Category Archives: FOTAS

Adoption, barn cats, Cats, essay, FOTAS

Adopting a barn cat eliminates mice, saves unwanted felines

Posted on by Angel Hartline
04
Feb

Most of the cats at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) are sweet, laidback and cuddly. They do best inside – playing with their cat toys on the floor, sleeping on your bed or purring on your lap as you watch TV.

But occasionally the shelter receives barn cats. These felines are more aggressive and often unsocialized. They haven’t had much contact with humans and, as a result, don’t like to be held or pampered. They are extremely independent and usually have a bit of an attitude.  However, it’s this brashness that makes barn cats such good hunters and ideal for getting rid of mice and other pests.

“Callie is perpetual energy,” said Diane Mansur, referring to the 1-year-old, medium hair Calico cat she and her husband, Raymond, adopted from the ACAS. “She’s inquisitive and always chasing and hunting mice on our property. We’re really pleased with how well she’s fitting in he

Adopted barn cat Callie gets comfy in her new digs, always ready to pounce on any mice that dare to wander onto her new owners' farm.
Adopted barn cat Callie gets comfy in her new digs, always ready to pounce on any mice that dare to wander onto her new owners’ farm.

The Mansurs adopted Callie after they spotted mice around their horse farm in Windsor. So far, she has hunted down at least six mice. Sometimes she eats them but usually she proudly drops the “gifts” at her adopters’ feet. During the day, Callie roams the farm and often hangs with the horses, but at night she’s safe inside a large equipment shed.

“We have dogs and other animals, so we didn’t want to put poison out and we’ve tried mouse traps, which sometimes work but can get messy,” Raymond said. “Frankly, we’ve always found cats to be the best way to control mice and protect our feed, so we’re very happy with Callie.”

As instructed by the shelter staff, the Mansurs kept Callie confined for three weeks before letting her roam the property. The barn cat must first learn that the farm is her home and source of food and care, or she is likely to run away.

Diane Mansur with her adopted barn cat and super mouser, Callie.
Diane Mansur with her adopted barn cat and super mouser, Callie.
Elwood likes to do his own thing, so he's the perfect barn cat.
Elwood likes to do his own thing, so he’s the perfect barn cat.

Another recent barn cat adoption was Elwood, a large, 2-year-old, black feline with a penchant for being mischievous. He sometimes plays a little rough with his human caregivers.

“My sister and I brought in food, treats and blankets to donate to the shelter and he was there in the lobby,” explained Elwood’s adopter, Suzy Lee of Wagener. “We have five acres and once he gets the lay of the land, he should make a good barn cat for us.”

Elwood has only been at his new home for a week, so he hasn’t explored the property yet. But he seems to like his new digs.

“I think adopting these barn cats is a good thing to do,” Suzy said. “It’s well worth the effort to give an unwanted cat a home.”

Barn cats at the ACAS are free to good homes. If you are interested in adopting one or more, please call the shelter at (803) 642-1537.

Their lives are in our hands.

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

paw_print_heart_stickers-r368b69be3802466f8feff0ba57adc012_v9w0n_8byvr_512

 By the Numbers

Feb. 7 to 14: Give Love Valentine’s Special: Dogs & puppies $14, cats & kittens $7

Pets of the Week

callista with susi (3)CALLISTA
Mixed breed, female, 1 year old, brindle and white, 44 pounds – $35

POTW KATLA AND CORDELIA

KATLA & CORDELIA
Domestic Shorthair, females, 9 months old, Calico, each is 7 pounds – $0 (bonded sisters are barn cats)

Adoption, Cats, essay, FOTAS, News, Volunteer, Volunteers

FOTAS volunteer Leah Holt gives unwanted cats a second chance at health and happiness

Posted on by Angel Hartline
28
Jan

Over the last 16 months, FOTAS Volunteer Leah Holt has given three unwanted cats the happiness and security that comes with having a forever home. She adopted all three from the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS), including Boots, a young, scrawny black cat; Footie, an 11-year-old, chunky Tuxedo cat; and Nutmeg, a six-month-old, blind Siamese kitten.

“When I retired and moved to Aiken, I made the decision to take care of animals and devote my time to making their lives better,” she said.

