Category Archives: Home-to-Home adoption program

Adoption, Home-to-Home adoption program

Need to give up a pet? Try Home to Home

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
07
Oct

This summer, a friend approached me with a problem. He needed to find a new family for a cat that had come into his household. The cat, Simon, belonged to his son, who had recently had a change in his living situation. Simon was a 4-year-old neutered male tabby who was not accustomed to living with other cats. My friend’s resident cats were not happy about their new roommate, and the feeling was mutual. Simon wasn’t getting the attention he desired, either. He needed a different situation.

I told my friend what I tell everyone who asks me about rehoming a pet: Try Home To Home™.  Home to Home is a national website that connects animals needing homes with people seeking pets. There is a local chapter here in Aiken managed by volunteers from Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS). People with an adoptable pet simply write a description and email it along with a picture or two to FOTAS.HOME-HOME.ORG.  FOTAS organizes all the listings before publishing them to their website, and they promote the local Home to Home adoptable animals on their Facebook page. The Aiken County Animal Shelter also keeps an updated book with all the Home to Home listings to show potential adopters who come to the shelter looking for a pet.  People seeking new pets can search the online listings just the way they might look on any pet adoption website. The entire service is free of charge, and there are no rehoming or adoption fees allowed. (Contrary to popular opinion, multiple studies have shown that charging a rehoming fee does not correlate with successful adoption or ensure that the pet is going into a good home.)

I knew about the Home to Home website, and I always thought it would be an excellent way for a pet to find a new family. It would certainly be better than surrendering a pet to the shelter, which is traumatic for the animal and his owners, and is difficult for the shelter too, which should be reserved for animals with no homes at all. But I had no idea if anyone would have any interest in Simon and I was skeptical. It was the height of kitten season and shelters were filled with adorable little fluff balls. Who would want an ordinary middle aged tabby cat who demanded to be the only cat in the home?

But I helped my friend by writing a description and sending in the pictures he gave me. That was on a Thursday. By Saturday, we had our first inquiry. By Tuesday we had three, all from local people who just wanted a nice cat to sit on their laps. The following Sunday, 10 days after I sent in Simon’s information, my friend and his son delivered the cat to his new home. They continued to get updates about him throughout the summer, and all of them, cats and people, are very satisfied. 

I am happy too. I have recommended the Home to Home website many times, but now I know that it really works. Many animal lovers can’t imagine giving up a pet, or act as though anyone who does is acting irresponsibly. But in the real world, there are times when it is better for everyone if an animal moves on to a place where he or she will be happy and loved. Home-to-Home can help that happen. 

Their lives are in our hands.

By Pam Gleason, Editor of The Aiken Horse

2023, abandoned animals, Home-to-Home adoption program, surrendered pets

The shelter is not a drop off point for unwanted pets

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Sweet black Lab mix Onyx is 1-1/2 years old, 90 pounds and wonderful with other dogs. Yet his owners left him behind when they moved away.
10
Aug

When you walk through the kennels at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, it is easy to pick out the owner-surrendered dogs. The stray dogs are more at ease as they are happy to have regular feedings and a safe spot. The owner surrenders, however, are typically in the back of their kennels shaking, vomiting, and sometimes spinning uncontrollably from stress.

They are scared, confused and their chances of finding homes are lower. In fact, due to the anxiety they experience from being left at a shelter, owner surrendered pets often become unadoptable.

Please do not take your pet to the shelter. Instead, rehome them on your own by using our Home to Home program, which features a website that helps you market your pet and adopt them out directly from your residence.

The shelter is designed to help with stray, neglected and otherwise hopeless animals. It is not meant to be a drop off center for unwanted pets. The shelter is a resource, not a destination.

Misconceptions about surrendering pets
Many citizens believe we can find great homes for all the pets we take into the shelter. But we cannot. The shelter takes in more than 4,000 dogs and cats a year. Do the math; it is impossible. While FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter work tirelessly to find homes for adoptable animals, we also ask people to show compassion and fulfill their responsibility to their own pets.

We are saddened by the number of calls we receive from people wanting to surrender their pets. The reasons given are often problems that can be solved with a little time and dedication.

