Category Archives: neglected pets

2020, animal abuse, ANIMAL CRUELTY, Dogs, Dr. Lisa Levy, FOTAS, injured animals, neglected pets, News, surgeries

A Song of Survival: The Ballad of Willie Nelson

Posted on by Bob Gordon
09
Sep

I came into work one morning several months ago to find that Animal Control had brought in a medium-sized, black dog who could not stand up. After examination, I found that his back legs worked fine but he could not use either front leg. X-rays revealed that his right front leg had an old gunshot wound just above the elbow that had shattered the bone. The bone had healed as best it could and felt stable when touched. The left front leg was normal on x-ray but had nerve damage.

He was happy and not in any pain, so I planned to keep him a few days, hoping his owner would claim him. But if not, we would euthanize him.

Amazingly after two days, he started to walk on the gunshot leg, but still could not use the nerve-damaged leg. The staff fell in love with him and named him Willie Nelson (because he howls and “sings” when he wants attention). He continued to get stronger on the right leg, but his left leg would collapse every time he tried to put weight on it. We made the decision to amputate the left leg and he healed beautifully.

The day before he was to go up for adoption, he suddenly wouldn’t stand. We x-rayed the leg again and found it had fractured through the area where the gunshot wound was. Because it had not healed well, it couldn’t withstand the strain of bearing the extra weight of him being three-legged. My husband, Dr. Michael Wells, and I decided to repair the fracture with metal pins, which we planned to leave in place for stability. Two of our kennel crew, Brandon and Chase, fostered him while he healed.

Unfortunately, the bone was too soft from all the previous damage and the pins kept backing out. Despite several attempts to reset them, they finally came out completely.

Our next step was a cast, which Willie hated but learned to tolerate. Finally, the day came to remove the cast. Willie walked on his leg but after only a few minutes there was an audible crack. The leg had broken again!

Willie Nelson’s custom-made cart allows him to run and play, despite losing his front legs.

We were heartbroken and out of options. Willie went home to spend a last night with his foster family and we planned to put him to sleep the next day.

That night was pretty depressing at our house. For four months, we had worked with Willie and it was devastating to lose him. I asked my husband, “What if we buy him a custom-made cart?” I talked to Brandon and Chase the next morning and they agreed to adopt Willie if we would purchase the cart. We worked with an awesome company called, “Eddie’s Wheels,” which gave us a shelter discount and built him a cart in just two weeks.

Meanwhile, after talking to Brandon and the people at Eddie’s Wheels, we decided to amputate his broken leg as he would never use it and we didn’t want it to be a source of pain for him.

Willie is still adjusting to his cart but doing great. He is one of the happiest dogs I have ever seen, exhibiting a positive spirit every day of his trying journey.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Dr. Lisa Levy, Aiken County Animal Shelter Veterinarian

2020, Bully Dogs, Chained dogs, Dogs, kennel stress, neglected pets, News, Pibbles

The Forgotten Aiken County Shelter Dogs: Colt, Loki & Lucy

Posted on by Bob Gordon
31
Aug

The Aiken County Animal Shelter has enjoyed some amazing adoptions in the past few months. People were home on quarantine, and it was the perfect time to adopt. But now adoptions are slowing down and the shelter has some cuties that have been waiting for homes for way too long. These sweethearts are in urgent need of good homes.

Colt meets a boy while on a Doggie Day Out.

Colt is a loving boy who has been on the adoption floor the longest. He has gone home with volunteers for overnights and we have learned that he is housetrained and grateful for all kindness given to him. Colt came to the shelter with bullet fragments in him! We don’t know why someone would want to shoot this sweet guy. We only know that he is lovable and very ready to find his forever home. He is beginning to show signs of depression from being in a kennel too long. This boy wants to be your TV-watching couch buddy.

Lucy is a squishy and sweet Boxer mix. Poor Lucy is afraid of thunderstorms, which we have had many of this month. We really need to get her into a home and make her more comfortable. She is the first dog walked by volunteers each morning as she is very housebroken (and like all the others listed) will not eat her breakfast until she goes out for a walk. When you make a kissing sound, she will sit and give you a kiss!

Loki arrived at the shelter starving.

