Category Archives: News

Adoption, Dogs, Events, News, Woofstock

FOTAS hosts 4th Annual Woofstock Festival and 1st Doxie Derby

Posted on by Angel Hartline
13
Jun

12 May 2015

FOTAS hosts 4th Annual Woofstock Festival and 1st Doxie Derby

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Imagine this: It’s Saturday morning, May 2nd, at the Woofstock Dogs, Cats and Music Festival at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. It’s 10 a.m. – almost starting time. Excitement is running high. Competitors and handlers crowd around the starting gate, jockeying for position, muscles tensed in anticipation. At last, for one brief second everyone settles. Then the bell rings and the announcer cries “They’re off!”

And so they are. 10 floppy-eared, muscle-bound short and long-bodied dachshunds erupt out of the starting gate and race to the finish line – or at least most of them do. Occasionally this one might get turned around, or that one might get distracted, or a few others might be unclear on the concept, but all in all, FOTAS’ first Aiken Doxie Derby promises to be a riot.

Here’s how it works. For a registration fee of $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the event (come early!), you can enter your “real” Doxie in the first 8 races or your “Wanna be” Doxie in a special race of their own – no prior experience is necessary. The winners of the races will qualify to compete in the Big Weiner Race Off for a chance to win real prize money ($100 for first prize, $75 for second, and $50 for third).

No Doxie’s or “wanna be” Doxies in your house willing to take a run for the roses? That’s okay. You can donate $5 to FOTAS to sponsor the Doxie Derby for a chance to win $300. Visit www.FOTASAiken.org, click on Woofstock, and donate through PayPal, or visit any of these downtown stores: Aiken Dry Goods, Downtown Dog, The Screenprint Factory, and Palmetto Package and Fine Wine. The Doxie sponsor drawing will take place at 2:30 p.m. the day of the event. You do not have to be present to win.

The dashing Doxie’s won’t be the only canines competing for fame and glory at Woofstock. The afternoon dog contests will be the perfect venue to demonstrate the versatility and smarts of your lovable mutt. You can show off your bordering-on border collie’s captivating costume, your sort-of shihs tzu’s splendid hairdo, your doubtful dobie’s delightful smooches, your half-hound’s hair-raising fetching ability, your tenuous terrier’s talent for tricks, or your precious pibble’s powerfully-radiant smile.

Not interested in competing? That’s okay too. Load up the kids, dress up the dogs and head out to Woofstock for a carefree day of music, mindless fun and a few yucks.

Plus, there will be children’s activities, raffle baskets, give-a-ways, face painting, food, and local exhibitors. Admission is free.

And here’s the thing: not only will you and your family have a grand time on a beautiful spring day (fingers crossed on the weather), you will be benefitting the County’s thousands of homeless and abandoned animals.  Virtually all of the proceeds from the Woofstock Festival will be used by FOTAS to assist the County in its dauntless task of caring for all of those animals.

Come on down this Saturday and join us for the fun. Maybe you’ll even fall for one of our adoptable animals and go home with the greatest prize of all – a new best friend to love.

Adoption, News

Missy and the Microchip

Posted on by Angel Hartline
13
Jun

19 April 2015

Missy and the Microchip

By Joanna Samson, FOTAS Vice President

When friends of mine adopted a young, severely abused retriever mutt named Missy from a local shelter, they knew it would take time, patience and kindness to earn her love, but they were determined and committed. Over the course of the next year, Missy grew to love and trust her humans, but only her humans and no others. Although her physical wounds had healed, Missy’s psychological wounds could only heal so far.

So when Missy disappeared from their campsite in rural Vermont during a thunderstorm two years later, the family was devastated. They searched everywhere. They called every shelter and every law enforcement office in southern Vermont. They posted photos in vets’ offices, local restaurants and on telephone poles. They flew back to Vermont, returned to the campsite, and repeated the process on a regular basis. Missy had, quite literally, disappeared, and after months of fruitless searching, they concluded, with broken hearts, that she was gone for good.

Two years later, my friends received a call from a veterinarian in Vermont. A couple of college students from a nearby campus had brought in a painfully thin, matted and terrified stray dog for medical treatment. The boys had been leaving food for her in their backyard for more than a year, but until that day, the dog had never let them close enough to catch her. The vet scanned the trembling animal, and to his relief, discovered she had a microchip embedded with her family’s contact information implanted in the loose skin between her shoulders.

Missy had been found.

