Category Archives: fostering

2022, Dogs, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, neglected pets, News, PUPPIES, Volunteers

Angels work together to foster, save orphaned puppies

Posted on by Bob Gordon
09
Feb

On January 5, a woman brought seven puppies to the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Their mother had been hit by a car and didn’t survive.

They arrived with umbilical cords still attached, eyes closed, and desperate for care.

I reached out for help to our fosters and within two hours, three incredible women came to help.

seven puppies fostered.

Linda Cooper took two puppies, Beth Platt took two and Shana Pearsons took three.
These women were unbelievable! All asking immediately what to do and how to help them. They all had done research before coming, watched videos and knew the basics. I can’t tell you how heartwarming it was to see these women arrive at the shelter, calmly and confidently ready to help.

Shelter Staff Member Amanda Kaminski prepared pet carriers lined with fleece blankets and small beds. She also had bottles and puppy formula ready for each foster, along with detailed instructions.
Each of these women woke up every two to three hours during the night to feed these babies. It was no easy task as motherless puppies this young often don’t survive. Initially, they do not know how to drink formula from bottles. They are cold and need help staying warm.

“Bottle feeding puppies is certainly time consuming, exhausting and you spend lots of time worrying about them,” Beth Platt said. “However, it is also incredibly rewarding when they do well. It definitely has brought me back to when I had my babies and was up for very late-night feeds, but also a sweet time as well.”

“This was my first time bottle feeding pups as well,” added Shana Pearsons. “Wow, so cool to watch them progress!”

The women emailed back and forth, texted for advice and compared notes. They weighed the pups, took notes on potty times and kept track of how much they fed them. They worked hard to save them.
When Linda Cooper had to go out of town, Betsy Holmes took her puppies home to continue taking care of them. Betty Ryberg stepped up and took care of Shana’s pups when Shana had another obligation. It is a real community effort.

Every one of the puppies found good homes.

“The feeding schedule for these newborn pups has been demanding, as well as making sure they are peeing and pooping,” Linda Cooper said. “But this first-time experience has been very worthwhile, seeing the puppies grow and thrive against the odds and getting a second chance at life.”

Good news: all of the puppies found homes waiting for them through the shelter’s adopter wish list.

Currently, we are struggling to find foster homes for dogs (much easier to care for than puppies), puppies and soon kittens. Can you spare a week or two? Can you open a stall in your barn? Can you add one more dog to your home for five days? Questions? Call 803-514-4313 or email us at info@fotasaiken.org and we will answer any questions or concerns that you may have.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2022, Dogs, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, kennel stress, News, Volunteers

Fostering saves lives, helps homeless pets get adopted

Posted on by Bob Gordon
17
Jan

When you put a leash on Little Bit, he wouldn’t move. The 28-pound, tan Terrier mix just shook and gazed up at you with a forlorn look on his face. The poor dog was overwhelmed with being on the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s adoption floor and just wanted to curl up in his kennel and be left alone.

After a couple of days, Little Bit began to trust the staff and volunteers enough to walk a short distance before stopping and resisting the leash, his eyes pleading to be picked up and carried back to his kennel. Each day, he was progressing – but very slowly.

Little Bit gets comfy before going home.

Despite Little Bit’s shyness and poor leash etiquette, visitors to the shelter began asking to see him. His smaller size and cute looks drew potential adopters. However, when he backed away or flinched when they tried to pet him, they either asked to see a different dog or left the shelter disappointed.

Then Rob and Stacy Wagner took Little Bit home to foster him during the four-day Christmas break. This time, the change of environment did him good. Being away from the noise and stress of the shelter helped him to relax and build confidence. He was a new dog when he returned to the shelter on Dec. 27, walking on his leash with confidence, greeting people and looking so happy! The result of his newfound poise and self-confidence? Little Bit was adopted that day.

Crypto is another dog who benefitted from fostering over the holiday break. Yvonne and Colin Brookes took the 48-pound mixed breed home and used the four days to help him decompress and learn to wait, sit and offer his paw on command. Like many of our fosters, Yvonne posted photos and videos of Crypto’s training and other activities on social media. Such promotion of shelter dogs thriving in a home often helps them get adopted.