Loki came to the shelter looking skeletal. He was so sad and hungry, and grateful for receiving our care. When the staff first brought him a large bed and a bowl full of food, in all honesty I think he was smiling. He is just the sweetest boy, and he will appreciate whoever gives him a good life! Dogs who have been neglected show such incredible love to those who save them.

Boxer mix Lucy desperately needs a home.

You may notice a theme here…there are no 10-pound dogs sitting at the shelter. The dogs who desperately need homes are on the larger side. You can be a grouchy, small dog and still find a home. But our medium to large dogs who often have the best manners and show so much affection, are the ones who seem to sit in kennels the longest, waiting to be chosen and adopted. Please help us find loving homes for these forgotten dogs.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2020, animal abuse, ANIMAL CRUELTY, Chained dogs, Dogs, FOTAS, neglected pets, News, SOCIAL MEDIA

Frightened, Sad Shelter Dog Reminds Us We Can Still Make a Difference

Posted on by Bob Gordon
23
Jul

At a time when we might feel helpless in a world out of control, Kai’s story reminds us we can still make a difference.

His fear also hits home. There’s a lot of scary going on.

Maybe that’s why this traumatized dog with a broken heart became a social media celeb in just one day. More than 68,000 people around the globe shared his post. Another 25,000 offered tears, donations, and prayers.

KAI was saved by a rescue that specializes in helping dogs traumatized by abuse.

As one reader in Virginia put it: “The comments under Kai’s post restore my faith in humanity at a time when I need it most.”

At the time of our first post, Kai was a sad frightened dog in the corner of his kennel. Fear like we haven’t seen in a long time. When he heard a noise while eating, food fell from his mouth.

Now, through your sharing, Kai can rest peacefully in the lap of his foster hero Jessica, with Southern Tails for Precious Paws Rescue in Charleston, SC. She is an expert in healing dogs who’ve been beaten and abused.

When this photo of ACAS dog KAI was posted on Facebook along with his sad story, more than 68,000 people around the world shared it. Within hours of the post, KAI was rescued by an expert who specializes in healing dogs traumatized from abuse.

What’s more, three other struggling dogs got homes too, from the 500 plus emails the Aiken County Animal Shelter woke up to that morning, all asking to adopt Kai.

Please take a minute and take it in. You saved four dogs by sharing one post. That’s power. That’s goodness. That’s the love that changes everything.

Whatever you may think about social media, at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, where over 4,000 unwanted animals were received last year, this communication tool and the sharing of our Facebook posts (especially during this chaotic time) has been a blessing in helping us to continue to save so many lives. Your sharing of a FOTAS Facebook post could be the one that saves that shelter pet’s life.

Thank you. Their lives are in our hands.

— By Martha Anne Tudor, FOTAS Volunteer

2020, animal abuse, ANIMAL CRUELTY, Chained dogs, coronavirus crisis, County Animal Control, County animal laws, County tethering ordinance, FOTAS, neglected pets, News

Community Outreach More Vital than Ever During Difficult Times

Posted on by Bob Gordon
30
Jun

While catching up on paperwork early Thursday morning, Patrick Miller, Supervisor of Animal Control in Aiken County’s Code Enforcement Division, is asked what he likes most about his job.

“Helping people is the most rewarding part of what I do,” he says. “It’s just human nature to feel good from giving back to the community and helping people out. That’s the highlight of all the officers’ days.”

County Animal Control Officers like Larry Callahan (left) and Daniel Godwin provide swivel systems and runners that ensure dog owners are complying with the County’s tethering ordinance.

Miller, who has been an animal control officer since 2013, is usually on the road taking calls from dispatch. On an average day, he is checking on stray dogs, livestock on the loose, nuisance complaints and potential pet neglect and abuse. However, since the crippling economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, community outreach has become an even bigger part of Miller’s day.

“COVID-19 has impacted County citizens a great deal,” he explains. “More people are out of work and our community outreach has stepped up. I have a lot of folks right now who can’t afford gas. People sometimes say, ’Can you give us a hand with some food?’”

FOTAS helps by providing pet food, legal and humane dog runners and dog houses to the officers, which they then give to citizens in need. FOTAS also directly gives assistance through its partnership with Meals on Wheels, providing food for senior citizens’ pets.

Miller and his fellow County Animal Code Enforcement officers have to balance enforcement with community outreach. They must help out folks in need while at the same time protecting the welfare of pets and other animals that are neglected and abused.

