Category Archives: FOTAS

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Volunteers

Counting Our Blessings and Giving Thanks

Posted on by Angel Hartline
23
Nov

Image Credit: Well Pet Coach

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Thanksgiving is a time of reflection for those of us at FOTAS—a time to take stock of our blessings; to consider the progress we and the County have made in making the world a better place for Aiken County’s homeless, abandoned and abused animals.

Giving thanks and counting our blessings is particularly meaningful this year. On November 15th, the South Carolina Secretary of State announced that FOTAS would be one of the ten charitable organizations in the state to receive a 2017 Angel Award, which recognizes the most efficient and effective charitable organizations in the state based on, among other things, longevity of service, expenditures on charitable programs greater than 80% of the total budget (FOTAS was 83.9%), and good use of volunteer services.

This grant of this prestigious award to FOTAS is a testament to the dedication and support of our partner, the County, our extraordinary volunteers and donors, and you, the Aiken Community.

Thank you, Aiken County and Aiken County Council, for being a committed public partner and making it possible to save the lives of thousands of homeless animals.

Thanks to Paige Bayne, the County’s Enforcement and Animal Services Director, Bobby Arthurs, the Shelter Manager and Chief Animal Control Officer, Dr. Lisa Levy, the Shelter’s veterinarian, and all the Shelter staff for their dedication to increasing the opportunities for each adoptable animal to find a forever home and their willingness to implement new programs and practices that enhance those opportunities.

Thanks to the army of volunteers who make the work of FOTAS possible—everything from manning the front desk, walking and training dogs, managing canine play groups, working special events and fundraisers, fostering dogs, organizing transfers, manning off-site adoption events, working on publicity, social media and financial record and bookkeeping responsibilities, and coordinating FOTAS-Fix-a-Pet activities.

And finally, thanks to you, the Aiken Community, for your extraordinary generosity. Once again, you made it possible for FOTAS to help the County provide the best possible care for shelter animals, increase adoptions and transfers, and supplement the County’s spay/neuter financial assistance program.

Through your support, this past year FOTAS funded a new isolation and wellness pod at the Shelter; provided a digital x-ray machine and training for staff in the medical clinic; and funded heartworm treatments for 150 otherwise healthy dogs so that they could be placed in forever homes.

And here’s the best part: all of that love, effort, commitment and hard work has paid off. The live release rate at the shelter has increased from 5% (pre-FOTAS, prior to 2009), to 84% this year (as of the end of October). That’s 3,454 animals, which means the FOTAS/County partnership has saved more animals than any other local rescue organization. In addition, we have successfully trapped, neutered and returned to field 880 community cats (through September), and organized 79 separate transfers (through November) to out-of-state rescue partners, sending 1100 animals to their forever homes.

That’s a very big deal.

Thank you for your continued support—you have made it possible for us to save thousands upon thousands of homeless animals in the past eight years. God bless you and your family during this holiday season.

Their lives are in our hands.

PETS OF THE WEEK

 

KELBIE: Retriever mix, female, 1-1/2 years old, black with white, 52 pounds - $35
KELBIE: Retriever mix, female, 1-1/2 years old, black with white, 52 pounds – $35
FINN: Domestic Short Hair, male, 2 months old, orange Tabby, 2.5 pounds - $10
FINN: Domestic Short Hair, male, 2 months old, orange Tabby, 2.5 pounds – $10
Adoption, Cats, Foster, FOTAS, Spay/Neuter, Volunteer

Feral kittens and the Good Samaritan

Posted on by Angel Hartline
17
Nov

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

One morning, you come downstairs to the kitchen, turn on the coffee maker, and open the back door to check the weather. Then you hear it: faint, pitiful mewing sounds coming from the crawl space under the porch. You grab a flashlight and go out to investigate. What you find breaks your heart: six tiny feral kittens, eyes still closed, mewing for what? Food? Mama? Warmth?

What do you do?

mother cat and kittenThe Good Samaritan in you wants to spring into action and rescue the little snuggle nuggets, but is that the wisest course?

“It isn’t, at least not right away,” says Hillary Clark-Kulis, the Adoption Coordinator for the Aiken County Animal Shelter. “Odds are mama has gone out to feed herself and will be returning soon to care for her babies, and it is always better for little kittens to be cared for by their mama. She can properly clean and feed them around the clock. We advise waiting and watching for mama to return. Patience is the better part of valor in these cases.”