“Crypto’s been at the shelter for so long…he keeps getting overlooked yet he’s a huge softy and lives for cuddles,” Yvonne posted on her Facebook page. “He is perfectly housebroken, sleeps in his crate all night long, and loves car rides and woodland walks. He is a very quick learner and just wants to please.” Since returning from his fostering experience, Crypto is in higher spirits and doing well. He can be adopted to a loving home for just $35.

Crypto loving life with his foster mom, Yvonne Brookes.

If you live in Aiken County and would like to become a FOTAS foster, please email info@fotasaiken.org or call us at (803) 514-4313. Or just stop by the shelter, 333 Wire Road in Aiken. It is easy to sign up and get paired with a shelter dog!

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2021, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, kitten season, kittens, News, Uncategorized

ACAS Is Your Chief Resource for Upcoming Kitten Season

Posted on by Bob Gordon
09
Apr

A flood of kittens is about to hit the area. It happens every year, starting in April, peaking in July and August, and sometimes continuing into November. Feline babies of every color, fur length and breed type will soon be popping up throughout the country – including Aiken County.

A kitten is bottle-fed by a foster volunteer.

Here is what you can do to help.

Remember that mama knows best
Before you pick up any kittens, determine if the kittens’ mother is around. Kittens do best when they are with their mother, who instinctively knows how to nurture and protect her young, ensuring they grow up strong and healthy. The mother’s milk is crucial to providing the kittens powerful 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, foster the kittens (or find someone who is willing to foster) until they are at least two pounds. This is done through bottle-feeding the kittens until they are ready to eat on their own.

Foster orphaned kittens until they are old enough to be adopted
FOTAS provides “kitten kits” containing supplies you need to take care of the kittens until they are old enough to come to the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS).

While kittens under four weeks old need to be bottle fed, older kittens just need a little of your time to nurture and socialize them, as well as make them feel loved.

“Even if you have just 20 minutes twice a day to be with your foster kittens, it is more than we have the capacity to do at the shelter,” explained ACAS Adoption Coordinator Hillary Clark-Kulis. “If you can help us by fostering, we will make sure they are adopted to loving homes.”.

Wisp, Willow, Breezy and Bubbles were found wild and dirty. But after a few weeks in a foster home, they were healthy, social and adoptable.

If you are unsure of the kittens’ age or care needs, you can bring them to the shelter for assessment and we can help you decide on a plan for adoption or direct you to other options, such as our TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return), which is free to Aiken County residents, or the spay/neuter voucher program. You can also call the shelter for counsel.

Fosters are needed for kittens in 2021
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 amazing volunteers save many feline lives each year. To join this special team, please go to the FOTAS website (fotasaiken.org) or call the shelter at (803) 642-1537.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2021, abandoned animals, Bully Dogs, Dogs, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, kennel stress, News

More Fosters Needed as County Animal Shelter Fills Up

Posted on by Bob Gordon
22
Mar

The need for foster homes is great. The Aiken County Animal Shelter is filling up as it does every spring. This causes us to run short on room but also increases the stress level in the kennels.

I have been fostering dogs and puppies for six years and absolutely love it! My dogs are more socialized because they have met and played with so many others. My son is more compassionate because he has met some of the greatest dogs that others abandoned.

I love how the Wagner family says it: “You get a new dog every week!! Free! How could you beat that?”

Breanne Maraman has been fostering dogs with us for years now and shared her view on our foster program:

Marlow plays with other pets in his foster home.

“I love being able to foster dogs through the FOTAS program. Getting them out of the shelter, if even for just a few days, is such an asset to their adoption journey. Once in a more relaxed environment out of the shelter you really get to see each dog’s personality blossom. This really helps us prepare their potential adoption family to what they’ll be like once in a new home.

“The FOTAS program is great because there are so many fostering options. You can choose short- or long-term placements based on your availability, work schedule, prior commitments, etc. There is never any pressure for me to take a foster if it’s not the right time for me personally. The staff also knows each of their foster families personally, what their homes are like, and what dogs will work best for them. It’s such a well-tailored and executed program that’s able to help countless animals find their forever homes.”