“Part of our community outreach is explaining laws and helping folks comply to them,” Miller says. “I’d say about half of the people we talk to still do not know that dogs cannot be on a chain. That’s one of the biggest issues we deal with weekly – and FOTAS helps by getting us runner cables.”

Code Enforcement Officer Patrick Miller saves a dog from drowning. A flash flood nearly took the life of the poor pup who was attached to a short, heavy chain when the water rose up to his nose.

Officer Miller is well-respected by his peers and colleagues for how diligently he looks out for animals and his kindness to people and their pets. But he has seen enough neglect and abuse to last a lifetime and will not hesitate to rescue a pet from a bad situation and charge the offender accordingly.

“At the end of the day, what makes you feel good about your job is that you helped the animal and gave it a second chance at a good life,” he said.

Their lives are in our hands.


— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2020, ANIMAL CRUELTY, Chained dogs, County Animal Control, Dogs, Dr. Lisa Levy, FOTAS, injured animals, neglected pets, News

Animal Cruelty: If You See Something, Say Something

Posted on by Bob Gordon
12
May

Animal cruelty comes in many forms and is more common than we want to believe. It can be seen in such diverse ways as physical abuse, neglect of basic care, abandonment, dog fighting, and animal hoarding. It can be as blatant and evil as intentionally hurting or torturing an animal, or as a result of ignorance and pet owners never learning the basic needs or proper care of an animal.

Magnolia, who was tied to a tree deep in the woods and left to die, is now healthy, safe and loved by her adopter, Rachel.

Magnolia was left in the woods to die
Recently, a beautiful German Shepherd was rescued from certain death when kids playing in the woods found her tied to a tree. The collar around her neck was embedded into her skin and she was weak from lack of food and water. The kids alerted their parents, who immediately called Aiken County Animal Enforcement. Officer Patrick Miller brought the injured Shepherd to the Aiken County Animal Shelter, where she could be cared for and treated for her deep neck wounds.

The shelter’s veterinarian, Dr. Lisa Levy, had to surgically remove dead tissue to close the deep gash in her neck. The sweet dog was named Magnolia and quickly became a staff favorite. As soon as she was healthy enough, Magnolia was moved to the adoption floor. She was adopted to a young Smyrna, GA woman who drove 185 miles to get her.

“We go on a lot of walks and Magnolia likes to just chill and cuddle when we’re home,” said Rachel Zeisel. “She’s my girl.”

Lois arrived at the shelter so emaciated, she could not stand and walk on her own.

Lois arrived too weak to walk
A starving, seven-year-old hound mix was rescued by Animal Enforcement Officer Mark Graham. He had to carry her into his truck because she was so weak. She had so little muscle in her hip muscles due to lack of nutrition and exercise, she could not walk on her own. Based on pressure sores on her body, this poor dog was likely chained and slept on concrete.

The staff named her Lois and started her on a diet of at least three meals per day. She now has a soft bed in her kennel and is able to stand on her own. Lois is making great progress. But the wounds from her abuse are still healing, so she’s not quite ready for adoption.

If you see animal neglect or abuse, call the authorities
If you see something, say something. Call your local animal control agency as soon as possible if you witness suspected cruelty to animals. If you live in Aiken, call (803) 502.9000, extension 3704. Or email enforcement@aikencountysc.gov.

Lois has been through hell, but she’ll soon be ready for adoption and can look forward to a new, better life with people who will love and protect her.

Document the case as well as you can with dates, times, specific details and, if possible, video footage and photographs from a cell phone. All of these things can help appropriate agencies during an investigation they do of the suspected cruelty.

Their lives are in our hands.


— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2020, Bully Dogs, County Animal Control, Dogs, Dr. Lisa Levy, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, neglected pets, News

A Tale of the Crooked Little Puppy

Posted on by Bob Gordon
27
Apr

Animal Control brought in a puppy one morning and said there was something wrong with his front legs. I was in surgery so could not look at him immediately but thought to myself, “Maybe he has some hair loss, maybe a cut or, at worst, a broken leg.”

When I was ready to examine him, I wasn’t prepared for what I saw. His front legs were so deformed, I was surprised he could walk. His bones were somewhat curved, but worse were the ligaments in his joints, particularly the wrist. It looked like the top bone was pointing in one direction and the bottom one in another.

