives them so much room to play and sleep and the quiet of a farm is so much healthier than the noisy shelter.

We talk about our need for foster homes often because they are so vital to the health and happiness of our homeless pups. It is also one of the most rewarding experiences you can have as a volunteer.

If you can help, please contact us at info@fotasaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands.
By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2024, Foster, fostering, kitten season

Finder fosters rescue and save hundreds of kittens

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Jack is one of seven kittens fostered by the citizen who found them. They were all adopted from the County Shelter in just two days.
18
Sep

This year, the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) has navigated the most challenging kitten season in years. Kitten season is an annual occurrence when felines are reproducing at a high rate, resulting in many orphaned kittens who need nurturing and care in order to survive and thrive.

Four-month-old Baby was fostered by her finder and is now available for adoption at the ACAS.
Four-month-old Baby was fostered by her finder and is now available for adoption at the ACAS


From late April to the end of August, hundreds of orphaned kittens were found by citizens and brought to the shelter. So many, in fact, that there is no way we could have saved and rehomed them all on our own.

Thankfully, we received a great deal of help.

Most of the citizens who found lost and orphaned kittens in 2024, were able to foster and save them with the support of ACAS resources and the guidance of shelter staff. So far this year, 60 citizens have volunteered their time to foster the kittens they found – and in many cases even placed them in loving homes!

“There’s a good chance that if these folks had not fostered these kittens, they wouldn’t have survived,” said Hillary Clark-Kulis, who manages the ACAS kitten foster program. She said about 75 percent of the more than 200 kittens found during the peak of kitten season were adopted directly from the homes of finder fosters. The remaining 25 percent were returned to the shelter once they were healthy and old enough, then adopted from 333 Wire Road.

While the shelter has provided kitten kits to foster finders since 2019, this year the program had to be dramatically expanded to manage the volume of kittens being found. Thanks to FOTAS donors, the shelter was able to provide all needed supplies, food and veterinary care to fosters. In turn, the fosters nurtured and helped socialize the kittens until they were old enough for adoption.

Kitten kits are provided to citizens who can foster the homeless felines they find.
Kitten kits are provided to citizens who can foster the homeless felines they find.

Clark-Kulis works closely with fosters, providing instructions, support and answering questions as they arise.

“We’ve been so lucky to have these wonderful people step up and foster these homeless kittens,” Clark-Kulis said. “Even taking in one litter or part of a litter makes a huge difference, especially when so many babies are being found during the peak of kitten season.”

Sometimes the kittens found are malnourished or have upper respiratory infections that threaten their eyesight. In such cases, the shelter vet provides fosters with medication. The kittens recover more quickly in a quiet, cozy home than they do in a packed, loud shelter where we can only provide limited attention to individual animals.

Unless more cats are spayed/neutered, we will continue to need this kind of foster help from the community. The TNR (Trap, Neuter & Return) program is making a significant positive impact. So is the County spay/neuter voucher program. But there are still too many pet owners who are not fixing their animals.

Although this year’s kitten season is finally slowing down, we expect to see more baby felines pop up around the county until mid-October. If you find kittens, don’t take them in until you’re sure their mother is not returning to care for them. Then, call the County Shelter for kitten kits and any support you need, (803) 642-1537, or email info@fotasaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands.
By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

Adoption, Foster, fostering, PUPPIES

Summer brings puppies and the urgent need for fosters

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Beth Pratt’s Irish Setter, Max, likes to spend time with the foster puppies she takes in for FOTAS.
12
Jul

This time of year, we take in litter after litter of puppies. We truly rely on our fosters to keep these puppies healthy and away from the stress of the shelter.

We often ask if people have an open horse stall that we can fill with puppies. This can cause some worry by those that don’t understand how fabulous a stall can be for puppies. A stall is much more spacious than a kennel, it is quieter than the shelter, and the puppies can play and relax.

Nick and Sabrina keep the puppies in a stall, and they get playtime with Allie in the paddocks. This is a much better environment for pups than a crowded kennel at the shelter.
Nick and Sabrina keep the puppies in a stall, and they get playtime with Allie in the paddocks. This is a much better environment for pups than a crowded kennel at the shelter.