Here are some of the reasons given:

We have made the tough decision to surrender our dog so he can find a family that has more time and patience to work with his behavioral issues.

If your dog has behavioral issues, please contact a trainer. The shelter is consistently overwhelmed and there is limited time to work on those issues in a facility filled to capacity.

We are moving.

Take your pet with you! Look for a pet friendly rental.

He has become food aggressive towards our other dogs.

Try feeding the dogs separately. Have you considered getting a crate to feed him in? It is extremely difficult for us to adopt out a dog with any kind of aggression and he will be at risk of being euthanized if he comes to us.

She chases cats and runs off because she has a high prey drive.

We cannot adopt out animals with a high prey drive. Imagine the risk in a shelter environment with all the other animals. If she is escaping your yard to run, there are ways to keep pets contained.

What to do if you must rehome your pet

Instead of putting your pet through the trauma of being in a loud, full shelter, try our Home to Home program available free of charge on our website, fotasaiken.org. Or ask your family members, neighbors and friends if they can help.

If you cannot afford to feed your pet due to personal economic challenges, we can help. FOTAS holds a Community Pet Food Drive-Thru once a month for Aiken citizens in need of assistance. Our next Pet Food Drive-Thru event is Saturday morning, Aug. 19.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

Home-to-Home adoption program, Spay/Neuter, TNR Program, Volunteer, Volunteers, Where your donations go

Christmas Gratitude

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
31
Dec

The last week of the year is a time of reflection for FOTAS—a time to take stock of our blessings; to consider the remarkable progress we and the Aiken County Animal Shelter have made in making the world a better place for the County’s homeless, abandoned, and abused animals.

Since 2009, our life-saving programs have expanded to include not only helping with the care and re-homing of every adoptable shelter animal, but to initiatives to help folks keep their animals at home (like augmenting the County’s Spay/Neuter financial assistance for citizens-in-need, sponsoring pet food drive up’s and pet food donations to community food banks, including our partnership with ACTS and Senior Service-Meals on Wheels, sponsoring free pet microchip events, and providing humane runners for dogs who have been tied to a chain all their lives). In addition, we also have implemented programs to help folks avoid surrendering animals to the shelter in the first place, like our successful online Home-to-Home initiative and the TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) for community cats.

This time of year is also a time for FOTAS to celebrate those who have contributed to our successes.

Thanks to Aiken County for making it possible to save the lives of thousands of homeless animals in the County. The strength of its commitment is evidenced by the thoughtful care and maintenance of the public animal shelter on Wire Road that opened in 2014. Our partnership grows stronger with each passing year.

Thanks to Paige Bayne, the County’s Enforcement and Animal Services Director; Bobby Arthurs, the Shelter Manager; Dr. Nancy Rodriquez, the Shelter’s veterinarian; and all the Shelter staff for their commitment to increase the opportunities for each adoptable animal to find a forever home.

Thanks to the army of volunteers who make the work of FOTAS possible – everything from manning the front desk; walking and socializing 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 and support. You have made it possible for FOTAS to help the County provide the best possible care and outcome for its shelter animals.

All that effort has paid off: for the past four years, the shelter has been able to save every adoptable animal. That’s a big deal.

But right now, the shelter is in crisis. Intake numbers have exploded nationally, and the County Shelter is no exception. Blame fast-paced population growth in the county; inflation; COVID, FLU, RVS outbreaks; chronic shortages in spay/neuter services—you name it—but overcrowding is a serious problem. At a time when we should be celebrating the season, the shelter is shockingly full for this time of year. Animals are doubled up in the kennels, the temperatures are bitterly cold, and staff and volunteer resources are stretched to the max. At this rate, the shelter’s ability to save every adoptable animal in 2023 is in jeopardy.

God bless you and your family during this holiday season, and may God bestow his blessings on the county’s homeless animals during this difficult time.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

2020, Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Home-to-Home adoption program, News, SELECTING A PET, SOCIAL MEDIA

‘Home to Home’ Proves to be a Successful Resource for Adopting Out Pets

Posted on by Bob Gordon
31
Oct

We’re about a year and a half into the inception of our Home to Home program, which is free to use. Home to Home is a better way for rehoming your pet from one home to another. It frees up space in shelters for homeless animals and is much less stressful on the pets and owners. A pet is rehomed directly from one home to another, never going into a shelter.