When puppy Ricky arrived at the County Animal Shelter, his legs were so twisted, Dr. Levy was surprised he could walk at all.

The puppy had rickets, which is due to a nutritional deficiency of calcium from lack of proper care. I had never seen such a bad case of front limb deformity, and most of what I had seen were in puppies younger and smaller than he was. I really wasn’t sure we could fix him.

We started him on calcium supplements and splinted both his front legs. When he walked, the splints made a “clicking” sound like someone walking in high heels. He stole everyone’s heart and we named him Ricky.

I wanted to put Ricky into foster care because his recovery might take weeks or even months, and the exercise he could get outside the shelter would benefit him. But I was hesitant as I know foster families get attached and I couldn’t be sure of a positive outcome. Foster extraordinaire Jeri Wesner stepped up and promised me she would understand if he didn’t improve but wanted to give him the best life she could until we knew his final outcome. Ricky proved to be a handful, chewing up his splints and going full throttle all the time.

Foster Jeri Wesner brings Ricky in for an appointment with ACAS Veterinarian Dr. Levy

I consulted with Dr. Bogner at Aiken Pet Fitness & Rehabilitation, and she recommended splints on for a few weeks and then leaving them off a few days at a time to strengthen Ricky’s ligaments. After a few weeks, his left front leg looked pretty straight, so we left the splint off. A week later, we removed the second splint but the right leg was still very crooked. We left if off for the weekend, and when he came back Monday, the right leg was straight and he was running normally. It was nothing short of amazing!

Ricky continued to improve and quickly found a forever home. Special thanks to Jeri and all of our fosters whose help is invaluable in the recovery of these special cases.


— By Dr. Lisa Levy, ACAS Veterinarian

2020, Demodex, Dogs, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, kennel stress, neglected pets, News

Fostering Helps Save Dogs Rescued from Hoarding Situation

Posted on by Bob Gordon
26
Apr

In early February, the shelter received a large group of dogs from a hoarding situation. These poor canines were not only fearful, but also emaciated, covered in fleas — and many were bald from demodectic mange.

We were desperate to find help for these horrified, neglected animals, as shelter life is not the best for a stressed animal. That is when FOTAS supporters Steven and Doris Briggs offered their help.

SADIE needs a secure and loving home to help her bloom into a wonderful canine companion.

“Since we live on a horse farm and have the perfect set up for taking in more dogs, we started fostering shelter animals to help get them ready for their forever homes,” Doris explained. “We have had four rescue dogs, one of which was a well-known therapy dog. But we are committed to working with fosters.”

The Briggs’ property has an 8-acre paddock with wire fencing and an extra stall, so they agreed to take three of the hoarded dogs.

“I have never seen such pitiful, scared little things in my life,” Doris said. “There were a few challenges we had to work with. Initially, they lived in the barn but as you might guess, they ended up in the house. Six dogs in the bedroom at night was a new experience for us, but it helped socialize them.”

After two months, most of the dogs were ready to leave but one of them – 2-year-old Sadie – was still sad and motley-looking, so Doris thought she needed more time.

Doris Briggs walks her foster dogs.

“I said let me keep her till she’s presentable and somebody will want her,” Doris explained. “I understand the two that left have been happily adopted and Sadie is doing much better and her coat is filling in nicely.”

Having fosters during the coronavirus crisis has worked out well at the Briggs home and Doris encourages others to take in shelter dogs to help prepare them for their forever homes.

“The self-isolation that we are undergoing has been the perfect time to devote time to these darling little dogs,” she said.

Sadie will be available soon but she will need a secure and loving home so she can continue to bloom into a confident, healthy canine companion.

Times are changing and we don’t know what the future holds with this pandemic. Self-isolation is a very uncomfortable and lonely condition for all of us – not unlike the sad scenario that plays out for unwanted pets when they find themselves at a shelter.

Dogs from a hoarding home rarely receive the love and attention they need.

We are blessed to have so many people responding to our pleas to foster and adopt. Please continue to follow us on social media and fotasaiken.org to see what pets are available. Also, be sure to check out the FOTAS Home to Home website. There are many available pets posted on this site that need new homes and can be adopted for no charge directly from their owners: https://fotas.home-home.org/.

As Doris stated so eloquently, this is the perfect time to devote to these pets in need.