Boots and Nutmeg were strays, and Footie was surrendered by his owner because taking care of the large feline was “too much responsibility.” Holt gave Boots to her great granddaughter, who immediately changed his name to “Black Tiger”, and Footie and Nutmeg live with Holt and her two toy Poodles, BJ and Chrissie.

The quartet of furry friends sleeps on Holt’s bed. Footie dozes by her head, Nutmeg curls up between her stomach and knees, and the dogs are on either side of her, snoring under the covers. “I have to be careful when I roll over,” she jokes.

Leah Holt at home with her adopted County Shelter cats Footie and Nutmeg, and dogs Chrissie and BJ.
Leah Holt at home with her adopted County Shelter cats Footie and Nutmeg, and dogs Chrissie and BJ.

Before retiring, Holt managed a drug store, co-owned a wholesale food franchise with her husband and, during the last 15 years of her working life, took care of hospice patients.

Holt has been around animals and owned pets since she was a child. But when her dog, BJ, was nearly killed by a motorcycle in 2014 and she committed months toward nurturing him back to good health, she came to a new realization.

“That’s when I understood how I could have a positive impact and make a difference by helping animals, “she said. “That’s what we’re put here for –to help those in need.”

Now Holt volunteers at the shelter by walking the dogs and spending time with the felines in the cat facility, and every Saturday evening she takes care of the ACAS cats being showcased at the Aiken PetSmart Store on Whiskey Road.

Her reward for volunteering? Seeing unwanted and discarded animals placed in good homes. Plus, when she returns to her house at the end of the day, she gets a boisterous welcome from her growing gang of adopted pets.

“I think shelter animals truly appreciate their home more,” she said. “In the shelter they’re scared and confused. But when they come out, they don’t have to worry so much, and they’re very thankful for another chance at a joyful life.”

Their lives are in our hands.

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

By the Numbers

In 2017, 198 Heartworm Positive dogs received at the shelter were saved and successfully adopted with incurred treatment costs paid by FOTAS. Please remember to give your dogs monthly heartworm preventative.

Pets of the Week

bain high energy dogBAIN: Retriever mix, male, 4 years old, tan and white, 51 pounds – $0 (adoption fee has been paid for by FOTAS donor)

Sapphire POTW JAN 24SAPPHIRE: Domestic Shorthair, female, 9 months old, gray/black Tabby, 1.8 pounds – $10 (available at PetSmart Store in Aiken)


Dogs, essay, FOTAS, News, Uncategorized

Bobby Arthurs — a shelter manager with a big heart

Posted on by Angel Hartline
21
Jan

A lot of things have changed at the Aiken County Animal Shelter over the past ten years since Bobby Arthurs became the County’s Chief Enforcement Officer and Shelter Manager, and he has been witness to it all.

When he started in 2007, intake at the Shelter was 5,000-6,000 animals a year and 10% or fewer made it out. Two and three dogs were confined to a crate in a building with no ventilation and open waste trenches, and cats were housed in the equivalent of a dark closet. There was no outside play area, no FOTAS, no volunteers.

It was a big transition for a man who had previously worked as a park ranger, who had spent his days outside in nature helping hikers and kayakers.

Bobby Arthurs, the chief enforcement officer and ACAS manager, walks a shelter dog.
Bobby Arthurs, the chief enforcement officer and ACAS manager, walks a shelter dog.

Now, Bobby comes to work at a modern, properly-built shelter, where every adoptable dog has his own indoor/outdoor kennel, where cats spend their days catnapping in a colony in a separate building, where fenced-in exercise yards are spread over the property, where every animal gets a shot at a second chance.

Which improvements at the Shelter stand out most in his mind? He can’t narrow it down—the cheery new building that opened in 2014, the unwavering support of the County, the extraordinary medical team, the dedicated Shelter staff, FOTAS as his partner, or the volunteers … so many amazing volunteers.

“He really appreciates us,” says Sandra Procter, who has volunteered with FOTAS from the very beginning (our third volunteer, to be exact). “He greets us by name with a big smile … every time. Bobby’s gratitude makes us feel good and makes it all worthwhile.”