Raising little kittens is tricky business. They need to be fed every two hours around the clock. They cannot eliminate waste on their own, so cleaning and massaging in just the right places is required to allow them to process their food. Mama’s milk also provides crucial antibodies. When the kittens are weaned to hard food, mama teaches them how to be little cats, how to fend for themselves, how to hunt.

kitten bottle feederAssuming mama comes home, the best thing you can do is support mama until the kittens are weaned. Provide her healthy cat food and clean water, maybe a box with soft towels for a warm dry place to nest.

Feral cats are often fearful of humans, so speak softly, move slowly, try to befriend her, get her accustomed to friendly human contact. FOTAS can provide you with the appropriate supplies if needed.

After about five weeks, call the Shelter and make an appointment to bring mama in to get vaccinated, spayed and returned to field (no cost to you), and the kittens to be vetted and put up for adoption (unless the kittens are too feral, in which case, they too can be vaccinated, spayed and returned to field.)

Let’s rewind: what if you watch the little kittens all day and mama doesn’t return, then what do you do?

Now it’s time to collect the little kittens and bring them to the Shelter. Dr. Levy will assess their health, then FOTAS volunteers will foster the kittens at home. That means two weeks of bottle feeding every two hours, watching their temperature, keeping them clean until their eyes open and they can eat on their own. Once they pass that critical stage, the little snuggle muffins can be socialized until they are big enough to be adopted.
“Taking proper care of new-born kittens requires skill and patience, but there are experienced FOTAS volunteers we call upon for help,” says Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director. “We couldn’t do it without them, and we always need more volunteers!”

Call the FOTAS hotline at (803) 514-4313 or the County Shelter at (803) 642-1537, when your Good Samaritan is called into service.

Their lives are in our hands.

By the Numbers
Jan. to Sept. 2017: FOTAS Fix-A-Pet and the Aiken County Animal Shelter spayed/neutered 864 community/feral cats that were returned to field.

Pets of the Week

REMINGTON: Retriever mix, male, 2 years old, light brown and white, 46 pounds – $35
REMINGTON: Retriever mix, male, 2 years old, light brown and white, 46 pounds – $35

ERIK: Domestic shorthair cat, male, 1-1/2 years old, light orange Tabby, 10 pounds – $10 (available at Aiken PetSmart)
ERIK: Domestic shorthair cat, male, 1-1/2 years old, light orange Tabby, 10 pounds – $10 (available at Aiken PetSmart)

Adoption, Dogs, FOTAS

Surgeries at the County Shelter Give Two Dogs a New Lease on Life

Posted on by Angel Hartline
11
Nov

By Dr. Lisa Levy, ACAS Veterinarian

To paraphrase Forrest Gump, working at the shelter is like a box of chocolates. Every morning when I make my rounds, I never know what new problem attached to a wagging tail I’m going to get. A couple of weeks ago, two dogs with severe medical problems needing immediate attention were waiting for me at the Shelter clinic.

A BB was found imbedded in Remington's eye
A BB was found imbedded in Remington’s eye

First there was Remington, a beautiful brown retriever-mix with one very expressive eye and one injured eye—the cornea was completely opaque giving it a blue-gray appearance. From the thickness of the scar tissue on the cornea, I knew it was an old injury. Honestly, it made him look “creepy,” and I was worried that would turn off potential adopters and affect his chances of getting a new home.

Since Remington was blind in that eye anyway, I decided to remove it to improve his appearance. I was also concerned about the possibility of glaucoma developing, which can happen with any eye injury.

When we sedated Remington, we noticed several BB’s under his skin which unfortunately is not that uncommon of a finding. What was unusual is that during the surgery I found a BB in his eye socket. He had been shot in the eye! Remington recovered beautifully and is so much happier since the surgery. His sweet temperament masked the fact that he was in pain, but I am glad that we could make him comfortable again.

I still cannot understand how someone could use a dog for target practice, showing total disregard for them as living, feeling creatures. Educating children on humane treatment of animals is critical. That’s why programs like FOTAS’s “Dog Ears Reading Sessions” are invaluable. By encouraging children to read to shelter dogs, it not only helps the child’s confidence in reading skills, but helps them see the dogs as individuals with personalities and feelings. It’s a win all around.

