Category Archives: making care-giving arrangements for pets

2022, Adoption, making care-giving arrangements for pets

DeeDee: one special dog who needs a home.

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
28
Oct

In late September of 2019, I wrote an article for FOTAS about a young dog who was picked up by animal control in the sizzling heat of July and brought to the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Her condition was shocking. Aside from being terrified, starving, and dangerously dehydrated, she was completely hairless and bleeding from the sores covering her body. As I said at the time, DeeDee (as we subsequently named her) was hard to look at without grimacing with heartbreak and outrage—someone cared so little for this sweet little dog that they failed to provide medical care when she needed it, and when her condition became critical, they dumped her on a county road in the dead of summer to die.

The thing was, as angry as I was, DeeDee wasn’t mad and disappointed at all. She was grateful and forgiving, cheerful and kind. She never stopped wagging her tail. She loved people, children, and other dogs. She was a volunteer favorite.

FOTAS was determined to fix her ailments and find her a good home. We treated her for Demodex mange, which is not contagious, and found a kind foster to help her recover in a less stressful environment. We successfully treated her for allergies. She recovered beautifully, and not long after we published the article about her, she was adopted by a wonderful gentleman who loved and adored her and renamed her Steely. It was one of those success stories that brought tears to our eyes. I was humbled by Steely’s courage and willingness to love and be loved, as well as her adopter’s depth of care and concern.

Sadly, life has thrown the lovely Steely (ne DeeDee) an unfortunate fast ball. Several weeks ago, the gentleman who adopted Steely died, leaving Steely and three other household dogs without a home. All four dogs were brought to the County Shelter, and in short order, three of those dogs found new homes. But not Steely.

That breaks our heart. Not only is Steely grieving the loss of her beloved human, she is doing so in a strange place without her canine buddies, and the stress of it all has caused her allergies to flare up—she began to scratch herself to distraction. The shelter vet, Dr. Rodriquez, is watching her closely and monitoring her care.

Bottom line? Steely needs a home, fast. She is as sweet and affectionate as she always was. She adores people, children, and other dogs. She is now 4 years-old, weighs 48 pounds, is heartworm negative, housebroken, and easy to walk.

Steely is, quite literally, the perfect dog, and we want her to find an owner who will shower her with the same love she showers on all humans. Will it be you?

Please don’t wait. Call the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS vice president

2020, Adoption, bonded pets, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, making care-giving arrangements for pets, News, SOCIAL MEDIA, surrendered pets

Bonded Dog and Cat Saved After Owner Goes into Assisted Living

Posted on by Bob Gordon
16
Apr

Everything fell apart for Fergus and George when their owner’s health deteriorated, forcing him to move into an assisted living facility. Broken-hearted, Robert Toole brought Fergus, a 2-year-old, tan Chihuahua, and George, an 11-year-old cream-colored cat, to the Aiken County Animal Shelter on Jan. 8 and tearfully said goodbye to his sweet pets.

Fergus snuggles with Mia, the Usrys’ Golden Retriever,

Since Robert was able to provide their medical records, the pair became available for adoption immediately. Terrified and wondering why they were at the shelter, Fergus and George huddled together and it quickly became clear to the shelter staff that these two pets needed to be adopted to the same home.

FOTAS friend Martha Anne Tudor posted pictures of Fergus and George on her Facebook page along with their sad story. The post was shared by thousands, including WRDW-TV News 12, which did an on-air feature about the bonded dog and cat.

On the morning of January 9, before the shelter had even opened its doors, Lynn Usry was waiting outside, ready to adopt Fergus and George.

“My friend forwarded me the Facebook post and their eyes just spoke to me,” Lynn said. “As soon as I saw the two of them in their kennel, I knew they would be perfect for our home.”

Lynn Usry hangs out with her Chihuahua crew — Bert, Fergus and Ernie.