Once everyone had settled in at the new shelter (with modern air exchange, heating and cooling, and waste elimination systems to protect the health of the animals), Bobby and FOTAS began to implement new programs and policies to give every animal the best opportunity to find a new home.

Bobby and Aiken County Council Chairman Gary Bunker catch up at a Shelter adoption event.
Bobby and Aiken County Council Chairman Gary Bunker catch up at a Shelter adoption event.

Things like supervised play groups for the dogs to reduce the stress of shelter life (dogs are, after all, social pack animals), or managing intake of animals from citizens, or implementing the County’s RTF (Return to Field) program for cats to control the growth of feral cat colonies and protect the health of community cats, or participating in the national Clear the Shelter Day every year, to name a few.

Bobby picks two furry friends to promote on television.
Bobby picks two furry friends to promote on television.

“Bobby is a joy to work with,” says Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director. “He is a warm, open-minded manager with a big heart, always willing to try new things, big and small, to help the animals and find them homes. For example, for as long as I can remember, he picks up a dog at the Shelter every Monday morning at 5 a.m. and travels to Augusta to show that animal off on the 6 a.m. morning show on Channel 12. That’s dedication.”

Has all his managerial effort, willingness, and attention made a difference?

You bet it has. Under Bobby’s leadership, the live release rate has increased over the past ten years from 5-10% to 84%.

That’s a very big deal.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

 

By the Numbers

In 2017, FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter fixed 1,120 community cats and returned them to the field.

Pets of the Week

BELLA

BELLA POTW JAN 21Retriever mix, female, 8 years old, black, 61 pounds – $0 (adoption fee paid for by generous FOTAS donator)

BANKS 

BANKS POTW JAN 21Domestic shorthair cat, male, 1 year old, orange Tabby, 7 pounds – $10 (available at Aiken PetSmart Store)

Dogs, essay, FOTAS, News, Volunteer, Volunteers

Testimony of a FOTAS volunteer

Posted on by Angel Hartline
14
Jan

The success of reducing the live release rate from 5% to 85% at the Aiken County Animal Shelter over the past ten years and saving 4,079 animals this year is in no small part a testament to the passion and commitment of FOTAS volunteers.

They come to the Shelter, without fail, every day (including holidays) to walk the dogs and love-up the cats. They help the folks who manage dog play groups with the logistics. They introduce potential adopters to canine prospects out in the yard or accompany folks to the separate facility that houses the adoptable cat colony. They make sure every dog is settled down with a toy and a treat before they leave. They man the front desk, answer calls from the public, help with paper work. They help with off-site adoption events. They foster animals selected for transfer to other rescue agencies in the north. They foster mama dogs and their puppies (or mama cats and their kittens) until the babies are weaned and ready for adoption. They help market the animals through social and print media. They work fundraisers and special events.

Bella spending some “me” time with a FOTAS volunteer.
Bella spending some “me” time with a FOTAS volunteer.

All told, the FOTAS volunteers perform the work of eight to ten full-time employees

We at FOTAS cannot believe our good fortune. We work hard to make certain that the volunteer experience at the Shelter is a good one, so when we received the following letter from volunteer, Pat Miles, along with a financial donation, our hearts skipped a little beat.

Dear Jennifer Miller and the entire Board of Directors,

I would like to take this opportunity as 2017 is coming to an end to express my admiration and thanksgiving for all that FOTAS is doing for the animals of Aiken.

 I have been volunteering at the Aiken County Shelter for three-plus years, and the changes that have taken place at the Shelter have been breathtaking. You deserve so much credit for your compassion, energy and love for all of the unwanted and abandoned animals of Aiken. I have seen this first-hand.

I would also like to express my sincere appreciation for all of the Shelter staff, starting with Bobby Arthurs who is an amazing manager and person. The adoption staff of Hillary, Mary, and Bob are heroes in my eyes as they care so much for the lives of all the creatures in their care.

The administrative staff of Rachel, Peggy and Hope are dedicated to the welfare of animals, too.  Dr. Levy, the medical staff and custodians who spend their day caring for the sick and injured animals deserve recognition as well.