Grace gets a big hug from FOTAS canine coach Darling Rios
Grace gets a big hug from FOTAS canine coach Darling Rios

My second unique patient that week was Grace. Grace is an elderly, gray Pibble. The Animal Control Officer who brought her in left a note on the intake sheet: “Vet Please Check!” As I approached her kennel, she greeted me enthusiastically and I thought to myself, “What’s the issue?” Until she turned sideways. Then I thought, “Oh my goodness!” There was a large growth hanging off the back of one rear leg. I mean an impressively large growth. It was also very irritated from rubbing on the ground every time she sat down.

When no one claimed Grace, I decided to remove the growth and give her a chance to find a new home. I was concerned about how she would handle anesthesia at her age, but she through like a champ. We weighed the growth after surgery and it weighed two-and-a-half pounds!

Both Remington and Grace tested positive for heartworms, which is common in the South among dogs who are not properly protected. The good news is that we can medically eliminate the heartworm infection, allowing these canines to lead normal, long lives. Both dogs have started their treatment, which is being paid for by FOTAS.

Remington and Grace are awesome dogs and waiting for adoption with a new lease on life.

By the Numbers
November Adoption Special: cats/kittens $10, dogs/puppies $35

Pets of the Week

DELTA: Mixed breed, male, 4 years old, brown, 63 pounds – $35
DELTA: Mixed breed, male, 4 years old, brown, 63 pounds – $35

HATTIE: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 1-1/2 years old, gray and black Tabby, 5.5 pounds – $10
HATTIE: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 1-1/2 years old, gray and black Tabby, 5.5 pounds – $10

Adoption, Children, FOTAS, Volunteer

Children are the future of FOTAS

Posted on by Angel Hartline
28
Oct

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

“I believe the children are our future,
Teach them well and let them lead the way.”
Whitney Houston

If FOTAS had a poster child, it would be Noah Jacobs. Noah and his mother, Kathy Jacobs, have been volunteering at the Aiken County Animal Shelter since the new shelter opened in 2013. (Kathy is now the full-time FOTAS Program Director). Noah was eight years old at the time, and like his mother, has a magic touch with animals. Whenever an adoptable dog is identified as “kid friendly,” it means that it has passed the Noah Jacobs “kid friendly” test, which has proven to be a tried and true endorsement.

Noah, who is twelve now, attends the Tall Pines STEM Academy. The Academy is mission oriented, and last year, the students in Noah’s class selected FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter as one of their missions. The students asked Kathy and Bobby Arthurs, the Shelter Manager and Chief Animal Control Officer for the County, to make a presentation to the class.

Tall Pines STEM Academy students visit the Aiken County Animal Shelter to learn more about FOTAS.  Students include: Karylle Hambrick, Dylan Seeley, Kahlei Morris, Noah Jacobs, Christian Grove, Gabey Marshall, Blake Scott and Sydney Ledere
Tall Pines STEM Academy students visit the Aiken County Animal Shelter to learn more about FOTAS.  Students include: Karylle Hambrick, Dylan Seeley, Kahlei Morris, Noah Jacobs, Christian Grove, Gabey Marshall, Blake Scott and Sydney Ledere

Kathy and Bobby, along with a couple of adoptable dogs, made the trek to the school and talked to the students about the work and dedication involved in caring and finding homes for the thousands of homeless animals that come through the Shelter every year. The students rallied to the cause, and over the next month, raised money and in-kind goods (pet food, leashes, etc.) to donate to the Shelter.

Cool.

Over the course of that year, the Principal Griffin would call Kathy from time to time to come and pick up a stray dog on the property, and Kathy would drop off the current FOTAS Newsletters.

Then, this past September, Kathy attended the Academy’s open house to meet Noah’s teachers. When she walked into the English Language Arts room, to her surprise and delight, she discovered that the walls were covered with essays written by the students on how kids can make a difference for homeless animals, along with countless pictures of dogs and cats drawn by the students.

“My son tells me nothing!” says Kathy, and when she questioned Noah, he told her they had even had student debates on what FOTAS does and how it could do more. (Not to worry, says Noah, he totally educated the class on all the important things FOTAS does.)IMG_0295

Very cool.

It gets better. The staff, teachers and students at the Academy have become active supporters of FOTAS and the Shelter: homework assignments to write essays on the FOTAS mission, contributions to FOTAS fundraisers, teachers and their children volunteering at the Shelter.

The kids at the Academy are required to complete eight hours of community service before the end of the year. Kathy has scheduled three service days for students to serve their hours at the Shelter reading to the animals. On the first service day last Wednesday, eight children participated.