Sabrina Byrum and her husband Nick foster so many litters! The couple recently adopted a dog from the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Her name is Allie, and she absolutely loves to be with the foster puppies. The pups are kept in the stall but get playtime with Allie in the paddocks. It’s perfect!

Sarah Berkowitz and John Pallasch are always busy, but they never hesitate to take a litter when time allows. Their foster pups get to play with their many big, fluffy Great Pyrenees, two of whom were adopted from our shelter. The puppies get to play in a stall and run around the farm, such a dream for puppies!

Sabrina Byrum with her foster pups and adopted dog, Allie, who helps keep the little ones entertained.
Sabrina Byrum with her foster pups and adopted dog, Allie, who helps keep the little ones entertained.

Beth Platt is another wonderful foster that takes litters into her home. She has a stunning Irish Setter named Max that helps socialize the puppies in her care. Beth has visitors to her farm that love to play with the puppies. Her foster pups come back to the shelter so social and happy!

Being a foster for FOTAS can be an extremely rewarding experience. When foster parents pick up puppies, we all celebrate. Once home or in the barn, the puppies instantly relax and start playing! FOTAS will provide the pet food, toys, crate…whatever is needed. You provide the love.

If you live in Aiken County and would like to foster for us, please send an email message to info@fotasaiken.org or call the County Animal Shelter, 803.642.1537.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2024, Dog Ears Reading Program, Doggie Day Out, Foster, SOCIAL MEDIA, Volunteer

A Little One-on-One Time Goes a Long Way

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Sweet Retriever mix Marigold enjoys hearing a story read by a Gloverville Elementary student.
16
May

The shelter is as always, busy! So many dogs and puppies are coming in and it’s a constant battle to keep up.

The noise level is high from barking, kennel doors closing, metal food bowls clanging, and the constant cleaning.

Recently, at one of our Dog Ears sessions we had one of those “goosebump moments.” Dog Ears is a reading program that we offer once a month to young people who want to read to a shelter dog.

Our last session was with the Gloverville Elementary Beta Club. These students hold a donation drive every year for the shelter. We go to the school to meet the kids and thank them. This is always followed by the group visiting the shelter to read to the dogs.

This particular Saturday was extremely loud and the dogs were very excitable. In all honesty, I was really worried that it was going to be too overwhelming for the students.

Within minutes of the students sitting down and reading, the most amazing thing happened. The kennels went completely quiet. The dogs began laying down, looking at the children and by the time the session was over, almost all were fast asleep. I think all the leaders had tears in our eyes, it was the most special experience.

Watching the peace that came over these poor dogs trapped in kennels, homeless, tired and stressed, was really emotional. These kids gave the dogs a gift. The gift of love and attention.

The shelter has many programs that can give dogs this type of peace.

Each month, FOTAS hosts Dog Ears Reading events. Please email us if your child would like to read to the pets. It is a quick half-hour reading session followed by hands on time and a short lesson about the shelter. Our next session is Saturday, June 15. Space is limited, so please email to reserve your spot (info@fotasaiken.org).

We also offer Doggy Days Out. This can be as simple as calling the shelter and taking a dog to the park for an hour or downtown for an afternoon. Watching a shelter dog decompress in the backseat of your car is pretty rewarding. It’s like a vacation for them to go for a car ride and see/smell new things. When they return, they are happier, more relaxed and more adoptable.

If you would like to come and spend time with pets at the shelter, all you have to do is email us and we will set you up with a training session so you can come and go as you please.

It doesn’t take a lot of time to help a homeless pet. Even just an hour of one-on-one time can be life changing for a shelter dog or cat. If you have no free time and you want to help, please share our posts on Facebook and Instagram. The majority of our adoptions come from social media. All you have to do is share.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2024, Foster, kitten season, kittens

What to do if you find a kitten in Aiken County

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
30
Mar

What do you do if you are walking outside and see a mewing kitten or an entire litter of adorable, newborn baby felines?