All of the pets posted on Home to Home are promoted on the FOTAS Facebook page.

We’ve had 525 listings (some with multiple animals in them) and 322 (61%) have found new homes using the website service. Another 70 animals have been surrendered and 98 owners failed to respond to follow up requests. We currently have 38 animals looking for homes. As with the shelter, if an animal is an inside animal who is housebroken, spayed or neutered, and has some training, the better the odds of adoption.

Barry and Bailey are Cockatiels rehomed through the FOTAS Home to Home website.

The vast majority of owners are either being forced to give up an animal due to their own illness, living circumstances that have changed, or they find their family can’t give them the time they need and deserve. All want the best for the animal and work hard to make sure the new home is a good fit before finalizing the rehoming. They ask questions of the adopters, and some even visit the new home to make sure they have a fenced yard or other needs the pet requires.

Grant and Heather Wiseman are amazing pet owners. They and their daughters have fostered too many litters of puppies to count, as well as adult dogs. Both Grant and Heather serve on the FOTAS board. When their daughters went to college, the Wisemans decided to rehome their cockatiels to a home with owners who had more time to spend with them. They went online, uploaded some information and a photo of Barry and Bailey and the next day the birds were in their new home where they are enjoying more attention. Heather said the process was incredibly easy and fast.

Diego relaxes in his forever home with the Wiseman family

When the Wisemans were looking for a new dog just in time for Grant’s birthday, they once again went to Home to Home. They found the perfect new pet in Diego. The owner came to their home with Diego to make sure they had a fenced-in yard and to make sure he got along with their other dogs. Heather said, “We loved the fact that he never had to go through the trauma of multiple kennels or homes before he was with us. Especially because he gets carsick!” Diego loves his new home and the Wisemans love him.

Recently our Home to Home program was nationally recognized as one of the best examples of a Shelter doing the Home to Home Program right. We’ve worked hard to make Home to Home one more resource to keep animals out of the Shelter and in loving homes. And isn’t that what we all want? You can find out more about Home to Home at fotas.home-home.org.

Their lives are in our hands.

–– By Ellen Priest, FOTAS Board Member and Home-to-Home Coordinator

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

2020, Adoption, Bully Dogs, coronavirus crisis, Dogs, Foster, FOTAS, Home-to-Home adoption program, News, Pibbles, shelter construction, surrendered pets

Adapting to Pandemic Crisis Leads to Positive Changes

Posted on by Bob Gordon
17
Jun

The Coronavirus crisis blindsided us all. Suddenly leaving our homes was dangerous, masks covering our nose and mouth became necessary, restaurants and small businesses were forced to shut down, and toilet paper turned into a priceless commodity.

But COVID-19 also forced us to think differently about the world we live in and adjust accordingly. Not only did social media become even more of a focus for us and vital to reaching potential adopters and fosters, but we also adapted our adoption process. To better protect citizens and our Aiken County Animal Shelter staff, we began doing adoptions outside and by-appointment only.

Sweet Angelica gets adopted during a May 22 appointment.

Since the shelter became closed to the public in March, we began asking potential adopters to view the available animals on FOTASaiken.org and then call the shelter for an appointment to visit with the ones they like. When folks arrive for their appointments, staff members greet them outside and then bring the pets out to visit. Following social distance protocol and wearing protective masks, staff members complete the adoptions curbside.

Michelle Vieyra adopted gray and white Pitbull mix Jules last month and brought one of her male dogs to meet her outside. After spending some time with Jules, she knew the feisty female was a good match.

Hunter finds the perfect home!

“Jules is doing well and learning how to fit into pack culture,” Vieyra said. “She is a bossy little thing, which is why I renamed her Sassy, but she is smart and catches on very quickly how things work around here. She learned how to sit after just one day, and we will be starting on commands like ‘lie down’ and ‘stay’ soon. She is also ridiculously cuddly.”

The appointment model for adoptions has been so successful and convenient for citizens, we plan to continue it even as we start accepting walk-in visitors again. Adopters enjoy the greater one-on-one attention and find they are less overwhelmed by so many pet choices when they arrive. In fact, most appointments are resulting in adoptions.