Beyond cool.

With programs and interest like this, developed early in life, there is hope the next generation will carry on our work and solve, once and for all, the vexing problem of overpopulation of unwanted pets.

Their lives are in our hands; but soon their lives will be in the hands of our very capable children.

IMG_0300IMG_0355higher pixel pic of young students visiting ACASIMG_0303

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

Pets of the Week

RILEY: Pointer mix, female, 1 year old, white and black, 44 pounds – $35
RILEY: Pointer mix, female, 1 year old, white and black, 44 pounds – $35

TAFFY: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 2 years old, gray and black Tabby, 7 pounds - $10
TAFFY: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 2 years old, gray and black Tabby, 7 pounds – $10

Adoption, Cats, Foster, FOTAS

FOTAS fosters and good Samaritans are saving kittens every day

Posted on by Angel Hartline
18
Oct

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

Livie and her sibling were tossed out of a moving vehicle like pieces of garbage. A good Samaritan, driving behind the vehicle, witnessed the hideous crime and slammed on his brakes. He and his wife scrambled out of their car to see what they could do to save the kittens. But as they ran to Livie, a gray kitten, her sibling was run over and killed by a car coming the other way. Horrified, the couple scooped up Livie, blood dripping from her mouth, and sped to the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS).

LIVIE THE KITTEN - NOT LIVVYOnce at Shelter, Dr. Lisa Levy and her vet techs treated Livie. The left side of her face was scraped badly and her left rear leg injured, but she would be okay. Now, the five-week-old needed time to rest and heal.

Livie is just one of 227 kittens and 8 nursing momma cats that have been received by the County Shelter over the last two months. Some of these kittens are only a couple of weeks old and need to be bottle fed. When they are motherless and so young, they’re vulnerable and need constant care and attention – the kind of nurturing they can only get from a devoted foster family. But as fast as FOTAS recruits kitten fosters, more babies in need arrive at 333 Wire Road. Currently, there are 48 kittens being fostered by volunteers.

Because so many kittens have been received lately, ACAS staff members have taken kittens home to ensure their survival. Adoption Coordinator Hillary Clark-Kulis, Vet Tech Betty Milne-Erikson and Adoption Assistant Mary Calabro have all fostered litters of kittens during the last two months.
“I do it because these babies need to be saved,” Mary Calabro said. “It’s love for the innocent and the love they give back.”

Once the kittens are old enough to be spayed or neutered, they go on the adoption floor. But the fosters are needed to help these kittens get stronger and more comfortable with human touch and interaction.

“Without the foster program, many of these kittens wouldn’t survive,” said Hillary Clark-Kulis. “They are too little to spay or neuter and need constant bottle feeding or, if they’re old enough, have to be weaned from wet to dry food.”

FOTAS Volunteer Peg Seger and her husband, Ron, have been fostering kittens for two years and their latest assignment is a litter of five one-month-old strays. “If you love animals, fostering is a wonderful thing to do,” Peg said.

Jerri Smith just finished fostering three feral kittens for two weeks. By the time she returned them to the shelter for adoption, the six-week-old siblings liked to be held and petted.

“The longer they stayed with me, the less fearful they became,” Jeri said. “I enjoyed seeing them progress and it was fun and rewarding to help them learn and grow.”

Mindy Hand, another foster standout, just completed fostering three kittens that have since been adopted and is now nurturing and preparing two three-week-old kittens for adoption.

“Fostering takes a lot love and patience,” Mindy said. “But it is special knowing these cats are going to find families of their own after you’ve taken care of them.”

With so many kittens flowing into the shelter, FOTAS is in urgent need of more fosters. If you can volunteer, please call 803.514.4313 or send an email to info@angelhartlinedesigns.com

With your help, we’ll have more success stories like Livie, who recovered from her injuries and was put on the adoption floor on Thursday. Discarded like trash, this beautiful, gray kitten now has a second chance at a good life.
Their lives are in our hands.