First, determine if their mother is around. Kittens do best when they are with their mother, who instinctively knows how to nurture and protect her young. The mother’s milk provides the kittens with vital nutrients for their immune systems. If the kittens are underage (less than 2 pounds or younger than eight weeks old) and mom is still around and taking care of them, leave the kittens where they are until they are weaned. To help the mama cat, you can provide shelter and put out food nearby.

If the kittens’ mom is not around, wait at least two hours to see if she comes back. If she doesn’t return, please consider fostering the kittens until they are at least two pounds.

Kittens have the best chance of survival with their mother. However, if she is out of the picture, orphaned kittens need fostering until they are at least two months old.
Kittens have the best chance of survival with their mother. However, if she is out of the picture, orphaned kittens need fostering until they are at least two months old.

Kitten season phenomenon
Kitten season is coming. Newborn and toddler felines are going to be popping up all around the County. It is an annual occurrence, starting in April, peaking in July and August, and usually ending by autumn.

Since the shelter doesn’t have the capacity to properly nurture and socialize underage kittens, we need community members who find infant felines to step up and foster them. Once they are old enough to be spayed/neutered (three months old), the shelter staff will ensure they are adopted to good homes.

FOTAS provides “kitten kits” containing instructions and the supplies you need to take care of found kittens until they are old enough to come to the Aiken County Animal Shelter. These kits are customized for infant kittens as well as older kittens.

While kittens under four weeks old must be bottle fed, older kittens just need a little of your time to nurture and socialize them. If you are unsure of their age or care needs, you can bring kittens to the shelter for assessment. We can help you decide on a plan for adoption or direct you to other options, including our TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) program, which is free to Aiken County residents, or the spay/neuter voucher program.

Foster volunteers needed
Because citizens are sometimes unable to bottle feed and socialize the kittens they find, we have a small team of FOTAS fosters who take in babies and give them the care they require. These dedicated volunteers save many felines every year. To join this special team, please send an email to info@fotasaiken.org or call the shelter at (803) 642-1537, option 3.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2023, Foster, Volunteer

FOTAS partners with USC Aiken to help County Shelter animals

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
USC Aiken students visited the Aiken County Animal Shelter to learn more about FOTAS volunteer opportunities.
29
Oct

We have been very lucky to be partnering with staff and students at the University of South Carolina, Aiken.

This summer, I was contacted by Logan Sharpe, Assistant Director of Student Leadership and Engagement, who had some students that needed volunteer opportunities. We set up a time for them to visit the Aiken County Animal Shelter on September 14. These students blew my mind, they were so kind, they asked all the right questions and sincerely cared about how the shelter works and why it is important.

This was the beginning of our partnership.

We were then invited to the Volunteer Fair on campus in October. Volunteer Kathy Samaha and I took an adoptable dog Tina to meet students and explain how EASY it can be to volunteer.

Volunteering doesn’t come natural to everyone. It can be uncomfortable calling, setting up training, making time. So, we handed out flyers showing students how they can “check out” a dog through our Doggie Dating Program.

Many students living on campus miss their pets left at home. We offer a program in which all people have to do is call the shelter and set up a pick up time. They can then come get a dog, take it to the park, take it to Dunkin Donuts, wherever! It’s just fun and stress relieving for both the students and the dogs. (Plus let’s face it, their generation is way better at taking pics and displaying them on social media to reach our leading adoption market.)

Kaydence Moore is a student at USC Aiken who recently became a volunteer and foster for us. She and her friends have been walking dogs and now she has fostered two dogs!

“I enjoy volunteering and fostering so much,” she said. “I get the chance to improve these dogs’ lives as much as I possibly can and I think that is rewarding enough. I decided to help out at FOTAS because, for one, I saw that they needed volunteers and fosters. All of my pets growing up have been adopted from a shelter or as a stray. With how much they have helped me, both emotionally and physically, I wanted to help and give that back as much as I could.”