Not all of us foster dogs the same way. Some of our foster families have farms and use open stalls to house dogs as well as mother dogs and puppies. Their foster pups sleep in a stall and get regular walks/exercise throughout the day. The dogs are so grateful to be out of a kennel and in a safe place.

There is no expense to you. FOTAS will send food, toys and a crate, if needed. Anything you need we will provide. We just ask that you pick up a great dog, give them a safe place and some kindness. You will not regret it.

Marlow was fostered by Breanne Maraman.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2021, Demodex, Dogs, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, News, PUPPIES, Transfer, Volunteer

The Joys of Fostering from an Expert

Posted on by Bob Gordon
05
Mar

We began fostering puppies with FOTAS and Aiken County Animal Shelter shortly after seeing the conditions in the old shelter on Wire Road. In the almost 10 years since then, we have fostered more than 600 puppies, and our incredible new shelter was built. The only thing that hasn’t changed is that our shelter remains full.

Joy, Noel and Holly before fostering.

We set a rule when we began, that if we kept a puppy we were fostering, we would have to stop fostering. So far, so good. Each litter has had its own unique quality. When we first lost some medically compromised puppies, we decided as a family that while we could not save every puppy that came into our house, every one of them would know that they were named and loved.

Right before this past Christmas, we got a call from the shelter about three puppies that were found in horrid conditions. They were sick with a condition called Demodex. It is a condition where the puppies’ immune systems are compromised and they lose their hair, get covered in scabs from bites from a type of mite, and are swollen all over.

We brought these three young puppies into our house and named them Joy, Noel and Holly. It felt weird to hold them because their skin was so rough and was literally peeling off them. Two of the puppies’ eyes were swollen shut. They were miserable. Our black Lab (Diego) normally plays with all the puppies that come into our house, and he was afraid to go near them at first.

The pups after fostering and treatment.

Over the next few weeks, the puppies’ skin began to heal, their fur began to grow back and they started to play and cuddle. They continued to improve and started playing with Diego and by the time they were ready for adoption, they were completely healthy puppies that no one would know had been so sick.

I can tell you that most foster experiences are much easier than what we dealt with having these three puppies, but every one of them is filled with some of the best parts of fostering. With each litter, we get to enjoy puppy breath, great cuddles and laughter. We have described it as “better than HBO.” I invite you to consider short-term fostering. Each animal that we have in a home rather than the shelter helps not only our county shelter, which is often full; but it also helps prepare the dogs and cats, so they are ready for their forever homes.

Father Grant Wiseman brings foster puppies to the county shelter, so the medical staff can treat them and measure their progress.

Our new shelter is fantastic and unfortunately full pretty much every day. If you can’t foster, consider volunteering to walk dogs or play with the cats in the feline facility. Anything we can do to help them be more comfortable makes them even more adoptable.

— By Fr. Grant Wiseman, FOTAS Foster

2020, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, News

Fostering Can Make a Big Difference in a Shelter Dog’s Life

Posted on by Bob Gordon
24
Nov

So, you are ready to foster a homeless pet but you’ve got some questions. No worries. Let me answer some of them for you. In my experience, the following are common questions new fosters have before diving into the experience of nurturing and socializing a pet and preparing him for adoption.

Foster a dog? Are you kidding? How do I then let the dog go? Just like sending a child off to the next step – you’ve kept that child safe, well fed, even a bit spoiled. Fostering dogs is the same. Off they go – and because you fostered, the dog is so much easier to adopt because it’s calmer, loved, and nurtured. Even a week makes a difference!

Betty Ryberg in the middle of foster playtime.

How does the process start? Kathy Jacobs from the Aiken County Animal Shelter gives support, instruction and helpful hints. Once you have decided to foster, your name is added to the list. When an email is sent and it’s a convenient time for you, she will describe and assign your foster friend. There is no pressure. If you are out of town or have a hectic schedule just wait for another time.

But I have a dog. How does that work out? After the initial sniffing and doggie introductions, they all seem to adjust. The foster cavorts around the yard picking up our dog’s scents. They start to frolic, chase, hide, play. Most importantly they wear each other out. I can happily enjoy early morning coffee or afternoon tea while they romp. A good night’s sound sleep always follows. Who doesn’t need a playmate?