By the Numbers


August 10 to October 10: The Aiken County Animal Shelter received 227 kittens and 8 nursing cats.
October Adoption Special: cats/kittens $10, dogs/puppies $35

Pets of the Week

Livie was thrown out of the window of a moving vehicle but thanks to good Samaritans, she made a complete recovery from her injuries.
RENO: Bully mix, male, 2 years old, white and brown, 50 pounds – $35

KENT PET OF THE WEEK
KENT: Domestic medium hair cat, male, 2 months old, black with light gray undercoat, 1.8 pounds – $10

Adoption, Bully Dogs, Dogs, FOTAS, Pibbles

Adopted Pit Bull mixes find love and give it back in spades

Posted on by Angel Hartline
30
Sep

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

The American Pit Bull Terrier or “Pit Bull” was America’s dog during World War I and their photos were used in military posters. Because of their popularity, “Bullies” or “Pibbles” were often used in advertising, including the Buster Brown shoes campaign. In fact, the first famous dog to star on TV was a Pit Bull. Remember Petey, the white dog with the black ring around one eye who starred in the Our Gang comedies in the 1930s? Yep, the cute canine who often joined the Little Rascals in their fun-filled adventures was a Pit Bull.

The County Shelter takes in a lot of stray and surrendered Pit Bull mixes, so we’re familiar with the positive attributes of this breed. Smart, goofy, athletic, high-energy and very loving, these are some of the best pets available for adoption.

Unfortunately, starting around the mid-80s, Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixed breeds started to get a bad rap in the media. Dog fighting surged in popularity and criminals chose the breed due to their physical strength. These villains nearly destroyed the rich history of the Pit Bull and sullied the breed’s reputation through their cruel and illegal actions.

But FOTAS and the Shelter are working to help these dogs and reestablish their honorable reputation by prudently preparing them for adoption and finding them loving homes.

Young Raymond and his mother, Darling Rios, fostered Gloria, helping the dog gain confidence before going to the Shelter’s adoption floor.
Young Raymond and his mother, Darling Rios, fostered Gloria, helping the dog gain confidence before going to the Shelter’s adoption floor.

For example, Gloria, a 2-year-old Pibble who arrived at the Shelter scared and shy, was fostered by Darling Rios and her family. At first, Gloria was too scared to leave the house. But slowly she began to trust her foster family and learned to relax and play by interacting with the other dogs living at the Rios household.

“All we did was give her love and provide a place where she felt safe,” Darling said. “Gloria built confidence after weeks of attention and came out of her shell.”

Once she was put on the adoption floor, Gloria didn’t last long. She was adopted by Shannon Wilhelm of Graniteville and is doing great!

Gloria is adopted from the County Shelter by the Wilhelms.
Gloria is adopted from the County Shelter by the Wilhelms.

Another Bully mix was adopted by Jude and Kerwin Iglesias of Aiken. They took home one-year-old Doxter, a white and brown cutie who is very protective of his new family. When he thinks they have been swimming for too long, the young dog gets worried and dives into the family’s pool, gently gripping them by the hand to pull them out of the water!

 

Ripley at home with his adopter, Amanda Brown of Augusta.
Ripley at home with his adopter, Amanda Brown of Augusta.

Ripley, a fawn and white Pibble, arrived at the Shelter as a stray and tested positive for heartworms. Bo and Amanda Brown fell in love with the big boy and adopted him, FOTAS paid for his treatment and now he is expected to be heartworm free by next month.

claressa at home
Newly adopted Claressa makes herself at home on Corbin Goodwin’s bed.

And then there’s Claressa, a 10-month-old, tan and white Bully mix. She was shy and having difficulty dealing with the noisy environment of the Shelter. But Brian and Gina Goodwin of Aiken adopted her and turned her life around. 

“At first, she was terrified of everything!” said Gina. “But after about three days, she was a completely different dog. We love her so much and I’m pretty sure she feels the same.”
The County Shelter always has some wonderful Pibbles available for adoption, and this week is no exception. Three standouts include Bailey, Ranger and our dog of the week, Toffee. Come visit them!

Their lives are in our hands.

 

By the Numbers

Jan. through Aug.:
FOTAS organized and paid for the spay/neuter surgeries of 292 community cats and pets owned by citizens in need of financial assistance.
October Adoption Special: Cat and kittens $10, dogs and puppies $35

 

Pets of the Week

 

TESSA: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 4 months old, Tortoise shell, 3.6 pounds - $10
TESSA: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 4 months old, Tortoise shell, 3.6 pounds – $10

TOFFEE: Pibble mix, female, 2 years old, gray and white, 46 pounds – $35
TOFFEE: Pibble mix, female, 2 years old, gray and white, 46 pounds – $35