Similar to other service businesses such as hair salons, we will encourage appointments but also welcome walk-ins.

Shelter launches construction of intake kennel enclosure
The needed construction project of enclosing the covered, open-air intake kennel wing began this week, and we are thrilled this important improvement is being made. This is an exciting project as 30 kennels will be enclosed in a temperature-controlled building, making the dogs in this wing more comfortable and better protected from severe weather. During the estimated 3-month project, the shelter will temporarily be without 30 kennels, so please if you can foster or adopt.

Gray and white Jules aka Sassy (right) is adopted by Michelle Vieyra during a late May appointment.

If you have to rehome your pet, please take advantage of FOTAS’s Home to Home program, which allows you to rehome your pet directly from your residence instead of surrendering them to the shelter (which can be so stressful for a pet).

To learn more about FOTAS’s many programs and/or to volunteer, go to the FOTAS website (fotasaiken.org) or call the shelter at (803) 642-1537.

Their lives are in our hands.


— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2020, coronavirus crisis, Dogs, FOTAS, Home-to-Home adoption program, News

Home to Home Program more critical than ever during coronavirus crisis and kennel enclosure project

Posted on by Bob Gordon
01
Jun

These are strange times we are all living in, with organizations adjusting to uncharted waters — and the Aiken County Animal Shelter is no exception. Adoptions are by appointment, taking place outside and paperwork is completed curbside.

Animal enforcement officers are bringing in strays and we are urging owner surrenders to take place through our Home to Home program. Using a special website, this program allows citizens to rehome their pets directly from their homes, avoiding the stress of their pets having to go to a kennel in the shelter. It is free to use and free to adopt.

In just 16 months, well over 200 pets have been placed through the FOTAS Home to Home program. Citizens adopt out pets directly from their homes.

As our Home to Home Program enters its 16th month in Aiken County, its value continues to grow. During these hard times, we have had some wonderful success stories. A recent one that touched my heart was Cooper, a 13-year-old Cairn Terrier whose owner died. When his owner was in the hospital and nursing home, his mother regularly took Cooper in. But after her son passed, she could no longer take care of the senior canine.

The owner’s sister, Debra Foutch, placed Cooper on Home to Home, hoping the right loving person would come forward and adopt him. You could tell this was heartbreaking for a family who only wanted the best for this sweet dog. She wrote a wonderful write-up to let potential owners know about Cooper’s journey. I placed him on Home to Home and on FOTAS’s Facebook page, where thousands of followers saw the post. Hours later, I received an email from Debra that Cooper had found a good home. Debra said, “I’m sure my brother is smiling down from heaven knowing Cooper has a new forever home.” I am sure he is too, Debra.

Cooper, a senior Terrier who found a new home through the FOTAS Home to Home website.

In the coming months, Home to Home will become an even more vital tool for owner surrenders. The Aiken County Animal Shelter will be enclosing our rear intake kennels during the months of June-August, as part of the Capital Project Sales Tax funding. During severe weather, the animals in these kennels have little protection from rain, wind, severe cold, or intense heat. We are thrilled that these 30 kennels will be enclosed by the end of the summer, but that is 30 intake kennels we will not be able to use during that time, limiting our intake of animals.

We encourage owners who need to surrender an animal to consider using Home to Home. This program is a much kinder way to rehome pets, who are often traumatized by being surrendered into noisy kennels and unfamiliar surroundings. We have found loving homes for over 230 animals in a little over a year, without using shelter resources.

And if you are looking for a new pet, besides checking the listing of animals available at the shelter, check those available at fotas.home-home.org. Any questions about using the program, please email ellencpriest@gmail.com . As always, thank you for your support of the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Ellen Priest, FOTAS Board Member and Home to Home Coordinator

2020, Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Home-to-Home adoption program, kennel stress, News, SELECTING A PET

Successful Home to Home Program Marks Its One-Year Anniversary

Posted on by Bob Gordon
03
Mar

FOTAS’ Home to Home program celebrated its one-year anniversary this month. In that first year, we’ve had 177 animals successfully rehomed using the program. That is 177 dogs and cats who were not surrendered to the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS), but instead were able to go directly from one home to another.