This past week, I was invited to speak to students on campus at their Paws 4 a Cause seminar. The students were so great and asked good questions. They were shocked by the number of animals we have and I hope feel motivated to change this community for the better.

We look forward to the administration members coming in November for their volunteer training as well.

We are grateful to be invited to schools in our area. If we are ever going to change the constant flow of unwanted, neglected and abused animals in Aiken County, it will have to be through education.

Their lives are in our hands.
By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2023, Foster, SOCIAL MEDIA, Volunteers

Power of social media saves Jax and Crystal

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Aiken stray Crystal (left) and her new sister, Remy, found each other through FOTAS’s social media platforms.
16
Sep

While young, pretty, fluffy dogs at the Aiken County Animal Shelter typically are adopted in short order, less stunning homeless canines with physical imperfections need time and help to get noticed.

Their positive qualities cannot be captured in a photo. Their stories need to be told and the right adopter has to be reached through social media and word of mouth. This requires close teamwork between FOTAS and the shelter, as well as lots of shares and likes on Facebook and Instagram.

Take Jax for example.

Nine-year-old, brown and white, mixed breed Jax arrived at the County Shelter in bad shape. He was starving and looked like a walking skeleton. He also had an old back leg injury, likely from being hit by a car, which caused him to limp. Fly bites had scarred his ears and he was full of fleas. The senior stray had the saddest eyes, but they brightened when people greeted him.

Jax found his forever home thanks to the power of social media and a network of fosters, volunteers and FOTAS friends.
Jax found his forever home thanks to the power of social media and a network of fosters,
volunteers and FOTAS friends.

Terrified at the shelter, Jax needed a calmer environment in which to decompress. Thankfully, FOTAS Volunteer Christine Harmel took Jax home to foster him and his sweet personality began to shine as he gained more confidence under her care.

Over the next month, we posted Jax all over our social media. Still, no one came to visit him. Then his luck changed. Debbie Roland, a local realtor, saw Jax online and shared his photo and story with her uncle Dennis in Pennsylvania. His dog had recently passed away and Jax was just the kind of dog he was looking for! FOTAS arranged Jax’s transport to Dennis and the sweet dog is now living his best life.

“This morning was the first day of school up here, so all the kids were at the bus stop during his morning walk,” Dennis said. “Of course, Jax had to greet every kid.”

Another homeless dog who benefited from social media is Crystal. This three-year-old, white 46-pound mixed breed needed a home with a fenced-in yard. A true gem, Crystal loves other dogs and playing in water. Crystal just has one so-called imperfection. She is deaf.

Even after weeks of posting a myriad of videos and photos of Crystal on social media, no one came to visit her. However, just as we were losing hope of adopting her out, the right person saw Crystal on Instagram. Faye Brothers, a woman with a deaf dog in need of a friend, saw a video of Crystal shared by her daughter. When Faye learned Crystal was deaf, she knew she was the dog for her family. FOTAS arranged Crystal’s travel to Faye’s home in upstate New York and now this amazing stray and her new canine sister, Remy, are besties!

There are other homeless pets at the shelter just like these two special dogs – animals that need extra support and promotion to ensure they get good homes. Please follow FOTAS on Facebook and Instagram and share our posts with your friends. With one click, you just might save a homeless pet’s life.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2023, Foster, fostering

Sharing the Love

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Fosters get a drop off hug from Shana
30
Aug

My camera roll is full of videos and pictures of many puppies and dogs who have visited my life. These dogs may be in my backyard or in the den. They might be chasing a ball, or squeaking a toy, or finding the perfect patch of sun to lie down. The puppies are probably rolling all over each other or nipping each other’s ears. There are pictures of sleeping pups and videos of snoring ones.

Foster giving his sweet puppy eyes
Foster giving his sweet puppy eyes

I cannot adopt another dog right now despite the fact the shelter is overloaded with so many animals. But, I can do the next best thing and foster one! The Aiken County Animal Shelter’s fostering program gives me the benefits of having another dog (loud tail, cute ears, funny noises) without the physical and financial burden.

