Category Archives: FOTAS

Adoption, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Volunteer

‘Dogs Playing for Life’ team helps make shelter canines happier, more adoptable

Posted on by Angel Hartline
08
Jan

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

Nearly every morning, a small team of volunteers heads to the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s play yard and gathers dogs from the kennels so they can exercise together. The canines romp, wrestle and chase each other while the team observes and oversees their joyous activity.

“The play groups make the dogs more adoptable,” said FOTAS Volunteer and Board Member Ellie Joos. “They give the dogs a chance to interact with each other and learn important skills and behavior that improve their self-esteem.”

While group interaction may seem like an obvious way to enhance a dog’s quality of life while kenneled, social isolation is still the norm at most shelters across the country. Organizing group play for dogs is a cutting edge approach and a big step forward for the shelter. Until introducing “Dogs Playing for Life” in May of last year, all the dogs were walked on a leash or brought into the play yards for solo exercise.

“The intent of this group play approach is to reduce the overall stress, anxiety and frustration of shelter life,” explained ACAS Adoption Coordinator Traci Deaderick. “Most of the dogs come in as strays with unknown backgrounds. But play group allows us to determine how well a dog will socialize with other dogs and pass this information on to prospective adopters – and this greatly improves their odds of being adopted to the family or person that best suits them.”

Running the playtime sessions is much more challenging than it looks. It takes skill, confidence and keen observation to mix dogs that get along and have the same playing style.

Canine coaches Chris Newell and Darling Rios usually lead the sessions, introducing dogs one at a time and combining canines like field generals running a team practice. Traci, FOTAS Volunteer Bonnie White and FOTAS Programs Coordinator Kathy Jacobs also consistently help manage the sessions.

While one-one-one time is still vital to every dog’s development, group play complements leash exercise. It has especially helped painfully shy dogs find their confidence and overly aggressive dogs discover how to play with others.


“Sometimes dogs have to learn how fun it is to play and get used to interacting with other dogs, Chris said. “For many, it’s a new experience.”

“But the first time you see a sad, shy dog break out of his shell and run full speed in play group and start to get a happy look on his face…there’s just something about that,” he adds, beaming like a proud parent. “It warms your heart.”

For more information on the Dogs Playing for Life program, go to dogsplayingforlife.org. To learn how to participate in the play group training at the shelter, please contact FOTAS at info@FotasAiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands.

Canine Coach Chris Newell takes notes on the dogs during their play session. These observations help FOTAS and the shelter staff to assess animals and their adoptability.
Canine Coach Chris Newell takes notes on the dogs during their play session. These observations help FOTAS and the shelter staff to assess animals and their adoptability.
FOTAS Volunteer Bonnie White (left) and Canine Coach Darling Rios manage a canine playtime session at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.
FOTAS Volunteer Bonnie White (left) and Canine Coach Darling Rios manage a canine playtime session at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.
Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Foster, FOTAS, Volunteer

Becoming a FOTAS volunteer is a rewarding New Year’s Resolution

Posted on by Angel Hartline
01
Jan

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

Have you finalized your list of New Year’s Resolutions? Today is the day to do it. After recovering from champagne hangovers and binge watching college bowl games, many of us traditionally use this holiday to do an internal audit on our lives. How can we improve ourselves? What new goals should we set for 2017? It is an opportunity to refresh our outlook and follow new paths.

With that in mind, why not start off the new year by doing something wonderful for homeless animals in need? FOTAS needs volunteers at the Aiken County Animal Shelter and giving even just a little of your time to these unwanted dogs and cats will greatly benefit both you and them.

Six Benefits of Volunteering at the Shelter:

1. Helps socialize animals and increases their chances for adoption. When animals arrive on the adoption floor, they need human attention and love. Some are recovering from surgery, many are suffering from separation anxiety and all of them are wondering why their lives have suddenly been turned upside down. When you spend even just 15-20 minutes with one of these poor animals, it does wonders for their self-esteem. Most importantly, walking and spending time with them improves their mood and makes them more adoptable.

2. Shakes up your daily routine. Sitting at home in front of the TV can get boring and leaves many of your talents untapped. But when you are at the shelter helping out, it is rarely routine. You are always facing fresh challenges, meeting new people and working with a variety of canines and felines that need your love and attention.