Lynn brought them home to meet her husband, Mark, and their other pets – and the transition could not have gone smoother. George started hanging out with the couple’s other senior cat, Mojo, and after about a week, Fergus and Mia, their Golden Retriever, were inseparable. Fergus and George also get along with the Usrys’ other Chihuahuas, Bert and Ernie, and Marley, their male Golden Retriever.

“We all hang out together,” Lynn explained during a phone interview last week. “Right now, Bert and Ernie are sitting in one recliner and Fergus is on my lap underneath his favorite red blanket. He’s a spitfire and fits right into our group. He often curls up with Mia and uses her as a pillow.”

Lynn offered to bring Fergus and George for visits to their old owner, Mr. Toole. But when the shelter staff reached out to him on her behalf, he declined. He said the experience would be too painful for him.

Bonded pets Fergus (left) and George were devastated when their owner had to go into an assisted living facility — where they weren’t allowed to join him.

The Usrys have a small farm with goats and chickens and Lynn said she’s finding great comfort being with her pets during the COVID-19 crisis. She’s a retired OR nurse and Mark is currently the director of University Hospital’s biomedical department.

“The adoption process was wonderful,” Lynn said. “Everybody was very kind. I took the babies home and they didn’t have any issues. I think God just meant it to happen…to have everything fall into place.”

Their lives are in our hands.

Note: Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the ACAS is closed to the public. If you are interested in adopting a pet, please call the ACAS, (803) 642-1537 for an appointment. Adoption fees are waived until further notice.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2019, Adoption, Cats, FOTAS, making care-giving arrangements for pets, News, Proper Pet Care

Dying Man Surrenders his House Tabbies to the Shelter …Now They Wait

Posted on by Bob Gordon
17
Jun

Her father could no longer care for his cats after falling seriously ill, so she brought them to the Aiken County Animal Shelter to be rehomed. The cats, most of them Tabbies and about 5 years old, arrived scared and confused in their new environment. They missed their cozy Windsor home and pined for their cat daddy who had to leave them to enter hospice care.

Addie and Brienne sometimes hide under the fleece blanket in the shelter’s cat facility.

“People would dump kittens and other pets on his property all the time, and he’d take them in, feed and care for them, get them healthy and often get attached to them,” said Lisa Lee of her father, David Lee. “These cats are all sweet and have been indoor cats since he rescued them.”

The cats arrived at the shelter on May 20, and since then four have been adopted. As of Friday, three – Cersi, Ellaria and Theon – were waiting to be adopted at the Aiken PetSmart Store and seven were available for adoption at the County Shelter. The seven at 333 Wire Road are Addie, Bronn, Rickon, Kasey, Brienne, Stannis and Melisandre.

David A. Lee passed away on May 31. He was 71. But Lisa said he was relieved his cats were safe and hoped they would find good homes. He took special care of these felines. All of them are healthy and some are even delightfully plump – plus they have shiny coats and clipped claws.

“He did love them, and they kept him busy and happy,” Lisa said. “Unfortunately, he couldn’t find new homes for them before it was too late.”

Though scared, the cats show no aggression and allow visitors to pet them. They need extra TLC but also space and time to adjust to their new surroundings. They are a great choice for patient, kind people with a quiet household, who want to make a difference for a pair of cats. Ideally, we’d like to adopt out these bonded cats in pairs but they are available separately.

Lee’s house cats are very close and the shelter staff would love to adopt them out in pairs. However, they can be adopted separately into a loving home.

David Lee’s story is a reminder that all of us as pet owners need to make arrangements for our animals. Select family and friends that you trust and ask them to be your pets’ caregivers in case something happens to you. None of us know when our time’s up and there’s no time like the present to ensure our furry family members are in good homes after we’re gone.

Their lives are in our hands.

–By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

BY THE NUMBERS
In the first two weeks of June, the ACAS received nearly 300 strays and surrendered pets. The shelter facility is currently at full capacity.