Words cannot express what all of your and their actions inspire. I am privileged to work with the shelter staff and volunteers. I truly receive more than I give from both the two-legged, as well as the four-legged, friends I have made.

I couldn’t have said it better. To all of our volunteers … thank you.

FOTAS always needs more volunteers and fosters, so if you are interested, please email us at info@angelhartlinedesigns.com or leave us a message on the FOTAS Hotline at (803) 514-4313.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

By the Numbers

In 2017, FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter saved 4,079 dogs and cats!

 

Pets of the Week

NELL POTW JAN 14Nell: Retriever mix, female, 1-1/2 years old, tan, 42 pounds – $0 (adoption fee paid for by FOTAS donator)

katla and cordelia

KATLA & CORDELIA: Domestic shorthair, female, 8 months old, Calico, 6 pounds – $20 for bonded pair

Adoption, Dogs, essay, FOTAS, Heartworms, News

Loving a senior dog like our sweet Arthur

Posted on by Angel Hartline
11
Jan

Arthur is a handsome, 7-year old retriever-cross with four white socks and a gray muzzle. He was found wandering on the road, dumped by his owner—confused, scared, half-starved, hair falling out. Just like he did the day he was found, he perks up whenever a car drives by or pulls into the Aiken County Animal Shelter, a look of hope on his face. Is this my human, coming back to get me?

Dear, loyal Arthur. Sorry, buddy—that human is not coming back to get you.

It breaks our heart. Arthur is gentle, completely housebroken, with lots of pep in his step. He’s great with kids. Cats? No problem. Plus, he still loves a ride in the car.

Arthur desperately needs a home, a family to love. He’s been at the Shelter too long—you can see it in his eyes. He’s become depressed.

My heart breaks for senior animals who end up in a shelter. They spend their entire life in a home, with a family—safe, warm, and secure. Then one day they end up in a shelter, scared and bewildered, through no fault of their own.

Typically, the animal was a cherished companion to an elderly person who died or had to move to an assisted living facility that wouldn’t allow pets, and no friends or family were able to provide a home.

Sometimes the family falls upon hard times, or has to move, and the pet can’t go with them. Or a couple divorces, and no one wants the pet. But many times, like Arthur, senior pets are just dumped on the side of the road by heartless owners, left to fend for themselves. No food. No warm, safe place. They have become an inconvenience to the family they loved, something to be discarded without second thought.

Senior dogs have a hard time adjusting to shelter life, no matter how great the shelter is—the noise, the collective anxiety of the other animals, limited human contact. The dog gets depressed, which reduces their “kennel” appeal even more. Potential adopters walk by in search of younger, cuter, more energetic prospects.

I beg you, don’t do it! Don’t walk by that senior dog or cat.

Senior pets make great companions. They are mature and calm. They don’t make mistakes on your rug. They are way past the “teething” stage. They don’t need a lot of exercise; they are happy to hang out with you on the couch and binge-watch all eight seasons of Breaking Bad. They are grateful for a second chance.

All it takes is a little patience and kindness.

Arthur will make someone a loyal, affectionate companion for years to come. He’s shy and a little fearful of other dogs, most likely a byproduct of a harsh past, so he would be better off in a home with another gentle, calm dog or as the “only dog” in the family.

Will that someone be you? Please don’t hesitate. Come to the Shelter tomorrow and take Arthur home … please.

By the way, here’s more good news: Arthur’s adoption fee has been sponsored, which means that taking home this delightful dog won’t cost you a thing but the gas to drive to the Shelter.

 Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, Vice President

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Heartworms, Spay/Neuter, Volunteer

Resolving to do better by our animals

Posted on by Angel Hartline
29
Dec

It’s that time again—the end of one year and the promise of a new one. Most of us (myself included) resolve to be better—to exercise more, lose weight, spend less time on our cell phones—and although our resolve is genuine, our willpower and attention span are, shall we say, less than perfect.

My own New Year’s resolutions fail because they are “self” centered, involving changes to my own behavior. When my resolve wavers, so what? Do those extra five pounds matter to anyone but me?

My theory is this: resolutions to take action for the greater good—to help make a life a bit better, happier, easier—are easier to keep and harder to abandon.