The practice of microchipping was developed in response to the plight of thousands of pets lost or separated from their owners during Hurricane Katrina. The microchip is programmed with a unique identification number registered to the pet’s owner and is implanted by painless injection by a veterinarian or other animal care professional.

Aiken County’s Chief Animal Control Officer, Bobby Arthurs, is a big believer in microchipping.

“When we pick up an animal,” says Arthurs “we scan it immediately. If we find a microchip and the owner’s registration is current, we contact the owners and take the animal home right away. We can bypass the shelter completely and save everyone a lot of heartache and stress.”

The national statistics regarding the return of microchipped pets support Arthurs’ enthusiasm.  According to a 2009 article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, twice as many microchipped dogs and twenty times as many microchipped cats are returned to their owners compared to lost animals with no microchips.

The County shelter microchips all of its adopted animals; it is part of the adoption fee (along with the cost of spay/neuter and inoculations). If your pet comes from someplace else, the County can microchip your dog or cat for only $23 (Aiken City Animal Control and the SPCA have similar programs). It’s quick and painless, and it could save your pet’s life.

Missy has been safely and happily home with her humans for a while now, still painfully shy, but otherwise recovered from her ordeal. Her remarkable tale had a happy ending because of her innate determination to survive, the kindness of strangers, the competence of the vet, and the wonders of the microchip.

Hallelujah!

Their lives are in our hands.

PETS OF THE WEEK

EDEN    Male, Bulldog/Lab mix, 1 year old, 54 lbs — $35

MISTY   Female, Domestic Short Hair, 4 years old — $15

All black dogs $35 and black cats $15 through April 30, 2015

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, News

Back in black: the semi-annual, half-price adoption special for black pets

Posted on by Angel Hartline
13
Jun

12 April 2015

Back in black: the semi-annual, half-price adoption special for black pets

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Did you know that black dogs and cats take 4 times longer to be adopted from a shelter than their lighter counterparts? That’s right, 4 TIMES LONGER.

It’s a sad, but true, phenomenon in the rescue world referred to as “Black (or Cat) Dog Syndrome.” Black dogs and cats are often passed over by potential adopters for a variety of vague reasons, like indistinct facial features and “generic” body types – issues compounded by poor lighting in many shelters – and size: large black dogs are even harder to adopt out.

Black dogs and cats are victims of their genetics and irrational prejudice stemming from negative portrayals in literature and ancient folklore (think black cats and witches or the black hounds of hell). There is not a shred of evidence that black dogs are more aggressive or untrustworthy than their lighter colored brethren. Aggression is a function of abuse and poor training – not a function of color. Period.

A black pet will give you every bit as much squirming, unconditional adoring love as a lightly-colored one. Plus, there’s this: black pets won’t show dirt as much, so you won’t have to wash them as often. With the money and time you’ll save on grooming, you could, say, treat your significant other to a romantic dinner and bottle of wine. Who knew adopting a black pet could be a boon to your marriage?

Okay, maybe that’s a stretch, but how about this? Black is the color of preference for fashion icons and musicians – think Coco Chanel or Johnny Cash. It’s the color of free thinkers and poets.

Like Seamus, the cat of the week – he positively drips intelligence and attitude. He is one very cool cat.

Here’s an even more perplexing fact: a large majority of the black dogs at shelters who do not get adopted are Labrador retriever crosses, yet year after year, Labs, and in particular, black labs, top the list of the most popular breeds in the country.  They are friendly, playful and promiscuous in their love of humans.  They are goofy, good-tempered animals – an excellent choice for families with children.

So why do black lab mixed breeds endowed with the same admirable and lovable qualities have so much trouble finding forever homes?

It makes no sense.  Take a tour of the Aiken County shelter, and you will often find any number of Lab crosses with bubbly, affectionate personalities just waiting for a family to love, entertain and protect.

Well, hell-ll-ooo, Bingley! If you looked up “earnest” in the dictionary, you’d see this photo of Bingley, our dog of the week. Seriously, look at that face. He’s a perfect family dog.

FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter have designated April as Back in Black Month. Adoption fees for black dogs have been reduced to $35 and black cats to $15.  This fee covers spaying and neutering, all necessary vaccinations and microchipping.

Come on over to the Aiken County Animal Shelter and take home your next best friend.  By the end of the day, you will be snuggled up on the couch watching The Voice with a happy black bundle of pure love.

Their lives are in our hands.

BY THE NUMBERS

MARCH 2015

407 dogs and cats received

229 dogs and cats adopted/transferred

153 dogs and cats euthanized

38% euthanasia rate ( lowest for any March to date!)

PETS OF THE WEEK

BINGLEY— Male — Retriever — 4 months old — 18 lbs — $35

SEAMUS — Male — Domestic  Short Hair — — $15

SPECIAL FOR BLACK DOGS & CATS THRU 4/30/15 — Dogs $35, Cats $15

Adoption, Dogs, News

Adopting a shelter dog is always a good choice

Posted on by Angel Hartline
13
Jun

05 April 2015

Adopting a shelter dog is always a good choice

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

My husband David and I are proud owners of shelter dogs. We have always adopted shelter dogs as a matter of choice, pride and civic responsibility to do our part for the thousands of homeless animals that pass through the shelter system. Our shelter dogs have never disappointed us. They were all mutts: true individuals, clever and affectionate. They enriched our lives. We were lucky to have them.

Our experience is not unique, yet some folks are reticent about adopting shelter dogs. They are concerned the dogs are damaged by their past experience or that they wouldn’t be in the shelter if they were good dogs.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, most animals end up in shelters through no fault of their own.

The Gordon family household has always included dogs – big dogs, multiple dogs, older dogs, hard to place dogs such as shepherds, bully breeds, rottie crosses and, always, rescue dogs.

“It’s a tradition in our family,” says Laura Gordon. “We adopt the dogs other people overlook because of their size or their breed, last chance dogs, dogs that are euthanized in higher numbers in public, open-admission shelters. We have never had a single problem with any of them. In fact, we always say each dog is the best dog we ever had.”

As their three rescue dogs passed on after moving to Aiken 20 years ago, the Gordons began adopting from local shelters. First there was the beloved Beau, a massive, striking tri-colored Akita who, according to Laura, would have been a lap dog if anyone in the family had had a big enough lap.

Now there is Laya, a lumbering black and tan sweetheart of a Rottie-cross that Laura adopted virtually sight-unseen from the Aiken County Animal Shelter at the urgent bequest of Jennifer Miller, President of FOTAS.

“Laya was a favorite of staff,” says Laura, “but she had been at the shelter for too long and was days from being euthanized. I had just lost one of our dogs, and Jennifer called and said to me, ‘You know you’re going to get another dog, and it ought to be this one. You’ll love her.’ She was right. I did, and I do.”

After Laya came Oscar, a yellow lab cross and a canine love machine, brought home from the County shelter by daughter Allison before she left for school. “Oscar adores people,” says Laura, “he loves everyone, and everyone loves Oscar. Everyone. No exceptions.”

And finally there’s Storm, rescued by Jonathan from the County shelter as a puppy when he was 6 months old. The love of Jonathan’s life and 78 pounds of energy, goodwill and unwavering affection, Storm even won over Jerry, who had been wary of “bully” breeds.

“I have never had a single problem with any of our dogs,” says Laura, “not individually or as a pack. Sure, I spend extra time with them when they first come, figure them out, watch them with the other dogs, especially around food. I establish the rules and the pecking order right off, like the senior dog is the alpha when it comes to feeding and going through doors. All it takes is patience and a little common sense.”

So true. If you are thinking about adopting an older dog, a bully breed, a 2nd or a 3rd dog, please don’t hesitate. It can and will work out. We will help you through it, if necessary.

Their lives are in our hands.

PETS OF THE WEEK

DIESEL — American Bulldog — Male — 2 1/2 years old, 57 lbs —$35 black dogs thru April 30)

GREMLIN — Domestic Short Hair—Female — 1 year old, 6 lbs — $15  (Black cats  thru April 30)

Adoption, News, Volunteers

The County Shelter celebrates its first year anniversary

Posted on by Angel Hartline
13
Jun

30 March 2015

The County Shelter celebrates its first year anniversary

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

One sunny Sunday morning last year (March 2nd to be exact), Chief Animal Control Officer Bobby Arthurs and a group of FOTAS volunteers walked the adoptable dogs from the appallingly outdated old shelter to the newly constructed state-of-the-art shelter one block south on Wire Road.

It was an extraordinary scene – one long line of happy dogs pulling smiling volunteers across the lawn to their spacious new kennels. Although I knew in my head the dogs were happy because they were out on a walk and feeling our joy, in my heart I imagine they knew their prospects had just taken a major turn for the better.

They were right. The next morning, the shelter opened to the public and almost immediately Brooke, Jacob and Charlotte Jones adopted a border collie mix named Debbie and made her a part of their family. Since then, FOTAS and shelter staff have been moving animals on to new homes at record rates.