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Foster, FOTAS

In their own words: the joy and satisfaction of fostering County Shelter dogs

Posted on by Angel Hartline
22
Sep

 

By Toni Urben, FOTAS Volunteer and Foster Family

My husband Gary and I are a foster family for dogs from the Aiken County Animal Shelter that were not adopted locally and have been accepted for transfer to a sister agency in another part of the country. I can’t recall what got us started, but we have been fostering for FOTAS for four years, and it has been a truly satisfying journey. These sweet animals often come to us scared and anxious, and we have cried tears of sorrow at their condition and plight. As dog lovers, we cannot conceive how someone could have abandoned, abused or surrendered them in the first place.
Back to what we do as fosters and what we receive in return. We commit to care and love these dogs for approximately six days. In that short time, we give them a chance to relax, eat well, and exercise, and they learn to trust and love—we watch them come back to life. Our foster dogs truly teach us the meaning of forgiveness, resilience and adaptation.

Our most recent fosters were two older pups who had each recently had a hind leg amputated by Dr. Levy, the Shelter veterinarian, because they had arrived at the Shelter with such severe injuries, their lives were at risk. After a month at the Shelter, they needed a chance to adjust to their limitations. We helped them adjust and relax; we watched them get stronger on their short walks. It is hard to express the joy we have received from these two brave souls, who harbored no resentment toward mankind for their predicament. I cried tears of joy

Gary with Chance and Belinda
Gary with Chance and Belinda

when they left to begin their new life in a loving home, but by letting them go, we are able to foster two more dogs and prepare them for a fresh start.

Another foster we will always remember was Blue, an adult house pet who was extremely depressed at being abandoned by his owners. Blue moped about the dog room or laid at the glass door for long periods of time, just staring sadly into space. He didn’t want to leave his crate—we often had to pull him out just to walk and eat. He was so depressed, we did not think he was ready for transfer, so we asked to keep him for an additional three weeks. FOTAS agreed.

Gary and I were on a mission to bring Blue back to life. We leashed him and kept him with us as we sat in the family room and went about our daily life. Eventually he relaxed and wagged his tail; light came on in his gorgeous eyes. FOTAS worked their network. When they couldn’t find him a local home, they were able to transfer him to a northern partner. We were later contacted by the woman who fostered Blue for that shelter, and to our delight, she adored him so much, she kept him. She often posts pictures of Blue on the shelter’s Facebook page, so I can still look into his warm eyes and know he is loved and safe.

Yes, fostering can be a challenge, but deep satisfaction is the guaranteed outcome. FOTAS is in urgent need of more fosters—they need your help.

Their lives are in our hands.

By the Numbers
January to July:

The County Shelter’s Trap Neuter Return (TNR) Program, supplemented by FOTAS, recorded 500 community cats fixed and returned to field!

 

Pets of the Week

JENIVEVE: Mixed breed, female, 3 years old, white, 50 pounds – $35
JENIVEVE: Mixed breed, female, 3 years old, white, 50 pounds – $35

HILTON: Domestic Shorthair kitten, male, 3 months old, orange and white Tabby, 2.9 pounds – $10
HILTON: Domestic Shorthair kitten, male, 3 months old, orange and white Tabby, 2.9 pounds – $10

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

Hurricanes and crowded shelters

Posted on by Angel Hartline
16
Sep

By Joanna D. Samson, Vice President of FOTAS

The destruction wreaked by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma over the past weeks is almost unimaginable: hundreds of thousands of homes severely damaged or destroyed, tens of thousands of people in temporary shelters. As of the day I write this, there are still 6.5 million people in Florida and Georgia facing 80- to 90-degree temperatures without power.

While the impacts on people are catastrophic, the impacts on animals are equally heart-breaking. Some human shelters made arrangements for household pets, but thousands of people were forced to flee their homes without their pets. Owner surrenders at animal shelters skyrocketed as the storms crawled ashore. As heartbreaking as it is to imagine turning a beloved companion over to a shelter, it was a far better choice than abandoning them to the elements.

In anticipation of the storms, many of the animal shelters in the affected southern states made a desperate effort to transfer their animals to shelters in other parts of the country so they could make room for the inevitable deluge of abandoned and surrendered animals. Here in Aiken, for example, the SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare took in an additional 28 dogs.