3. Provides exercise and reduces stress. Spending time with the shelter animals is the perfect prescription for better personal health. Walking the dogs will get your heart pumping and some volunteers say the added activity has helped them lose weight. Plus what can reduce stress better than hugging a sweet dog or cat?

4. Expands your social circle. Volunteering is a terrific way to meet great people who share your same passions and interests. Everyone on the FOTAS volunteer team is here because they love animals and are on a mission to find them loving forever homes as quickly as possible.

5. Teaches you about animals and how to manage them. All of our volunteers attend a short orientation that includes lessons on how to handle and attend to the needs of dogs and cats. Spending time with so many different animals in the shelter makes you better appreciate their unique personalities and gifts. This experience can also strengthen your resume if you are looking for work or applying for college since most organizations value candidates who volunteer in their community.

6. Makes you part of a very special team. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of the Shelter. Without their hard work and commitment, the dogs and cats would receive less one-on-one attention and the staff would lack needed support. In 2016, more than 5,000 animals came to the shelter as strays or were surrendered by their owners. To effectively manage these kinds of numbers, more volunteers are needed every day.

If you are interested in joining the FOTAS team, please contact us at 803.514.4313 or volunteer@angelhartlinedesigns.com.

Their lives are in our hands…

Volunteer Madeleine Burgoyne hugs Dozer as she meets and greets visitors in the shelter lobby.
Volunteer Madeleine Burgoyne hugs Dozer as she meets and greets visitors in the shelter lobby.
Volunteer Karen helps out during a FOTAS Dog Ears Reading session. This recurring event gives children an opportunity to read to the shelter animals.
Volunteer Karen helps out during a FOTAS Dog Ears Reading session. This recurring event gives children an opportunity to read to the shelter animals.
Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Spay/Neuter, Transfer, Volunteer

An open Christmas letter from FOTAS

Posted on by Angel Hartline
22
Dec

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

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 Sunday, 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 Ronnie Young and the County Council, County Administrator Clay Killian and Assistant County Administrator Brian Sanders for being responsive and responsible public partners;

Councilwoman Kathy Rawls, who always believed in our mission and helped us build the successful public/private partnership between the County and FOTAS from the ground up;

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

The County Shelter staff—the intake administrators, adoption coordinators, vet techs, 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, special fundraising events, and FOTAS Fix-a-Pet; 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 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 is directly related to their efforts; and

Last but not least, you, the Aiken community, who year after year have supported our efforts with enthusiasm and generosity, who have adopted your pets from the thousands of deserving animals who end up in the Shelter through no fault of their own, 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 and myself—and FOTAS Program Director Kathy Jacobs wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

Caroline Simonson, FOTAS volunteer, holding Becker
Caroline Simonson, FOTAS volunteer, holding Becker

 

Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Manager and volunteer, and Susi Cohen, FOTAS volunteer and Palmetto Dog Club President
Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Manager and volunteer, and Susi Cohen, FOTAS volunteer and Palmetto Dog Club President
Hope (since adopted) enjoyed a reading session (at the Dog Ears Reading Program) with a young participant and FOTAS volunteer Karen.
Hope (since adopted) enjoyed a reading session (at the Dog Ears Reading Program) with a young participant and FOTAS volunteer Karen.
Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Spay/Neuter, Transfer, Volunteer

FOTAS: Going the extra mile

Posted on by Angel Hartline
22
Dec

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Did you ever wonder where every homeless, injured, stray or abused animal picked up in the County (outside of the City) goes? Or where a homeless animal goes if the “no-kill” shelter is full? Or where an irresponsible County resident takes their bewildered pet when they decide that pet is inconvenient?

That would be the Aiken County Animal Shelter, which is required by law to take homeless or injured County strays, abused animals, community cats, and owner-surrendered pets. Five thousand forsaken animals a year pass through those doors, which is not only tragic, it’s costly. Caring and finding a home for all those animals is the responsibility of the County, funded by taxpayer dollars. FOTAS supplements the County’s care through private donations and volunteer effort.