Where can I keep the foster? Any space that is safe. A secure fenced yard is lovely. And when you walk your leashed dog you will be surprised how many neighbors you will meet. At night, an inside area of a garage, a porch, laundry or mud room is good. The shelter has crates, towels and toys if you have an area that you want to keep the dog cordoned off at night.

What if the dog cries at night? Just like the advice with a colicky new baby – turn on music, a fan, anything that cushions you. The dog is safe. That is of utmost importance. The next morning, the exuberant greeting wipes out any middle of the night nerves.

What if I get unexpectedly called away? There is a large support group at the shelter. The dog is quickly picked up. Life happens and this is meant to be comforting to you and the dog. The dog is placed in another foster home and you are free to attend to your needs.

Betty R. nurturing, socializing and loving a shelter dog at her home in Aiken.

How long do the fosters stay? An email is sent when there are dogs that can be fostered, and your dog can be picked up when it is convenient for you. We usually foster for 5-6 days. Often the noise of the shelter frightens a dog, so they immediately respond to a calmer home. We have often fostered two compatible dogs, finding they play and exercise in the daytime and comfort each other at night.

Again – how hard is the drop off? There is time for hugs and quick slobbery goodbyes. Just keep the words, “They’ll be fine and dandy” in your heart. You gave them a wonderful vacation and training ground for happy futures and forever families!

More than 4,000 animals are received annually at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. To save every adoptable animal, FOTAS diligently tries to comfort each animal so they are readily adoptable. I write a “profile” with specific information about the foster to ease the adoption process. The dog may be shy or playful, plays well with children and other animals, walks well on a leash – this gives the new families a glimpse of matching their hopes for a pet with the personalities and behavior of the adoptable dogs. I try to write about the dogs’ personalities so the match is immediate and a success.

We had a young dog who was extremely timid and easily frightened. He did not even know how to play. After three days, he picked up a chew toy and took it to his bed. On day four, he let us hold him. Overnight he became a tail wagging, spirited dog. He was ready for his forever family. We made a difference.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Betty Ryberg, Cherished FOTAS Foster Mom

2020, coronavirus crisis, Dogs, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, News

Focusing on Foster Fun and Happiness During COVID-19 Isolation

Posted on by Bob Gordon
14
Jul

Times are so complicated right now and many are struggling with depression and anxiety. Even children are feeling the effects of social distancing. Summer break is normally a time filled with vacations, camps, sleep overs…all things that have been put on hold. Being away from friends and others in their age group can be so lonely.

As the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise in our area, that isolated feeling seems to be getting worse. Yet families that have fostered shelter pets during the pandemic have benefited from the experience.

Charlotte and Savannah Collen sandwich Aiken County Animal Shelter dog Hachi in their home.

Look at Savannah and Charlotte Collen, ages 11 and 5. Their family decided to start fostering this spring and what a difference it has made in not only in the lives of the dogs they have fostered, but in the children’s lives.

When fostering their first shelter dog, a large mixed breed named Joseph, mother Kamillah said, “We are having a wonderful time with Joseph. He follows the girls around pretty much all day. We feed him twice each day, and he is getting plenty of exercise and love. He’s pretty spoiled and they are learning responsibility. It’s a win-win.”

Charlotte and Hachi wear matching crowns.

Kamillah just emailed us pictures of their most recent foster, Hachi, noting, “I think he’s having fun!” These pictures brought tears to my eyes! Large, high-energy dogs like Hachi are not always seen as family dogs. But the photos showed him sleeping on his back on a rug, wearing a Princess crown with Charlotte, going on a dog walk with Savannah – and enjoying every second of it!

The great thing is that Hachi has a home waiting for him; he just needed a place to stay until we could get him there. So when the girls say goodbye, they know that he is going to another home filled with love. They don’t have to be sad; he just had the best vacation from the shelter with them. Plus, there are more homeless pets that need help. Maybe their next foster dog will be smaller and fluffier, or maybe one that wants to catch tennis balls.

Some families even keep scrapbooks with pictures of each foster pup, kitten or dog they help. It’s so fun to look back at all the lives made better, thanks to your family.

Hachi and Savannah go on a nature hike.