The effort and resources needed to conduct rescue operations and to handle that many additional animals are enormous: hundreds of dedicated volunteers, substantial amounts of food, thousands of extra crates, and medical supplies. Many private vehicles were pressed into service to haul the animals to safety. Already overworked shelter staff worked overtime to accommodate the influx of extra animals. It’s exhausting, time-consuming and stressful work.

Although superstorms like Katrina, Harvey and Irma seem to be increasing as the earth’s temperatures rise, at least the hurricane season is limited to three months out of the year, and thankfully not every year produces a storm of these magnitudes. However, at large public shelters in the southern climes like the Aiken County Animal Shelter, intake skyrockets during the spring and summer months every year, creating the same strain on resources, funds and manpower as an extraordinary weather event.

This summer has been no exception. From May 1st to August 31st, the County Shelter took in 1,920 animals. Over a period of sixteen days in May, the Shelter took in 376 animals, that’s 23 a day. In a single week in August, the Shelter took in 186 animals, that’s 31 animals a day. Those are hurricane-like intake numbers at the Shelter without the hurricane.

The County Shelter is a public facility, obligated by law to take all animals, even when full. Staff and FOTAS volunteers shift into overdrive to accommodate these numbers. It’s an exhausting, time-consuming and stressful time. Superstorms may wreak havoc every couple of years, but super summer intake at the County Shelter happens every year, and it will continue to do so until every County pet is fixed.

The dedication and generosity of the animal rescue communities and their citizens during these recent tragedies has been remarkable. Thank God, because there’s nothing more heart-wrenching than bewildered, scared, suffering animals left homeless through no fault of their own.

We know. We see it week-in and week-out, day-in and day-out, every month during the spring, summer and early fall months. Your County Shelter needs your help all the time—not just for the occasional emergency.

Please, volunteer, donate, adopt. Their lives are in our hands.

By the Numbers
May- August:

1,920 dogs and cats were received at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

September Adoption Special:

Cat and kittens are $10, dogs and puppies $35

Pets of the Week

LINZY: Terrier mix, female, 3 years old, black & white, 47 pounds – $35
x LINZY: Terrier mix, female, 3 years old, black & white, 47 pounds – $35

AGATHA: Domestic Shorthair kitten, female, 3 months old, black & gray Tabby, 3.4 pounds – $10
AGATHA: Domestic Shorthair kitten, female, 3 months old, black & gray Tabby, 3.4 pounds – $10

Donate, FOTAS

Medical Equipment Donations Making a Big Difference

Posted on by Angel Hartline
01
Sep


By Dr. Lisa Levy, ACAS Veterinarian

The Aiken County Animal Shelter has received some amazing donations in the last few months and I am pinching myself to be sure it is real! FOTAS received an email from Lisa and Ken Kasper asking if we would be interested in a slightly used x-ray machine that they were willing to donate. They had heard about FOTAS from Dr. Kathy Bissell, a local veterinarian who was instrumental in starting FOTAS’ Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) program in the county.
A free x-ray machine! Are you kidding me?

In the past, when an animal needed to be x-rayed, it required them to be transported to a local animal hospital. My previous employers, Drs. John and Jennifer Hurd of Silver Bluff Animal Hospital, were gracious enough to allow me to use their x-ray machine whenever the need arose and never charged anything to do so. Despite their amazing generosity, I felt I needed to pick and choose my cases so as not to take advantage of them.

And there was the issue of transportation. I drive a Mustang, so for a cat or small dog it was no problem. But I could not fit a big dog in a crate in my car. Since I am technically not a county employee, I cannot drive a county vehicle, so a shelter employee (most often Randy Bush, our head kennel technician) had to drive the shelter van.

So now, thanks to the Kaspers, the shelter has its own high-quality digital x-ray machine. They donated the machine, the cassettes, the computer, and even the lead gloves and aprons needed to safely take the x-rays. FOTAS volunteers Peter Miller, Bill Joos, and Dr. Mike Wells drove to Lexington to pick up the equipment. After deciding where to locate the equipment, Paige Baine, head of Code Enforcement, and Bobby Arthurs, Shelter Manager, coordinated with county services to upgrade the electrical system. FOTAS paid for the installation, registration with DHEC, and training.

Ken and Lisa Kasper donated a digital x-ray machine to FOTAS.
Ken and Lisa Kasper donated a digital x-ray machine to FOTAS.

Last week, on the day of installation, I took my first x-ray! It was of a super sweet husky that had been hit by a car. I could feel that she had a pelvic fracture but I did not know how badly it was broken. The x-ray revealed two breaks, but neither involved the hip joint, so she should heal fine with just rest. She will be going into foster care for several weeks to recover before she is adopted.