Taking care of that many animals is a daunting, never-ending job for the County’s dedicated staff and FOTAS volunteers, yet every year, they manage to save more and more dogs and cats. It requires getting up close and personal with all those animals to make them appealing adoption prospects. They need to be groomed, walked and exercised. They need human attention.

FOTAS and the County go the extra mile even for the animals that seem hopeless, neglected or injured; and in virtually every case, we find a place for those animals, too.

Take Henry, a handsome, one-year old shepherd mix who was picked up by Animal Control, severely injured from being hit by a car. When Dr. Levy determined Henry’s injuries needed special surgery, FOTAS recruited and paid for the services of Dr. Groover at Aiken Veterinary Clinic to repair Henry’s badly displaced hip. Today, this sweet, hopeful dog is recovering in foster care arranged by FOTAS.

Then there’s Mr. Chuck, a Corgi/Spaniel stray picked up by Animal Control. Not only is Mr. Chuck heartworm positive, but both of his eyes were badly damaged (one had to be removed by Dr. Levy). FOTAS tapped its network of supporters and made a special plea to Martha Ann Tudor in Augusta, who has a remarkable knack finding homes for hard-to-place dogs. Mr. Chuck now resides with a fabulous family on a horse farm in Aiken.

Finally, there’s Helen, a beautiful, white Lab/Bully mix that could break your heart. Animal Control found Helen abandoned, walking in circles in the middle of a country road. She had no eyes—NO EYES! (What kind of heartless fiend would do that to a dog?) Once again, FOTAS reached out to its network of rescue partners, one of whom found her a remarkable family with a special-needs child and a seeing-eye dog for Helen. Perfect.

These are just recent examples of the extra mile that FOTAS volunteers and Shelter staff go to help these unfortunate animals find the love they deserve. There is a special place in heaven for those folks.

This week, bring the joy of the season and some heavenly grace to one of the wonderful animals at the Shelter.

Like the gentle, housebroken Henry, who won’t fit in a stocking, but will gladly stay up to share some milk and cookies with Santa.

Merry Christmas and God bless.

Their lives are in our hands.

Henry and his new pals in foster care share a bone.
Henry and his new pals in foster care share a bone.
Henry takes it easy while he recovers from surgery.
Henry takes it easy while he recovers from surgery.
Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Spay/Neuter, Transfer, Volunteer

FOTAS needs your Christmas spirit

Posted on by Angel Hartline
22
Dec

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice-President

“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 of gratitude for our 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 a perfect choice for your charitable urges. Here’s why.

FOTAS provides critical assistance to more animals than any other organization in the County: 5000 Shelter animals a year.

FOTAS funded 160 kennel decks at the Shelter, the Cat Adoption Building, 2 cat condos, a grooming tub, an additional hot water heater, a surgical autoclave, supplemental medicines and supplies, and fenced play yards. FOTAS funded veterinary assistant courses for Shelter staff to increase their animal care skills. FOTAS is currently funding the addition of a medical isolation pod. If the medical needs of an adoptable animal are beyond the capacity or capability of the Shelter, FOTAS pays for outside veterinarian services.

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

FOTAS aggressively markets the adoptable animals through print and social media and purchased a van to transport animals to off-site adoption events. FOTAS supplements the adoption fees for active Military Personnel and veterans and pays for heartworm medicine for HWP dogs adopted from the Shelter.

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 2000 spay/neuter surgeries of community cats and pets owned by County citizens with financial need, and is currently developing a vigorous Trap-Neuter-Return program for free-roaming community cats.

FOTAS recruits and trains the volunteers who do much of the above.

Bottom line: FOTAS saves more animals than any other organization in the County.

Since its inception in 2009, the Shelter’s live release rate has increased from a dismal 5% to a better (but still sad), 70%. That’s literally thousands of animals.

Last month, the South Carolina Secretary of State recognized FOTAS as an “Angel” charity—one that spends 80% or more on its charitable purpose. That means you get a big bang for every buck you donate to FOTAS.

The Aiken Community has been generous to FOTAS, but there is still so much to do. Please send your much-needed donations to FOTAS, PO Box 2207, Aiken SC 29802.

Their lives, all 5000 of them this year, are in our hands

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

Tiffany’s story

Posted on by Angel Hartline
05
Dec

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

My early days are kind of fuzzy—some time on a chain and lots of time fending for myself, raiding trashcans and laying low. But I’m not one to dwell on the past. What’s the point?

Then these nice people took me in, fed me and tried to find me a home. When they couldn’t, they loaded me into a truck and took me to big building with lots of dogs and people called the Shelter.

“Uh oh,” I thought, “more scary humans.”

Turns out, I was wrong. Things started to look up as soon as I got there.

First, I was taken to see a smart lady in a white coat named Dr. Levy. Doc petted and fussed over me, and I didn’t mind one bit because she was so gentle. Doc was particularly worried about my eye, and to tell you the truth, I was worried about my eye, too. It had been bothering me something terrible ever since I got chased around a chicken coop by a very mad rooster and crashed into some barbed wire beating a hasty retreat. Not my highest moment, but what can I say? I was hungry.

The next thing I knew, Doc stuck me with a needle and I fell asleep right there on the table, and when I woke up, that bum eye was history. No need to fret, seriously—one good eye’s plenty for a tough gal like myself.

A couple of days later a FOTAS volunteer lathered me up with shampoo in a big tub. What a mistake that was! She scrubbed off the heavenly aroma of dead squirrel on my neck. What was she thinking? Jeez, rolling on a dead squirrel is one of the great joys of life.

But here’s the thing: after the bath, those nasty fleas were gone. Whoa! Okay, so I don’t smell so good anymore, but I’m not scratching myself to death either. I can live with that.

I have so many pals at the Shelter. FOTAS volunteers take me for walks every day. We stop at a bench in the shade for a nice belly rub and a treat. Who knew there were so many kind humans out there?

It’s a miracle: thanks to the Shelter and FOTAS, I went from being a no-name, scruffy, hungry black dog who slept in the cold and ate out of trashcans to a shiny, sleek princess named (are you ready?) Tiffany who sleeps in a warm, dry place and gets two yummy meals a day. Only in America!

Thank you shelter staff for taking care of me. Thank you FOTAS for the bath, the flea meds, the fenced-in play yards, the beds, my rubber toys and the yummy treats. And thank you FOTAS volunteers for the endless walks and all that love.

Maybe one day some kind human will take me home to a place with no chains and lots of love.

Every day this Holiday season, shocking numbers of bewildered animals are being surrendered to the Shelter by heartless owners. Help us save them—bring joy to their lives and yours: adopt a pet this month for $25 or less.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

Tiffany gets some snuggle time with FOTAS Volunteer and Play Yard Supervisor, Darling Rios.
Tiffany gets some snuggle time with FOTAS Volunteer and Play Yard Supervisor, Darling Rios.
FOTAS, Volunteer

Thanksgiving Reflections

Posted on by Angel Hartline
05
Dec

By Sue Ellen Abney-Roberts, FOTAS volunteer

As I sit here relaxing in my chair this Thanksgiving evening with a warm dog snuggled in my lap, I am thinking of the many things I have to be thankful for this season. I am thinking about my time as a volunteer at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. I am thinking about my Thanksgiving morning spent walking dogs at the Shelter. I am thinking about my mother.

Mom was a free-lance writer, and one of my favorite books she wrote is a collection of 52 essays about the many things she was thankful for called “Thanksgiving Every Week.“ One of those essays, entitled “Sewing Machines,” described how she loved to sew, loved to take cloth and a pattern and just be creative.

I share my mother’s love for sewing, and my passion is making blankets and toys for the dogs at the Shelter. Nothing delights me more than buying fleece remnants on sale (Mom also taught me to be economical), and turning those remnants into a warm blanket for a dog who has not found a home yet.

Mom also wrote an essay called “Long Suffering Husbands.” My husband, who is disabled, is unable to walk dogs, but he knows how much I love my time at the Shelter. Sometimes he sits in his truck while I walk the dogs. He often delivers the blankets I sew for the animals to the Shelter while I am working during the week. For many of my FOTAS friends, volunteering at the Shelter is a family affair—husbands and wives, girlfriends and boyfriends, volunteer together—many of whom spent their Thanksgiving morning at the Shelter as well.

Two of mother’s essays, “Worthwhile Committees” and “Unsung Heros,” describe many of the qualities I see in my fellow FOTAS volunteers, who have made such a difference in the quality of life for the dogs at the Shelter. There are volunteers who walk dogs every day, but there are many others behind the scenes who work on things like fundraising and fostering animals. So many dogs and cats have been adopted because of the efforts of the many dedicated FOTAS volunteers. What a worthwhile contribution this organization has made in Aiken County!

This is my first Thanksgiving without my Mom, who died this Fall. It is a new beginning for me. My mother wrote about “New Beginnings.” She said “Only as we are challenged will we have a chance to show what we can do as we work with others in various group efforts.”

She was so right. The morning after she died, I was at the shelter walking dogs. “Why are you here?” asked my fellow volunteers. The answer is simple: it relieves my stress; it makes me happy; it would make my mother happy.

When the new Shelter opened in 2014, I donated one of the play yards in loving memory of my parents. Every Saturday I see their names on the plaque when I walk the dogs, and it makes me happy. My parents would be proud. Their spirit of volunteerism lives on through their daughter.

 

 

Carolina Simonson and Sandra Procter, FOTAS volunteers
Carolina Simonson and Sandra Procter, FOTAS volunteers
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Betty Ryberg, FOTAS volunteer
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Peggy Babineau, FOTAS volunteer
Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Foster, FOTAS, Spay/Neuter, Transfer, Volunteer

Giving Thanks

Posted on by Angel Hartline
20
Nov

Thanksgiving is a time of reflection for those of us at FOTAS—a time to take stock of our blessings; to consider the remarkable progress we and the County have made in making the world a better place for Aiken County’s homeless, abandoned and abused animals; and in particular, to celebrate the many people who have contributed to our astonishing success and made this journey so meaningful.

Thanks to our committed partner, Aiken County, for making it possible to save the lives of thousands of homeless animals in the County. The strength of its commitment and the success of our partnership is evidenced not only by the state-of-the-art public animal shelter on Wire Road, but also by its increased commitment to subsidized spay/neuter for County residents.

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 (91 volunteers walked dogs during the last 3 months), 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.

Committed volunteers like Bonnie White, who helps at the shelter four days a week. “I get back so much more than I give,” says Bonnie. “When I leave the shelter, I’m not thinking about my bills or the dishes in the sink; I’m thinking about the dogs I helped and what else I can do to make them a better adoption prospect. Or I’m thinking about the abandoned kitten who just needs lots of love.”

Bonnie pauses. “You know what?” she says with a sigh. “I can’t adopt them all, but I sure can love them all.”

I am profoundly touched by her sentiment. I know she is not alone—all of our volunteers feel the same love, empathy, and commitment to the cause that Bonnie does.

And finally, thanks to you, the Aiken Community, for your extraordinary generosity and support. You have 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.

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% (in the pre-FOTAS years prior to 2009), to 29% (in the year before the new shelter opened in 2013) to almost 70% in the past year.

That’s a very big deal.

FOTAS and the thousands of animals that have been saved over the past 7 years thank you for your continued support. God bless you and your family during this holiday season.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

Bonnie White with an adoptable dog from the Aiken County Animal Shelter
Bonnie White with an adoptable dog from the Aiken County Animal Shelter
Adoption, Cats, FOTAS, Spay/Neuter