Whether you prefer kittens, puppies or adult dogs, we would love your help. The Aiken County Animal Shelter is currently undergoing a construction project which has us 30 kennels short for the summer. Now more than ever, we need foster homes so that we can create room for more homeless animals in need.

FOTAS provides food for foster pets as well as crates, if needed. The pets are flea treated and come with everything they need. All we ask is that you give them a safe place to stay and a little love.

Contact info@fotas.org or find our foster application on our website at fotasaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands.


–By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2020, coronavirus crisis, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, News, PUPPIES

Olympic Events Make Puppy Fostering Fun and Entertaining – Try It!

Posted on by Bob Gordon
22
Jun

The first morning I opened the door to the room of our four 4-week-old foster puppies, the tiny bundles yipped, licked and fell all over each other to climb into my arms. I turned to my husband and said, “You are going to have to up your game. Now, this is a greeting!”

On March 14, I called the Aiken County Animal Shelter hoping they had a foster dog for us., Everything was happening so quickly around the pandemic situation and decisions were being weighed whether to delay transfers or even close the shelter, so we wanted to help.

The Olympic events helped the puppies learn and develop — and were very entertaining!

Yes, they needed us – they had new puppies. We had never fostered puppies before but were given care instructions and eagerly picked up four black, 2½-pound squirming labs. The ride home exhausted them; they fell upon each other into a heap and promptly were sound asleep. So began our 6 weeks of isolation, social distancing and immeasurable entertainment! When we set out their puppy food and supplemental milk, they climbed over and under each other with such eagerness it reminded me of several of our family’s Thanksgivings.

We had a difficult time telling one from the other and their genders. It seems laughable but they were so young, not every part of their cuteness was evident! We named them Scooby, Rubble, Clover and Berrie and set to work on Puppy Olympics. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics had just been postponed and since they were daring adventurers, we prepared them for their first event – stair climbing. Roly-poly Scooby had the hardest time but was also the most determined. Mastering the downward climb event was like slalom skiing. They all jumped back up after taking a tumble.

Greg and Betty Ryberg and their foster puppies Scooby, Rubble, Clover and Berrie.

We built balance beams with boxes and mats and then introduced curling where they chased my push broom around while I cleaned their room. Mixed martial arts came naturally – they playfully nipped, wrestled and pinned each other.

Since they came running when they heard our voices, associating us with their meals, we set up races with their food at the finish line. Puppies are easily distracted. Often in the middle of an Olympic event one would curl up to sleep or chase a bird.

Other events included a low crawl through a little tunnel and a ball chase under a tiny bridge. Hide and seek in the monkey grass was also a daily event. As the puppies grew, we introduced them to swimming. Falling, leaping, belly flopping, splashing into 4-5 inches of water followed by true doggie paddling fascinated them. And was endlessly entertaining to us.

Their most accomplished achievement was napping every two hours and sleeping through the night. Following weeks of all four curling into one tight ball to sleep, they started to nestle by themselves in small areas. After six weeks, they were ready to leave the foursome and fill other families’ hearts. When they left with their forever families, the pups were healthy and happy.

Fostering is as nurturing for us as the dogs we save. If you would like to try it, please send an email to info@fotasaiken.org!

Their lives are in our hands.


— By Betty Ryberg, FOTAS Foster Volunteer

2020, community cats, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, kittens, News

Fosters and Citizens Step Up and Save Lives During Kitten Season

Posted on by Bob Gordon
09
Jun

Kitten season is upon us. A female cat can go into heat at any time of year, but the majority do so between May and November, and it puts a tremendous strain on animal shelters and rescues – including the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

What to do if you find kittens
With so many kittens being born during this period, you might spot them in your yard or while taking a walk in your neighborhood. But what do you do if this happens? It depends on a number of factors – but before you do anything, determine if the kittens’ mother is around. Kittens do best when they are with their mother, who instinctively knows how to help her offspring grow up to be strong and healthy. The mother’s milk also is crucial to providing the kittens powerful nutrients for their immune systems.

Kitten season takes place from late May to Nov.

Depending on their age and condition, here are your three choices if you find kittens:

1. Leave the kittens be. If the kittens are underage (under 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.

2. Take the kittens into your home. If the kittens’ mom is not around, wait at least two hours to see if she comes back. If she doesn’t return, foster the kittens or find someone who is willing to foster, until they are at least two pounds. This is done through bottle-feeding the kittens until they are ready to eat on their own.