I have enjoyed fostering for years. It is so rewarding, but on occasion, I may need some help logistically. I recently unlocked the game changer- becoming a “co-foster!” My mother and I both enjoy fostering puppies and dogs, but our schedules may have conflicts with the foster needs. Multiple friends also want to foster, but only for a night or two.

Now, with this setup, we communicate with each other about our available days and nights. The dog may start their week with me. When planned, I drive the dog (and their stuff!) to my mother’s or friend’s. The foster ends their week in another safe home.

Since I have heard many of the same fostering questions, I want to share the basics:

    • All fostering supplies are provided: crate, food, bed, and toys.
    • Fostering is short term. You’ll receive a text or email asking for available fosters. Look at your calendar. Can you fit it in for the next 3 nights? A week? Great! No pressure if you are busy – maybe next time?!
    • Having a foster is low key. You do not need to implement a training regime. These animals need a safe, soft place to land. Their crate in your quiet(ish) home is perfect.
    • When an animal is in your care, you have support of the shelter staff and foster coordinator. I have texted with questions or concerns many, many times.
    • You may fall in love. It happens. I remind myself: The foster pups are here to learn about a safe home and build confidence. I am here to love them temporarily, so they can find forever love next.

Co-fostering is win-win for the dog and for both of us fostering. The dog continues to get more comfortable (and, thereby, more adoptable) in a home environment. And, we are both able to enjoy time with a foster dog without changing any of our plans.

Find a friend or a family and say, “let’s try it”. You can share the scheduling load.

Then, at the end of the week, y’all can share loads of sweet pictures and funny videos.

Chat about fostering. Sharing a volunteer task with a friend can be so much fun. These animals desperately need us to work together. Their lives are in our hands

By Shana K Ryberg, Foster Volunteer

2023, Foster, kitten season, kittens

Kitten season is coming! Here’s what you need to know

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
23
Mar

Kitten season is just around the corner. In fact, baby felines are already starting to trickle in. Last Friday, the Aiken County Animal Shelter received a litter of two-week-old kittens after a car hit and killed their mama. Soon, Good Samaritans will be discovering newborn and toddler felines all around the County.

Kitten season is an annual phenomenon, starting in April, peaking in July and August, and usually concluding by late October. The most important fact to remember about the season is that a kitten’s best chance for a long and healthy life is with their mother. If you are walking outside and stumble upon a lone kitten or an entire litter, look for any sign of their mother. Before you pick up any kittens, determine if she is around. The mama cat instinctively knows how to nurture and protect her young, and her milk provides the kittens with powerful nutrients vital to their immune systems.

Mother cat w kittens

If the kittens are underage (less than two pounds or younger than eight weeks old) and mom is still around and taking care of them, leave the kittens where they are until they are weaned. To help the mama cat, you can provide shelter and put out food nearby.

If the kittens’ mom is not around, wait at least two hours to see if she comes back. If she doesn’t return, please consider fostering the kittens (or find someone who is willing to foster) until they are at least two pounds.

We have kitten kits to help you foster
Since the shelter does not have the capacity to properly nurture and socialize underage kittens, we need community members who find feline babes to step up and foster them. Once they are old enough to be spayed/neutered (two months old), the shelter staff will ensure they are adopted to good homes.

FOTAS provides “kitten kits” containing instructions and the supplies you need to take care of found kittens until they are old enough to come to the Aiken County Animal Shelter. The shelter has kits customized for infant kittens as well as older kittens.

While kittens under four weeks old must be bottle fed, older kittens just need a little of your time to nurture and socialize them. If you are unsure of their age or care needs, you can bring kittens to the shelter for assessment. We can help you decide on a plan for adoption or direct you to other options, including our TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) program, which is free to Aiken County residents, or the spay/neuter voucher program.

Foster volunteers needed for kittens
Citizens are sometimes unable to bottle feed and socialize the kittens they find, so we have a small team of FOTAS fosters who take in babies and give them the care they require. These volunteers save many felines every year. To join this special team, please go to fotasaiken.org or call the shelter at (803) 642-1537, option 3.

Their lives are in our hands
By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director