There are so many worthy ways to spend your time, but if you happen to love animals the way we do at FOTAS, then we can resolve, collectively, to do better by the thousands of homeless animals in Aiken County.

Let’s resolve to spay or neuter our animals … all of them.

If our own animals are fixed, then let’s lobby our friends, relatives, and neighbors to fix their animals.

Imagine … a spring and summer at the Aiken County Animal Shelter when staff and volunteers are not inundated with, literally, hundreds of unwanted puppies and kittens.

Imagine the Shelter with empty kennels because no new unwanted babies were born to fill them up.

Imagine a world where every home has a pet, and every animal has a home.

It is possible to do; it’s been done in many other communities. Why do you think our sister rescue agencies in other parts of the country have the space to take our unwanted animals? Because everyone fixes their pet as a matter of course.

It’s the right thing to do.

Let’s resolve to volunteer our time at the Shelter.

There are so many ways to help—greeting visitors, walking and socializing dogs, loving-up the cats, fostering animals approved for transfer or providing a safe, healthy home for mamas and their babies, working off-site adoptions, social media, and fundraisers.

The list is endless. Tell FOTAS what you want to do, and we’ll find a place for you. Volunteering at the Shelter is a great way to spend your free time and make friends, and at the end of the day, you will have made a difference in the life of some unfortunate animal.

Let’s resolve to vaccinate our animals and make certain they are protected from fleas, ticks and worst of all, heartworms. Too many animals suffer needlessly, particularly when treatment options are so affordable.

Let’s resolve to adopt all of our pets from the Shelter.

The Shelter takes in over 4600 animals every year—they all need homes. Other rescue agencies can close their doors when they are full, but the County shelter cannot; it is obligated by law to take all comers.

FOTAS and Shelter staff go the extra mile with attention, exercise, training and medical care to make every adoptable animal happy and more sociable, because we know those animals will be better pets and family members when they go home with you.

No other rescue organization in the County saves more lives than FOTAS … none.

These are resolutions worth keeping. Let’s do them together.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

 

Some Recent Happy Adoptions at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

 JESSICA STORY OF GRANITEVILLE ADOPTED GOLDIE DEC 23    RUDOLPH THE PUPPY WAS ADOPTED BY THE DOWLING FAMILY, AIKEN    BEAGLE MIX MARLIN WAS ADOPTED BY THE WILLIAMS FAMILY , AIKEN ON DEC 23

By the Numbers
54 Adoptions between December 18 and December 23! Thank you.

Missed our Christmas adoption specials? No worries! 
January Adoption special – dogs/puppies $35, cats/kittens $10

Pets of the Week

LACEY POTW DEC 31
LACEY: Retriever mix, female, 2 years old, black, 63 pounds – $35

CLARENCE POTW DEC 31

CLARENCE: Domestic shorthair kitten, male, 3 months old, black & white, 3 pounds – $10

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Spay/Neuter, Transfer, Volunteer

FOTAS: Christmas spirit, gratitude and saving animals

Posted on by Angel Hartline
21
Dec

Every Sunday, the ‘Aiken Standard’ allows us this space to tell you about the Aiken County Animal Shelter, FOTAS and the plight of the 5000 homeless animals consigned to the Shelter every year, and we are deeply appreciative for that opportunity. Over the years, we have used this column to tell you about initiatives designed to save the lives of more animals and to report on our progress. We have written about the special people who have made a difference in the lives of the Shelter animals, and we have showcased particular dogs or cats who had captured our hearts and needed a little extra “ink” to find them that perfect home.