FOTAS Volunteer Mindy Hand holds foster kitten, Dewey, who was adopted last week.

FOTAS provides “kitten kits” containing supplies you need to take care of the kittens until they are old enough to come to the shelter or go into foster care. If you’re unsure of the kittens’ age or care needs, you can bring them to the shelter for assessment and we can help you decide on a plan for adoption or direct you to other options, such as our TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return), which is free to Aiken County residents, or the spay/neuter voucher program.. You can also call the shelter for counsel.

FOTAS provides citizens with kitten kits — complete with food, litter, toys and other resources to help care for them.

3. Bring the kittens to shelter for spay/neutering. If the kittens are at least four pounds, they can be brought to the shelter in a humane cat trap (you can sign one out from the shelter) to be fixed through our Community Cats TNR program. After they are sterilized, you just return them to their outdoor home. This effectively works to reduce the cat population and prevents more cats from entering the area.

Fosters are always 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 amazing volunteers save many feline lives each year. You can help save lives by volunteering to foster, too. To volunteer, go to the FOTAS website (fotasaiken.org) or call the shelter at (803) 642-1537.

Their lives are in our hands.


— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2020, Adoption, Children, Dogs, fostering, FOTAS, Junior FOTAS, News, Volunteers

Job Shadow Day at the Shelter with Logan Heath

Posted on by Bob Gordon
06
May

One of my favorite programs offered within the Aiken County School System is Job Shadow Day. Students are encouraged to follow an adult at work to learn first-hand what they do each day. This was the first year that a local student asked to shadow me at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS). I was so excited!

Logan Heath prepares for his Shadow Day with FOTAS Programs Coordinator Kathy Jacobs.

Logan Heath, a member of our Junior FOTAS after-school program at Tall Pines STEM Academy, arrived at 8 a.m. and we had plenty to do. I explained that we needed to walk the shelter and take inventory. We had to visit all the new dogs and cats and start making plans for them. It also meant preparing them for foster homes, calling foster families, flea-treating dogs, bathing puppies and making sure all adoptable pets were walked and shown love.

I noticed Logan’s eyes get big when he saw a new mother dog and her puppies. He had never seen puppies that little before. The mother dog was so sweet and let me take out a puppy for Logan to hold. We then called super foster mom Girl Conger-Wolcott to come pick up this litter.

Next, we saw a new puppy that looked so sad all curled up in a bed. We called Betsy Holmes and asked if she would foster him. She immediately said yes and was on her way. Logan and I bathed the puppy, found some food and toys and got ready for Betsy to arrive. Logan asked if he could name the puppy Alex, so we did. It suited him!

Tall Pines STEM Academy student and Junior FOTAS Volunteer Logan Heath bonds with Derry.

Logan has a dog but no cats, so he really wanted to spend time with a kitty. We had a super snuggly cat that enjoyed playing and getting some couch time. We talked about how playing and getting human attention can help a pet be more adoptable and less fearful of new people.

We then went to the kennels to meet the adoptable dogs. He really wanted to walk a cute dog named Derry. When we put the leash on, she rolled over and smiled. I told Logan she is what we call “perfection on paws.” Derry and her puppies were found dumped on the side of the road. How could a dog go through so much and still be so sweet?

Logan said his grandmother was picking him up after we were done and she was looking for a canine companion. When his grandmother arrived, he asked if he could show her a dog. He walked into the kennel and got down on the ground with Derry. His grandmother asked why he thought she should adopt her and Logan said, “Because she is amazing.” Without hesitation, she replied, “Okay then, let’s bring her home.”

Logan and his grandmother, Kimberly Parker, adopt Derry — a dog that was found dumped on the side of the road with her puppies.

We are hoping to put all this social distancing behind us soon. We miss our Junior FOTAS volunteers! Young people like Logan make a huge difference in the lives of the shelter pets. We hope that children in Aiken County will stay connected with us by emailing lists of their favorite pet names, sending videos reading to their pets and submitting fun animal-themed pictures or videos that we can share with our Facebook followers. (Please send your submissions to info@FOTASAiken.org.)


— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator