Category Archives: Have a Heart, Save a Heart

2022, Adoption, FOTAS, Have a Heart, Save a Heart, Heartworms

FOTAS heartworm treatment program saves shelter dog lives

Posted on by Bob Gordon
Heartworm positive dog Stevie Licks is loving her new home and family.
07
Apr

April is National Heartworm Awareness Month, a time to improve knowledge of heartworm disease and promote early diagnosis and treatment.

Heartworm is only contracted through the bite of an infected mosquito; therefore, an infected dog cannot transmit the disease to either people or other pets. However, because infected mosquitoes can come inside, be aware that indoor pets are also at risk.

Heartworm positive Gage and his new dad.

The FOTAS “Have a Heart, Save a Heart” program provides treatment for our adoptable dogs infected with heartworms. Since we launched the program, we have saved more than 1,000 dogs that tested positive for heartworms but were otherwise healthy and adoptable.

Unfortunately, heartworm infection is common in this area. The warmer weather makes dogs more susceptible to being bitten by mosquitos and the infection getting transferred into their bloodstream and heart. It is easily prevented with prescribed monthly chewable pills, but you only have to miss one month to make your dog vulnerable to infection. Heartworm disease is very curable but the medication for treating it is not cheap. That’s why giving your dog monthly heartworm preventative is so important.

Of course, when a dog is neglected or surviving on the streets as a stray, preventative isn’t available to the animal. So, many of the dogs that arrive at the Aiken County Animal Shelter are heartworm positive.

In the past, these wonderful dogs would have been euthanized because the County didn’t have the funds to treat them. However, thanks to our donors, FOTAS is able to pay for the treatment of every heartworm positive dog on the adoption floor.

So far this year, we have already adopted out 35 heartworm positive dogs. They are all doing well and should be heartworm free after completion of their treatment.

Here are just a few testimonials from recent adopters:

“We love Thatcher and he’s doing great,” said Erin Baird. “He’s getting along well with people and other dogs. He’s working hard on his manners and come really far. Very smart and eager to please. We are continuing his heartworm treatment and he is doing great healthwise.”

“Gage has acclimated very nicely & has become a great playmate with our goldens,” said David Tavernier. “We love him dearly.” 

“Penny, who we’ve renamed Stevie Licks, is settling in just great,” said Sarah Roudsari. “We adore her, and she is so wonderful with the kids. She’s lit a spark in our two older doggie boys, and the whole house is filled with a new energy!”

For more information on heartworm prevention, please email info@fotasaiken.org. You can also donate to the FOTAS “Have a Heart, Save a Heart” Fund at fotasaiken.org to help treat heartworm positive dogs at the County Animal Shelter.

Their lives are in our hands.

– By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2020, Adoption, donations, FOTAS, Have a Heart, Save a Heart, Home-to-Home adoption program, News, Spay/Neuter, TNR Program, Transfer, Volunteers, Where your donations go, Where your donations go

FOTAS and 11 Years of Progress at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Bob Gordon
30
Jul

On July 29, 2009, the South Carolina Secretary of State officially approved FOTAS as a charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to the care of the homeless, abandoned, and abused animals consigned to the County Shelter, kicking off the beginning of an extraordinary public/private partnership with the county and a new, comprehensive approach to caring for homeless animals. It was a massive undertaking. At the time, more than 6,000 animals a year passed through the doors of the county’s tiny, antiquated shelter. Only 5% made it out alive.

FOTAS helps fund the TNR program, which has been so effective in curbing community cat overpopulation in the Aiken County

All of that has changed in the past 11 years. With the opening of the new shelter in 2014, the FOTAS/county partnership solidified and blossomed. FOTAS volunteers are an integral part of the shelter’s operations (it is estimated that FOTAS volunteers provide the equivalent of ten full-time positions). FOTAS donations supplement the shelter’s budget and programs and provide supplies such as leashes, toys, flea and tick prevention, and medicine for heartworm positive dogs. FOTAS has created a network of transfer partners in other parts of the country (where kennels are empty because everyone fixes their pets) where we send dogs (and pay the incurred transport costs) who could not find homes locally. The transfer program saves thousands of animals every year.

We also attack the problem of overpopulation of homeless pets. FOTAS supplements the county’s spay/neuter financial assistance program for county residents who need it, as well as funds to support the TNR (Trap Neuter Return) program to address the problems of community cats. We hire a mobile spay/neuter van to go to hot-spot areas around the county (the FIDO Fix-a-Pet program) to provide free spay/neuter surgeries for citizens who need financial assistance.

Tiffy is adopted following mouth surgery. This poor kitten was rescued after being thrown from a moving car.

Our Home-to-Home program allows folks who can no longer care for their pets to use the power of our social media to find loving homes without subjecting their beloved pets to the trauma of surrender to the shelter (it’s been a huge success during the COVID crisis!) FOTAS works with Animal Control to provide dog houses and humane runners for dogs who are tethered to chains, as well as dog food and other supplies to help folks in a bind.

Biz and Eddie Mann adopted Snowflake (now named Keaton) from the ACAS in July.

FOTAS also helps with the improvement of the physical facilities at the shelter. In addition to funding the medical wellness and isolation pod for animals with curable infectious ailments, plans are currently underway for a building that will house two, much needed adoption rooms and a training area.

In 2017, FOTAS was one of ten (out of 14,000) charitable organizations to be awarded the Angel Award by the Secretary of State, which recognizes the most efficient and effective nonprofits in the state. Plus, for the second year in a row, FOTAS and our signature event, Woofstock, received the Aiken Standard Choice Best of Aiken Award.

We have managed to do all of this with only one paid staff member and an army of volunteers. Has it worked? You bet it has. For the past two years, FOTAS and the county achieved their goal of not having to euthanize any adoptable pet.

None of this would have been possible without you, the generous Aiken community, who have donated your time and money and welcomed shelter animals into your hearts and homes.

Thank you and God Bless. Stay safe.


–By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

2019, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Dogs, FOTAS, Have a Heart, Save a Heart, Heartworms, News, Pibbles

No More Tears: Hamilton’s a Happy Dog and Facebook Star

Posted on by Bob Gordon
13
Jan

This is a story that began with a dog crying real tears when he was surrendered to the Aiken County Animal Shelter nearly a year ago.

FOTAS Programs Coordinator Kathy Jacobs described the dog, Hank, and his reaction to being separated from his owner in this weekly column space on Feb. 24, 2019.

Hamilton gets ready for a Georgia Bulldog football game on his birthday.

“I saw something that I had not witnessed before, something that I will never forget,” Jacobs wrote. “The black Lab had tears in his eyes, with some trickling down his face. His cheeks were puffing in and out and his breathing was rapid. It was like watching a child be taken from his parents. He was heartbroken.”

Meredith Anderson, a popular anchor and award-winning investigative reporter at WRDW News in Augusta, saw the column and photo of Hank on Facebook. She read how this poor, 2-year-old, 55-pound dog had been waiting for a new home for many weeks and was getting depressed from being passed over by potential adopters. The dog’s story touched her, so she drove to the ACAS to meet Hank on Feb. 25. Anderson was quickly smitten with Hank and took him home that afternoon. She already had a new name for this special dog: Hamilton.

“Hamilton was absolutely meant to be my family’s dog…no question,” Anderson said. “I love him so much. I am beyond happy he is part of our family.” While Hamilton is a charmer and an amazing dog, the Anderson family knew this sweet boy came with some challenges and responsibilities – all of which Meredith chronicles on her WRDW Channel 12 Facebook page.

Hamilton is “interviewed” about his DNA test.

“Hamilton initially took a lot of work, love, investment, and patience. All totally worth it…but I don’t want to give the impression this journey has been an easy one,” she said. “I just want to be a responsible dog owner…and I think part of that is making sure people know adopting a dog is a big decision that really does require a lot of thought.”

Since adding Hamilton to her family, Anderson has posted entertaining photos of him in various outfits, hats and glasses. Her latest post is a video of Hamilton vigorously shaking his favorite rope toy to the Outkast song, “Hey Ya!” She’s also celebrated Hamilton’s third birthday; revealed his DNA test results (mostly Staffordshire Terrier with some Beagle and other smaller breeds); and about a month ago announced he was heartworm-free.

WRDW Channel 12 News Anchor/Reporter Meredith Anderson and Hamilton

“Christmas came early this year,” she posted. “GREAT NEWS. Hamilton is officially heartworm negative!” FOTAS paid for and provided the treatment to cure Hamilton of this mosquito-borne infection, as it does for any heartworm positive dog at the ACAS through its “Have a Heart, Save a Heart” program.

“Last year, Hamilton was at the Aiken County Animal Shelter,” Anderson noted. “This Christmas, he posed with his presents. Turns out, he was just as much a gift to my family as we were to him.”

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

PETS OF THE WEEK

TURNER: Hound mix, male, 8 yo, black, 88 pounds – $35

SISSY: Domestic Shorthair, female, 4 mo, chocolate, 4 pounds – $10

2019, Donate, donations, FOTAS, Have a Heart, Save a Heart, News, Where your donations go, Where your donations go

FOTAS: Making a Difference for the County’s Homeless Animals

Posted on by Bob Gordon
03
Dec

“Giving is not just about making a donation, it’s about making a difference.” –Kathy Calvin, CEO, United Nations Foundation

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.

The holidays are an important time for FOTAS to receive donations.

It is also the time to express your love through 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, so how do you decide?

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

• FOTAS, working with the county shelter, saves more animals any other 501(c)(3) organization in the CSRA through its innovative and aggressive adoption and transfer programs. Last year, 4507 animals were saved, and this year we anticipate that every adoptable animal that ends up in the shelter will be saved.

• FOTAS funds more spay/neuter pet surgeries for folks in financial need than any other 501(c)(3) organization in the CSRA.

• FOTAS funds more TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) surgeries for community cats than any other 501(c)(3) organization in the CSRA.

• FOTAS saves more heartworm positive (HWP) dogs than any other 501(c)(3) organization in the CSRA.

• FOTAS recruits and trains an army of foster families and volunteers to help the shelter with all of its activities and needs.

• FOTAS supplements adoption fees for active military personnel and veterans.

• FOTAS helps county animal control take dogs off the chain by funding humane runners for distribution to county residents.

• FOTAS also funds the costs of flea medication, toys, leashes, and pet food supplements, as well as subsidizing equipment and extraordinary medical needs.

FOTAS is 100% supported by private donations, so your generosity is critical to our continued success. Plus, you can rest assured that every dollar you donate will be put to good use. FOTAS was one of ten (out of thousands!) South Carolina charities to receive the Secretary of State’s “Angel” award, which recognizes the state’s most efficient and effective charities.

Santa Claus is coming to the ACAS!

But, you ask, have all those private donations to FOTAS really made a difference?

You bet they have. In 2009, the year that FOTAS was created, only 5% of the animals consigned to the shelter made it out alive. In 2018 and 2019, every adoptable animal passing through the shelter was (and will be) saved—that’s well over 95%

That’s huge.

As exciting as our success has been, there is still so much to do, particularly since the county’s intake numbers remain dishearteningly high (4,500-5,000 animals/year). We greatly appreciate your generosity and hope you will continue to support us.

Please send your much-needed donations to FOTAS, PO Box 2207, Aiken SC 29802.

Their lives are in our hands

PS: Join us for our Homes for the Holidays adoption special this Saturday, December 7th!

— By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice-President

BY THE NUMBERS
Saturday, Dec. 7, FOTAS is holding a “Homes for the Holidays” adoption event at the Aiken County Animal Shelter from 11:00 to 4:30. It will feature adoption specials, refreshments and special guest, Santa Claus. All adopters will receive a gift and a complimentary photo with Santa and their new pet.

PETS OF THE WEEK

JD: Hound mix, male, 5 years old, white & brown, 69 pounds – $35

REMI: Domestic Shorthair cat, male, 1 year old, brown Tabby, 8 pounds – $10

2019, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Dogs, Donate, FOTAS, Have a Heart, Save a Heart, Heartworms, News, Uncategorized

Biscuit is Heartworm Free and Living the Good Life

Posted on by Bob Gordon
04
Feb

It is uplifting to see how happy Biscuit is now that he has a home with a family that loves him. This sweet 9-year-old mixed breed is one of those special dogs you never forget. In fact, Dr. Lisa Levy, the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s (ACAS) Veterinarian, said Biscuit is one of her favorite dogs to ever come into the shelter.

Biscuit gets a hug at home from young Trace, one of his four new human siblings.

Biscuit arrived at the ACAS with a severe wound to his head. The gash was terribly infected, and his recovery was in doubt. But Dr. Levy was able to stitch the wound closed and clear the infection with antibiotics. Throughout the long process, Biscuit wagged his tail and displayed an amazing spirit.

He was adopted by the Gallardo family in April and in late December, Biscuit reached another milestone well worth celebrating – he tested negative for heartworms. Thanks to FOTAS funding his treatment, Biscuit is now completely heartworm free.

“Biscuit is doing great,” said Brenda Gallardo, who teaches at Warrenville Elementary School. “He gets along with our other dogs, he likes to be loved on and he wants to be with everybody. He’s also taken over our couch in the TV room.”

Unfortunately, heartworm infection is common in this area. The warmer weather makes dogs more susceptible to getting bitten by mosquitos and the infection getting transferred into their bloodstream and heart. It’s easily prevented with prescribed monthly chewable pills, but you only have to miss one month to make your dog vulnerable to infection. Heartworm disease is very curable but the medication for treating it is not cheap. That’s why it’s such a godsend to have FOTAS funding the treatment for every heartworm positive dog on the adoption floor.

Biscuit gets adopted and starts his new, better life with the Gallardo family.

In 2017 and 2018, FOTAS saved 470 heartworm positive dogs by funding their treatments. In the past, these dogs, adoptable and otherwise healthy, would have been euthanized because the County didn’t have the funds to treat them.

But since FOTAS started its “Have a Heart, Save a Heart” program two years ago, the community has donated enough money for every heartworm positive dog at the shelter to be saved and treated.

“We weren’t hesitant at all to adopt a heartworm positive dog like Biscuit,” Brenda said. “There was no stress or difficulties because the shelter staff made it easy and explained everything.”

“Biscuit is such a great dog and so loving with the kids – I wouldn’t hesitate to do it all over again,” she added.

For more information on heartworm treatment, please go to fotasaiken.org. You can also donate to the FOTAS “Have a Heart, Save a Heart” Fund to help treat heartworm positive dogs at the ACAS.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

 

By the Numbers
In 2017 and 2018, FOTAS saved 470 heartworm positive dogs by funding their treatment.


Pets of the WeekUNO
Retriever/Hound mix, male, 7 years old, 48 pounds – $35

GRAVY
Domestic longhair kitten, male, 9 months old, 5 pounds – $10