This Christmas Eve, however, we are not going to use this space to report or convince or to ask you for help; instead, we are simply going to thank you … all of you:

Chairman Gary Bunker and the County Council, County Administrator Clay Killian, and Assistant County Administrators Ashley Jacobs and Brian Sanders for being responsive and responsible public partners;

Councilwoman Kathy Rawls, believed in our mission from the very start and helped us build the successful public/private partnership between the County and FOTAS;

Paige Bayne, Director of Aiken County Code Enforcement, and our beloved Bobby Arthurs, Chief Animal Control Officer and Shelter Manager, who directly oversee and manage the Shelter operations with thoughtful and dedicated attention to the welfare of the animals;

The County Shelter staff—the intake administrators, adoption coordinators, vet assistants, kennel techs and custodians—who make certain that all of those animals are properly documented and cared for with compassion and efficiency;

Dr. Lisa Levy, the Shelter Vet, whose medical prowess and big heart has saved the lives of hundreds of animals who arrive at the Shelter abused, mangled and injured, giving them a second chance;

The FOTAS volunteers, who work on bookkeeping, social media, and special fundraising events; who work with FOTAS Fix-a-Pet and curbing the population of community cats; who organize and work on special fundraising and on-site events; who foster mamma dogs and cats and all their progeny, who care for animals designated for transfer; who shuffle animals to off-site adoption events; who greet the public and man the front desk, walk the dogs, love up the cats, work with play groups, and show animals to potential adopters—the dramatic and steady increase in the Shelter’s live release rate since 2009 (84% so far this year) is directly related to their efforts; and

Last but not least, you, the Aiken community, who have supported our efforts with enthusiasm and generosity, adopted your pets from the thousands of deserving animals who end up in the Shelter, and who are working to end the excessive population of homeless animals by spaying and neutering your animals—you have designated the Shelter as your community shelter, and we could not be prouder.

The Board of Directors of FOTAS—Jennifer Miller, Mary Lou Welch, Edythe Hubler, Frank Townsend, Dr. Charlie Timmerman, Caroline Simonson, Ellie Joos, Ellen Priest, Grant and Heather Wiseman, Shanna Ryberg Pearsons, Jeri Barrett, Allison Tyler, myself, and FOTAS Program Director Kathy Jacobs, wish you and your family Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

By the Numbers

December specials – dogs/puppies $35, cats/kittens $10

January through November: FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter saved 3,706 dogs and cats.

Please adopt and help us save 4,000 by the end of 2017!

Pets of the Week

MARIELLE: Shepherd mix, female, 3 years old, black w/white, 31 pounds –$0 (adoption sponsored by FOTAS donor)

MARIELLE POTW DEC 24 2017

MILA: Domestic medium-hair cat, female, 1 year old, gray, 6 pounds – $0 (adoption sponsored by FOTAS donor)

MILA POTW DEC 24 2017

 

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Volunteer

FOTAS volunteers get back as much as they give to shelter animals

Posted on by Angel Hartline
15
Dec

With Christmas just a week away, FOTAS Volunteer John Berk reflects on what he will be doing on the holiday. His children are coming to visit and he and his wife, Sally, have plans to celebrate with them. But he also plans to make another stop.

“I’m sure I’ll be at the shelter on Christmas morning walking the dogs and visiting with the cats,” Berk said. “It’s a constant need that we serve. I don’t think Christmas feels any different to these animals in need.”

FOTAS Volunteer John Berk enjoys walking and spending time with shelter dogs like Arthur.
FOTAS Volunteer John Berk enjoys walking and spending time with shelter dogs like Arthur.

Berk came to Aiken 20 years ago, ready to retire after a successful career as a plant manager for a large corporation. An avid and skillful golfer, he used to spend much of his time on the links. But about four months ago, at the urging of a friend, he decided to sign up as a FOTAS volunteer. After completing a short application and taking a two-hour orientation class, he hit the ground running and immediately felt at home.

“Once you walk one of these dogs, it’s hard not to come back,” he said. “I get great satisfaction from giving comfort and a little bit of happiness to a dog or cat that really just wants to be loved and accepted.”

Another new FOTAS volunteer who has found a second home at the animal shelter is Jackie Edel. A professional horse rider and trainer most of her life, Edel and her husband, John, moved from Connecticut to Aiken 11 years ago.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Edel said. “But everyone was so friendly and welcomed me right away. I’m really impressed with how much effort people put in to get the dogs exercise and feeling more confident. And how hard they work to get them adopted.”

Volunteer Jackie Edel works with the County Shelter dogs nearly every day.
Volunteer Jackie Edel works with the County Shelter dogs nearly every day.