Lab mix Chevelle was adopted through the FOTAS Home to Home Program.

There are many advantages to the program: it is much easier on a pet to go directly to another loving home, rather than being surrendered to the Shelter, which can be incredibly stressful to an animal; owners can choose the right new owners for their pet using this method; and these direct Home to Home adoptions mean more resources are available for strays brought into the shelter.

There are a number of reasons why a dog or cat needs to be rehomed. Owners may face financial problems, forcing them to move into apartments that will not allow pets. Elderly owners may need to move to assisted living or nursing homes and be unable to keep their pets. Owners active in the military may be facing upcoming deployment leaving the country and need to find a home for their pet.

One thing all these owners have in common is wanting a better life for their pet. They realize that they are no longer able to provide the loving home that their pet deserves.

Home to Home leverages the power of social media and the FOTAS Facebook page.

So, what can you expect if you place your pet on Home to Home? You go to Fotas.Home-Home.org, and click on “Rehome your pet,” upload a photo and enter some information regarding your pet, including age and breed, and what makes your pet special. I will take that information to create a profile on Home to Home, and post to FOTAS’ Facebook page with over 11,000 followers. You will receive an email verifying your pet has been placed and to watch your email for prospective owners who may be interested. I also include some tips for finding the right new home.

If you are looking for a new pet, in addition to visiting the ACAS, take a look at the pets available on this site. Home to Home is free to use and free to adopt.

In the last ten years, FOTAS has been instrumental in taking the ACAS from a 10% save rate to an over 90% save rate, where we achieved our goal in saving every adoptable animal the past two years and are working hard this year to achieve it again.

The Home to Home Program allows County citizens to adopt out their pets without surrendering them to the Animal Shelter.

There are many tools we use to do this: adoptions to loving homes; transfers to shelter rescue partners in other states with great spay and neuter programs and adopters for homeless pets; spay and neuter Fido Fixer events; Trap Neuter Release (TNR) programs for community cats; Dogs off the Chain programs; and now Home to Home.

We’ll continue to look for ways to save our County’s pets because their lives are in our hands.

–By Ellen Priest, FOTAS Board Member and Home-to-Home Coordinator

PETS OF THE WEEK

FREDDY: Mixed breed, male, 8 years old, black w/white, 40 pounds – $35

RIKER: Domestic shorthair, male, 1 year old, Tabby, 10 pounds – $10

2019, Adoption, Chained dogs, Dogs, FOTAS, Home-to-Home adoption program, News, surrendered pets

Home to Home Program Successful, 100 Plus Pets Already Adopted

Posted on by Bob Gordon
07
Oct

In the seven months since FOTAS started our Home to Home Program, we have found homes for more than 110 animals.

That is 110 dogs and cats that did not come through the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s doors. That’s 110 animals who went from a loving home that could no longer provide for them or keep them, to a loving home that could. Had those animals come to the Shelter instead, they would have suffered a much different experience.

The Home to Home program is a new adoption option that also helps animals avoid the fear and stress of facing a shelter environment.

Odds are they would have ultimately found another loving home, because our save rate is now consistently over 90 percent, but before that happened, they would have been kept in an unfamiliar cage, frightened by other barking and noisy animals. Chances are they would have cowered when potential adopters came by. They may have greeted them, or they may have refused to come forward and reduced their own chances of adoption. The shelter volunteers would come every day to walk dogs and play with cats, and some lucky few will spend time in a foster home, but as they say there’s nothing like home – your own home.

Home to Home is free to use, free to adopt and we’ve had some wonderful success stories. One such story featured Dirty, a poor German shorthair chained to a tree and abandoned when her owner moved away. Rescued by some kind neighbors, Dirty found a wonderful new home two hours after being posted on FOTAS’ Facebook page and on the Home to Home site. Her horrible plight touched a kind woman’s soul. Pictures the next day showed Dirty living the life she should have always had, stretched out on a porch and asleep on a couch. Hopefully, soon her previous circumstances will be like a bad dream.


Dirty, a dog chained to a tree and rescued by good Samaritans, found a forever home within hours of being posted on the FOTAS Facebook page and Home to Home website.