Also last month we received a donation of an autoclave, a machine that sterilizes our surgical instruments, from Augusta Urology Surgicenter. This was made possible through a connection with Erica Lowe, a veterinary technician at North Augusta Animal Hospital. We had one autoclave which can sterilize four surgical packs at once. Since we started the TNR program for the feral cat population in the county, the number of packs used in a day has doubled – so this donation could not have come at a better time.

I am so grateful for the Kaspers, Augusta Urology, and FOTAS for contributing to the care and well-being of all the animals that pass through the shelter on their way to forever homes. It truly does take a village!

 

Pets of the Week

PENELOPE: Shepherd mix, female, 4 years old, red with white, 71 pounds - $35
    PENELOPE: Shepherd mix, female, 4 years old, red with white, 71 pounds – $35

CLIO: Domestic Shorthair kitten, female, 2 months old, gray and black Tabby, 1.8 pounds - $10
CLIO: Domestic Shorthair kitten, female, 2 months old, gray and black Tabby, 1.8 pounds – $10

By the Numbers


September Adoption Special:

Cat and kittens are $10, dogs and puppies are $35

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Volunteer

Clearing the Aiken County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
25
Aug

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Last Saturday, people started lining up at the County Shelter around 10:00 in the morning. FOTAS volunteers and County staff were manning the sign-in desk, cleaning up the yards, walking and grooming dogs, drying off kittens, organizing paperwork, plugging in gigantic fans, directing traffic and icing down the water bottles. The morning was bright and hot. By 11:00, the mercury had risen to 87 degrees, and the line of people snaked around the building.

What would possess so many good citizens to stand patiently in line in the brutal heat? They were waiting to adopt their new best friend and be part of the national Clear the Shelters Day, an annual pet adoption initiative in which 900 shelters across the country participate. The collective goal? To find a home for every single resident of all 900 shelters in one day, including the 63 cats, kittens, dogs and puppies at the County Shelter.

The doors opened promptly at 11:00. The next three hours were a flurry of frenzied, but well-orchestrated, activity. “It was an unbelievable team effort,” said Jennifer Miller, FOTAS President. “All hands were on deck, including Ashley Jacobs and Brian Sanders, the Assistant County Administrators, Bobby Arthurs, the Shelter Manager, and Dr. Lisa Levy, the Shelter veterinarian, who spent her day off at the Shelter answering questions about the animals and moving cats and kittens from the intake wing to the Adoption Floor.”

And it worked. By the time the dust settled and the Shelter doors closed at 4:00, every kennel on the Adoption Floor was empty, and 37 dogs and 26 cats were on their way to a new family and a better life.

Like Gil, a large muscular dog who was adopted by a kindhearted older couple. Or Archie, who had the unfortunate distinction of being the longest-term resident of the Shelter. Or Ripley, a large brown dog with a gray muzzle with scars and filed-down teeth—evidence of abuse as a “bait” dog in an illegal fighting ring. Or Poppy, a black and white mamma dog whose puppies had been born and weaned in foster care. Or Ray, a blind senior cat; or Mindy and Marietta, two kittens from the same litter with a deep bond; or Nina, the last lovely lady taken home at the end of the day.

The list goes on and on. All of these animals were in the Shelter through no fault of their own, and they all needed someone to give them a chance to love and be loved. The Clear the Shelter Day gave them that chance.

It couldn’t have come at a better time. The Shelter is packed to capacity during the summer months—two weeks ago, a staggering 186 animals were admitted to the Shelter in a single week. Now that there is room, all of the animals in Intake can move to the Adoption Floor for their second chance to find a home with people to love. The work goes on and on. We cannot let them down.

Finally, the response of you, the Aiken community, was nothing short of breathtaking. We are profoundly touched by your commitment and your compassion. Thank you and God Bless.

Their lives are in our hands.

By the Numbers
From August 1-23, 400+ dogs and cats were received by the County Shelter.
Through Aug. 31, cats and kittens are just $10, dogs and puppies $35.

 

Pets of the Week

olive potw august 27

OLIVE: Shepherd mix, female, 9 years old, tan, 23 pounds – $35

Dax POTW August 27MEL: Domestic medium-hair kitten, male, 2 months old,

gray with white, 2 pounds – $10