Edel has always been around animals and currently has four dogs and a cat at home. But it wasn’t until she and her husband decided to downsize from their farm to a smaller house, freeing her from her horse care duties, that she decided to give volunteering a try.

With her experience and comfort level around animals, she’s already become a star volunteer. She’s at the shelter nearly every day and even helps with play group, an advanced program in which dogs are brought together to interact and burn off energy in the shelter’s large, fenced-in yard.

But Edel’s favorite part of volunteering is seeing the dogs and cats finding their human matches and getting adopted.

“I certainly have become attached to some of the dogs, but I’m just so happy when they go to good homes,” she said.

If you would like to become a FOTAS volunteer, please stop by the County Shelter, 333 Wire Road, or call the FOTAS hotline, (803) 514-4313.

Their lives are in our hands.

above article written by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

BY THE NUMBERS

December specials – dogs/puppies $35, cats/kittens $10

Through November, the Aiken County Animal Shelter received 4,475 dogs and cats, and 3,722 were saved.

Please adopt and help our community shelter save 4,000 by year end!

PETS OF THE WEEK

BOO: Hound mix, female, 7 years old, black and red, 45 pounds – $0 (adoption sponsored by FOTAS donor)
BOO: Hound mix, female, 7 years old, black and red, 45 pounds – $0 (adoption sponsored by FOTAS donor)
STAR: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 1 year old, gray and black Tabby, 6 pounds - $10
STAR: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 1 year old, gray and black Tabby, 6 pounds – $10
Adoption, Dogs, Foster, FOTAS, Military Veterans, Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs

Service dog Blue brings blessings to veteran who adopted him

Posted on by Angel Hartline
08
Dec

Wherever Reverend Bill Kline goes, Blue is close by his side. A veteran who suffers from many health problems, Kline adopted the four-year-old, 62-pound Siberian Husky just three months ago from the County Shelter. However, the pair quickly developed a strong connection and now Kline can’t imagine being without his large canine companion.

“Blue’s my lifeguard,” Kline said. “It’s amazing how he can tell if I’m not feeling well. If I’m down in the dumps, he’s always right there to comfort me. He even knows when my blood sugar level is too low or too high. He’ll lick my hand and let me know that I need to check it.”

Blue, who was adopted from the Aiken County Animal Shelter, is in training to be a service dog for a local veteran.
Blue, who was adopted from the Aiken County Animal Shelter, is in training to be a service dog for a local veteran.

Kline was a medic in the Navy for 41 years, but his major health issues began only a year ago when he had a stroke, developed diabetes and was diagnosed with heart problems. His wife, Julia, is his “rock” and helped him through this difficult time. But he is still recovering and requires the physical strength that a dog like Blue can provide.

Blue is in training to be Kline’s service dog, helping him to get around and assisting him with tasks such as picking up items dropped on the floor, bringing him bottled water and fetching his diabetic kit. He’s also learning how to alert people if Kline falls or gets hurt, as well as how to use his body to help his owner get back to his feet. Blue attends classes offered by Veterans K9 Solutions and is expected to graduate early next year.

Named for his stunning eyes, Blue arrived at the County Shelter as an injured stray. He had been shot in the face and a bullet was removed from his chin. But once Blue recovered from his wound and was added to the adoption floor, it became increasingly apparent that he was a special kind of dog. Not only was he extremely calm and confident, but he also showed a natural drive to help and protect people.

Jerry Lyda of Veterans K9 Solutions is an expert at finding service dog talent and has worked closely with FOTAS and the County Shelter to find animals to assist folks who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other war injuries. When he visited the County Shelter and saw Blue, he knew right away that this Husky was a star in the making. He also had a hunch Blue would be perfect for Reverend Bill Kline.

“Blue and Reverend Bill are doing awesome,” Lyda said. “The bond between those two is amazing. I knew Blue was a winner – thank you so much for treating his injuries and making him available for adoption.”

FOTAS and the Shelter are proud to support veterans and active military personnel by helping to provide Veterans K9 Solutions and other organizations with service dog candidates. FOTAS also sponsors free adoptions for veterans as well as men and women currently serving in the U.S. military.