Owners may be forced to give up their pet due to a move, facing a severe illness, or a death in the family. There have been owners that ultimately decide their family may not be the right home for their pet because they don’t have the time to spend with them that the animal deserves.

A month after posting the animal, I follow up with the owners to see if they’ve found a new home and those that have not are re-posted. Sometimes the second time is truly the charm and someone new sees the post and responds.

Not all animals are adopted and some ultimately end up being surrendered to the shelter. However, every animal kept out of the shelter is not only saved from that stressful situation, but also frees up space for a stray or abused animal without another choice.

Dirty relaxes in her new forever home.

There are many reasons a family may choose to give up an animal, but most who ultimately want the best for their pets find the Home to Home program a welcome relief. I’ve had some heartwarming thank you notes from owners so happy to see their pet go to a home more suited for their needs. To see available pets for adoption, please go to fotas.home-home.org.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Ellen Priest, FOTAS Board Member and Home to Home Coordinator

2019, adopter feedback, Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Home-to-Home adoption program, kittens, News, Pibbles

Follow-Ups Help Ensure Adopters and Their Pets Are Content

Posted on by Bob Gordon
13
Aug

When you adopt a homeless pet from the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) and walk out the door with your new furry companion, we don’t just file your paperwork, wave good-bye and wish you good luck. We make sure you and your pet are happy and doing well.

FOTAS volunteers and the shelter staff contact new pet owners within a week to 10 days of their adoption to see how they are doing. Is the dog or cat adapting well to his new environment? Is he eating okay? Playing well with others? Adopters also get a chance to share any concerns or questions they have about their new pet.

Kitten Kevin resting in his new home.

Following up with new adopters not only helps ensure they are satisfied with their pets, but also provides us with great stories and information that could help us in future adoptions. The best feedback includes photos of the shelter pets loving life in their new homes.

Here are examples of emails and notes we’ve received from recent adopters (some have been edited for space):

NORA IS ADJUSTING WELL
Nora is doing great! We think she likely had a rough life before the shelter and being adopted. She was extremely terrified of everything. My husband and I could not move without her flinching. She’s been to see our vet now and has gotten some meds and some pointers on how to help her feel more comfortable. It’s working! She’s opening up and becoming so playful and loving. She has such a happy and funny personality. We adore Nora and are so happy to call her ours!

Cassandra Newcomb

COUNTY SHELTER IS THE BEST
Thank y’all for all that y’all do for the fur babies waiting for forever homes. I wish we could have adopted more than just Reuben. Unfortunately, we have a small home and couldn’t accommodate more than the two we now have. I have been raving about y’all to friends and co-workers, for when they are ready to adopt. Your facility is so clean, everyone is so nice, and I feel like the adoption went smoothly and very securely. I am impressed by the background checks done for all adopters and the professionalism displayed was exceptional. Pat yourselves on the back. You all deserve it!

Amiee N. Hinton

Catherine Will with pretty Roo Roo.

BLESSED TO HAVE ROO ROO IN OUR FAMILY
Roo Roo is doing great! She is an absolute angel. We love her so much! She gets along with everyone, including our cat. We are blessed to welcome Roo into our family.

Catherine Will

BROOKE IS FITTING RIGHT IN
Puppy Brooke is fitting right in with the family! She is growing like a weed and doing well with house training. We absolutely love her!

Linda Duffy

KEVIN IS ALMOST PERFECT
Kevin has been loving his new forever home. He’s a very affectionate and playful kitten. He’s been eating well and growing so fast! My fiancé and I love him so much! We are very glad we adopted him. Other than being rambunctious and a little mischievous sometimes, he’s absolutely perfect!

Marilyn Hall

Beagle Nora stretches out at her forever home.

HOME TO HOME IS A GREAT SERVICE
The new adopter came and met my dog, Midi, and decided to take her home. Home to Home is a great service. Thank you so much! (FOTAS’s Home to Home Program helps pets move directly from one home to another.)

Julie Bean

JOSIE IS BEING SPOILED
Josie is doing great! She’s spoiled and her personality shines more every day. She has started to play with her toys and understands that they are hers and nobody is going to take them. She’s eating well, starting to gain a little healthy weight. She goes everywhere with us and even has her own Instagram account, josietherescueshepherd.

Mary Hanna

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director