Their lives are in our hands.

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


— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2020, Adoption, Dogs, FOTAS, neglected pets, News, Volunteer

A FOTAS Love Story: Fate and the Redemptive Power of Love

Posted on by Bob Gordon
07
Apr

This week’s story is one about serendipity—a series of coincidental and seemingly unrelated events and encounters that resulted in happy good fortune for a scared, abandoned dog and a man stricken by grief.

Bryce Lingo, a resident of Delaware, is a frequent winter visitor in Aiken. An accomplished equestrian, Bryce travels from his farm in Virginia with his horses to train with his friend, Snowden Clarke. The past year has been difficult for Bryce—he lost his dad, his older brother, and last October, he lost his 10-year-old German Shorthair Pointer to cancer. By the time he reached Aiken in January, he was looking forward to relaxing in Aiken in the company of his friends, but on Valentine’s Day, tragedy struck again. His other beloved German Shorthair Pointer, Hartley, was struck and killed by a car. Bryce was devastated.

Gill (renamed Aiken) on his new owner;s bed

Enter Sam Cato, a longtime FOTAS supporter, volunteer, adopter, and foster, with whom Bryce had become friendly with over the years. Sam, upon hearing about Bryce’s heartbreaking loss of Hartley, did one of those things Sam does best—which was to lobby Bryce to adopt a dog from the county shelter to ease his grief. Bryce was not opposed to rescuing a dog, but he and his family had a long history with, and singular allegiance to, German Shorthair Pointers. Since the shelter rarely takes in purebred animals (much less German Shorthair Pointers), Sam did not push the point.

Two weeks later, Sam made an impromptu decision to take a houseguest out to the county shelter for a tour. As they walked through the adoption pods to check out the canine residents, she stopped, stunned, in front of a kennel in Pod 2. There, cowering in terror in the back of the kennel, was a magnificent German Shorthair Pointer (called Gill by shelter staff) who had been picked up as a stray and only moments before been released from Intake and moved to the adoption floor. Sam wasted no time in snapping Gill’s photo and sending it to Bryce, who had returned to his farm in Virginia the week before. By mid-afternoon, Bryce had formally adopted Gill and made arrangements with a local man to pick him up and drive him to Bryce’s Farm in Virginia.

Today Aiken (Gill’s new name) is resting comfortably at Bryce’s home in Delaware, recovering from being neutered and on antibiotics for heartworm treatment. Says Bryce, “He’s so sweet and quiet, but he’s also very shy and traumatized. He gets better every day: he sleeps on my bed and thumps his tail when I speak to him. My nieces lavish him with attention and my female Siamese cat spends lots of time grooming his face and ears. I wish I knew what had happened to this guy. How could someone just dump him on some county road and drive away?”

Aiken is a sweet and quiet dog who’s learning to come out of his shell and trust people..

Ah ha. That’s the question—one we fret about all the time: how could someone be so callous and so irresponsible to leave a helpless animal to an unknown fate? But in this case, Aiken was lucky, and Bryce has been blessed. They found each other in their time of need.

Maybe—just maybe—that was their fate all along.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

2020, animal abuse, Chained dogs, County animal laws, Dogs, fostering, FOTAS, injured animals, neglected pets, News

The Discarding of Countless Litters in Our Community Is Sad and Unacceptable

Posted on by Bob Gordon
24
Mar

“We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.”
— Immanuel Kant

Last month, a very kind couple arrived at the shelter with a litter of puppies. They explained that they had been caring for the five-week-old pups for a week or so. We were all saddened to hear that someone tied the pups in a garbage bag and left them on the side of the road, in front of the couple’s home. They would have ignored the bag, but thought they saw it moving. Carefully opening the plastic bag, the couple discovered sad, hungry, filthy puppies inside. The pups were hungry and terrified.

Who does that? Not only could the puppies have died an agonizing death but somewhere there is a mother dog mourning her missing puppies – a mama dog who likely will be having another unwanted litter in the future.

Celeste arrived at the shelter starving to death but somehow recovered completely and was adopted.

This litter was extremely lucky because the couple that found them cared. They stopped, they bathed them, and they fed them.

How often do we drive by a cardboard box or bag on the side of the road? Sadly, I now wonder how often there are puppies or kittens in that box.