Their lives are in our hands.

above Article by Bob Gordon, FOTAS  Director of Communications

By the Numbers

December Specials – dogs/puppies $35, cats/kittens $10

Saturday, Dec. 16 – Adoption event:

free photos with Santa Claus and your new pet!

Pets of the Week

THOR POTW DEC 10
THOR: Mixed breed, male, 8 months old, brown and white, 32 pounds – $35
POTW TINY TIM
TINY TIM: Domestic shorthair cat, male, 2 months old, orange Tabby, 1.8 pounds – $10

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Transfer, Volunteer

FOTAS needs your Christmas spirit

Posted on by Angel Hartline
03
Dec

“Every charitable act is a stepping stone towards heaven.”
Henry Ward Beecher

It’s the time of year when the spirit of Christmas thrives. It’s a time for gratitude, for family and friends. It’s a time to rejoice our faith. It’s a time for love.

It is also a time for charitable giving, and if your mailbox is anything like mine, it’s filled with requests from worthy local charities for year-end contributions. They all do good works, but you can’t give to them all. How do you decide?

I am going to take a leap of faith here—that if you are reading this column, you care about the plight of abused, abandoned and homeless animals. If that’s true, then FOTAS, the private partner of the Aiken County Animal Shelter, is the right choice for your charitable urges. Here’s why.

FOTAS provides critical assistance to 5000 Shelter animals a year. In the first ten months of this year, 3456 animals have been saved. That’s an average of 340 animals a month. No other organization comes close to saving that many animals—day after day, month after month, year after year.

FOTAS has funded the design, construction and equipping of a wellness and isolation building at the Shelter to isolate and treat contagious, treatable illnesses—a much-needed project that has been two years in the making and is close to completion. FOTAS also purchased a new anesthesia machine for on-site surgeries and a commercial dishwasher that properly sterilizes feed and water bowls. It arranged for the donation of an x-ray machine and paid for the setup and training of medical clinic personnel.

FOTAS goes the extra mile to find every animal a home.

FOTAS Super Foster Manuela Segre-Amar holds puppy Rose
FOTAS Super Foster Manuela Segre-Amar holds puppy Rose

It aggressively markets adoptable animals through print and social media and transports animals to off-site adoption events in a van donated by FOTAS. It supplements adoption fees for active Military Personnel and veterans and pays for heartworm medicine for HWP dogs adopted from the Shelter (150 this year).

FOTAS developed a network of rescue partners in other parts of the country and organizes and pays expenses for transfers of adoptable animals. FOTAS recruits foster families (and funds their provisions, if necessary) to provide interim care for animals approved for transfer and longer-term care for animals in “a family way.”

FOTAS addresses the cause of high Shelter intake: rampant overpopulation of dogs and cats. Since 2013, FOTAS has paid for over 2427 spay/neuter surgeries and neutered and returned to field 880 free-roaming community cats.

Since its inception in 2009, the Shelter’s live release rate has increased from a dismal 5% to 82.9%. That’s literally thousands more animals saved annually thanks to the substantial supplemental resources (both financial and manpower) provided by FOTAS.

Last month, the South Carolina Secretary of State honored FOTAS as one of the ten “Angel” charities in the state. FOTAS spends 83 cents of every dollar on its charitable purpose, which means you can be certain that your donations will make a difference.

The success of FOTAS is a testament to the generosity of the Aiken community, but there is still so much to do. Please send your much-needed donations to FOTAS, PO Box 2207, Aiken SC 29802 to help us continue the good work.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

By the Numbers

On Tuesday, Nov. 28, the County Shelter received 26 strays and owner-surrendered animals.

December Adoption Special: cats/kittens $10, dogs/puppies $35

Pets of the Week

BOJACK: Shepherd mix, male, 8 years old, brown, 43 pounds, calm and sweet – $35
BOJACK: Shepherd mix, male, 8 years old, brown, 43 pounds, calm and sweet – $35
DEUCE: Domestic Medium-haired cat, male, 1 year old, black and brown Tabby, 5 pounds, very friendly - $10 (available at Aiken PetSmart)
DEUCE: Domestic Medium-haired cat, male, 1 year old, black and brown Tabby, 5 pounds, very friendly – $10 (available at Aiken PetSmart)