There’s more than one way to adopt a County Shelter cat

Posted on by Angel Hartline
11
Nov
By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications Cats are fascinating creatures. They entertain us with their acrobatics, keep our homes free of mice with their hunting skills, and head butt us and purr to share their love and happiness. Not to mention they clean and groom themselves, don’t need to be taken for walks and come in a wide variety of patterns and colors. As Sigmund Freud once quipped, “Time spent with cats is never wasted.” But even with cats, sometimes you can have too much of a good thing – especially when people don’t get their pets fixed. Indeed, the Aiken County Animal Shelter has been overcrowded with homeless cats since spring. From May through September, about 1,240 cats have been taken in by the shelter. That is an average of 248 surrendered or stray cats per month! With so many strays and surrenders coming in and our facility at full capacity, we developed two other channels for cat adoptions. These other adoption outlets include: Barn Cat Program. Besides our domesticated cats and kittens on the adoption floor, we adopt out feral and less socialized felines as barn cats. These kitties are built more for the outdoors and serve as good mousers. Because of their wilder demeanor, the barn cats are available for free to those able to give them safe homes. However, there is still an application and screening process to adopt them. PetSmart Cats. Thanks to fantastic FOTAS volunteers and PetSmart’s outstanding staff and management, we are able to care for, exhibit and adopt out County Shelter cats from the company’s Aiken store. Having this outstanding alternative outlet for adopters has saved many feline lives. So far this year, more than 116 of our shelter cats have been adopted from the PetSmart located at 2527 Whiskey Road. Due to the unusually high number of homeless and stray cats and kittens being brought to the Shelter, FOTAS extended its $15 cat adoption special through November 30 and just yesterday held its second “Catpacity Saturday” in which all cats and kittens were adopted out for free. The Shelter and FOTAS need these additional channels and specials to place more felines and are working overtime to save as many County Shelter cats as possible. But we need your help. Please spay/neuter your pets. The only way to get the cat/kitten overpopulation in check is to stop the problem at its source. There are a number of ways to get financial help with the surgery. You can obtain a county spay/neuter voucher at the Shelter; or if your cat is outdoors and feral, check out our Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) program. For more information about these and other programs, please go to the FOTAS website, www.fotasaiken.org. Their lives are in our hands.
A FOTAS volunteer holds Molly, a beautiful Tabby who arrived at the shelter with kittens
A FOTAS volunteer holds Molly, a beautiful Tabby who arrived at the shelter with kittens
Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Military Veterans, Service Dogs, Veterans

Every day is Veterans Day at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
11
Nov

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

This Friday, November 11, is Veterans Day, a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served in our military. For a 24-hour period, Americans stand united in honor of our veterans and the good work and sacrifices they have made for our country.
But Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS) wanted to honor and help out these patriots every day. So, this year we launched our year-round adoption discount for veterans and active military personnel. Adoption fees are half-price for all U.S. military services men, women and veterans who adopt a dog or cat at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (dogs $35, cats $15).
To date in 2016, our veterans discount program has helped 36 veterans adopt 25 dogs and 11 cats.
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Taylor Heimann, a marine who adopted Heidi, a black Retriever puppy, with her boyfriend, Tom Buchanan, also a marine. “It’s been a great advantage to us because we were able to put the extra money we saved toward Heidi’s crate, toys and other things she needed.” The young couple lives in Augusta and takes their new pup to Fort Gordon Veterinary Clinic for her healthcare.
In the past, FOTAS has held one-month specials for veterans and military personnel, but early this year the FOTAS board of directors agreed on a permanent veterans/military personnel discount.
“A lot of veterans out there are hurting and have post traumatic stress and could use the help because they can’t afford the cost of getting and training a service dog,” said Eddie Hill, a veteran who served in Kuwait during the Gulf War.

FOTAS sponsored Eddie’s adoption of Jenelle, a young, German Shepherd. However, Jenelle turned out to be a little too high-energy for Eddie’s apartment, so she was given to another veteran and now Eddie is going to receive Peggles, a two-year-old Boxer mix, who came to the shelter with a leg shattered by a bullet. Even though Peggles had to have her back right leg amputated to maintain her mobility, she is still graceful and as loving and trusting as ever. Jerry Lyda, of Veterans K9 Solutions, Inc., trains many service dogs for vets and is working with Peggles so she will be a great companion for Eddie, who still suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The 63-year-old vet enjoys quiet activities, like fishing or going to church on Sunday. But he can get nervous in crowds or when too much activity is going on around him.
“That’s what PTSD does to you”, Eddie said. “But with an animal, you love them, they love you. You can trust them and they can trust you.”
If you are a veteran or currently serving in the armed forces, please visit us and take advantage of the half-price adoption discount that FOTAS provides. As always, the County Shelter has some amazing dogs and cats on our adoption floor that desperately need loving homes.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

Marines Tom Buchanan and Taylor Heimann with their adopted dog, Heidi
Marines Tom Buchanan and Taylor Heimann with their adopted dog, Heidi

Veteran Eddie Hill with Jenelle
Veteran Eddie Hill with Jenelle