As I am writing this, a nice couple walked into the shelter with a crate holding two puppies. They said they were driving and looked out their window and saw the crate with puppies in the woods. They turned their car around to investigate. Two small and social puppies sitting in a crate with a blanket looked up at them with relief in their eyes.

“I have two rescue dogs and two rescue cats…I felt bad when I saw them, they could’ve died there,” said Angela Franks.

Patty the kitten lost her eye to a bad infection because she was discarded like trash.

Every day, another homeless dog or cat arrives at the shelter “damaged”. By that, I mean they come in shot, hit by a motor vehicle, tossed out of a car, or abandoned in the woods or by the road.

Staff and volunteers are continually confused as to why people would hurt or abandon an animal when there are resources around such as the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) and FOTAS. We have an easy to use site where we can post your pet to rehome at no charge. The County also offers vouchers to help assist those who cannot afford to fix their pets and FOTAS helps through our Fix a Pet program. There is absolutely no reason for the countless litters we see discarded and neglected in our community.

The shelter takes in 300 to 500 dogs and cats each month. The struggle is finding homes for all these pets and yet it is so very easy to prevent these high numbers. Kitten season is quickly approaching and the staff is already preparing by stocking up on formula, baby bottles and supplies. Soon we will have kittens coming in around the clock and never enough foster homes to bottle feed them.

These two puppies, left in the woods to die, were saved by a local couple and brought to the ACAS.

We are desperate for foster homes for litters of puppies and kittens as well as foster homes for those recovering from medical procedures. If you are interested in fostering or becoming a volunteer, please contact FOTAS at info@FOTASaiken.org or stop by the ACAS.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2020, Demodex, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, kennel stress, neglected pets, News

Fosters Needed for Shelter Dogs with Demodectic Mange

Posted on by Bob Gordon
17
Feb

They arrive at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) with patches of fur missing – and sometimes even completely bald, with red, scaly skin — but through fostering and treatment, transform into handsome, furry canine companions.

BLITZ arrived at the shelter with Demodex and, following treatment, is now available for adoption.

These are dogs with demodectic mange or “demodex”, a typically easily treatable condition that is not contagious to humans or other dogs. Demodex is caused by a mite, a normal inhabitant of every dog’s skin. In low numbers, these mites cause no symptoms and may serve an important role as part of a dog’s normal skin (similar to the way healthy bacteria is important in digestive health). However, when dogs have a compromised immune system, the mites can multiply unchecked, which leads to demodectic mange and itchy skin.

Demodex is fairly common in strays and neglected pets because through malnutrition or injury, their immune systems have often been weakened. In fact, the shelter currently has six dogs with this condition.

Now, if these dogs stayed in the stressful conditions of a shelter, their treatment could take a long time. Living in a strange kennel as dozens of unfamiliar and often scared dogs bark and different strangers walk you and feed you is not conducive to a healing environment. But when demodex dogs are able to go to a quiet environment of a foster home, where they feel safe and loved, they usually experience a speedy recovery.

Demodex dog ARCHER bloomed into a handsome dog and is now ready to be adopted at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

“Stress inhibits their healing process,” said Jeri Wesner, who has fostered nine demodex dogs with her husband, Joe, since becoming a FOTAS foster. “But when we bring them into our home, they immediately feel more relaxed and get to experience what it’s like to have a family. Seeing these dogs gain back their confidence along with their fur is so heart fulfilling!”

Most recently, Jeri and Joe fostered a puppy named Lizzie who had a severe case of demodex and was completely hairless with cracked skin all over her body. But they, along with their adopted dogs, Ruby and Jack, welcomed Lizzie into their home and watched an amazing metamorphosis occur in just over a month. Jack, their Hound mix, took 10-month-old Lizzie under his wing and Pitbull mix Ruby treated her like her own. In only a month, Lizzie tested negative for demodex and her beautiful, dark tan coat had grown back in.

“Fostering a demodex dog is one of the most wonderful experiences you can have,” Jeri said. “It is so great to see them bloom into beautiful animals and to know that just by giving them a temporary home, you made them better and prepared them for their next step – to be adopted and go to their forever home.”

The ACAS has recently had a high influx of malnourished, neglected dogs with demodex – and we need your help. If you are interested in fostering for us, please call the Aiken County Animal Shelter, (803) 642-1537 or contact FOTAS at info@fotasaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director