This month marks the first anniversary of the new Aiken County Animal Shelter. In the past year, 2255 shelter animals were successfully re-homed. Adoptions increased 38% from the previous year. Transfers to other no-kill shelters  (part of a network of sister agencies developed by FOTAS) increased an astounding 63%. In fact, since the new shelter opened, virtually all the animals moved to the adoption floor have found homes thanks to the dedication of FOTAS volunteers and County staff.

What’s more, the number of FOTAS volunteers has soared to over 225 civic-minded citizens because the open, cheerful public areas and the landscaped, fenced-in play yards (another FOTAS contribution) make time spent at the shelter a pleasure. FOTAS volunteers worked an estimated 14,000 hours last year (the equivalent of 7 full-time positions) and have become indispensable partners with County staff.

In addition, FOTAS has invested $150,000 over the past year for the continuing needs of the new shelter, ranging from large ticket items like a new FOTAS van for transfers and off-site events to more routine items such as leashes, collars and grooming supplies.

Finally, FOTAS has invested $35,000 in eliminating the source of many of the problems at the County shelter – overpopulation of unwanted pets. To date, FOTAS has fixed nearly 950 citizen-owned pets and community cats.

By any measure, this first year at the new shelter has been a success, perhaps evidenced most notably by this fact: in the past year, the euthanasia rate dropped from 71% to 54%. In the past two months, the euthanasia rate dropped in January to a monthly record low of 25% and in February to 35%. Now, that’s progress.

There is still so much to do. Intake numbers are still disturbingly high, especially in the summer months. High intake means more volunteer manpower is needed to compliment the efforts of County staff. We need to continue to supplement the County’s financial resources to properly care for all these animals.

The sustained generosity and commitment of the Aiken community is essential for FOTAS to continue this important work. Together we made a difference in the past year, and together we will soldier on in the future to achieve our mission – to never euthanize another adoptable animal. Their lives are truly in our hands.

Thank you and God bless for your enduring and profound kindness.

PETS OF THE WEEK

BURKHARD — Male, German Shepherd, 4 years old, 74 lbs — $70

SCOOBY — Male, Domestic Medium Hair, 3 years old, 8.2 lbs. — $35

Adoption, Dogs, News

Relaxed with his foster family, Dante waits for a new home

Posted on by Angel Hartline
13
Jun

25 March 2015

Relaxed with his foster family, Dante waits for a new home

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Remember Dante? The handsome gray and white pit bull cross who has been at the shelter a dangerously long time? A favorite among FOTAS volunteers and staff, the stress of shelter life was making Dante more stir-crazy with each passing day, common for active dogs held in a shelter environment for lengthy periods of time. Desperate for human attention and exercise, his tail bled from wagging it feverishly against the kennel wall. We worried he was becoming less tolerant of other dogs.

Dante’s prospects diminished the longer he remained in the shelter.

So we asked Toni & Gary Urben, a FOTAS foster family with lots of experience with and love for pit bulls, if they would be willing to foster Dante even though we have not yet found him a home.

We were delighted when they agreed.

* * *

Hi Gang,

Whoa! I’m loving my foster family and the peace and quiet of their yard. I have a large outdoor run with a shed and lots of hay – a place where a big guy like me can stretch out and doze in the sun, and I doze a lot on account of all the exercise I get. We go for long walks in the woods every day. Sometimes my people let me run off-leash, and there is nothing like a good hard run to calm a dog’s soul, I tell you. I stay real close when I run – I want my people to know what a good boy I am. (Plus, there’s the matter of the soup bone I buried in a safe place in my run).

Your relaxed dog, Dante

Dear Dante,

I miss your smiley face and wagging tail at the shelter. I have tried to teach your pals Barcley and Titan to catch the rubber frisbee, but alas, they will never be as graceful or athletic as you, my handsome friend.

Be a good boy, okay? Be sure to play nice with the other dogs while we search for your forever family. By the way, do your people know how much you like a good belly rub?

Your best FOTAS volunteer friend, Ellie Joos

****

Dear Ellie,

My new people are world-class belly rubbers, and I let them rub my belly for a long time on account of I don’t want to hurt their feelings. They are teaching me manners, whatever those are, but if manners are those tasty little bacon treats I get when I sit or stay or lay down, then hey, I’m all for manners!

Today I went walking with my people’s dogs for the second time, and we get along just fine. What’s all the fuss about anyway? Okay, maybe I got a teeny bit cranky at the shelter, but now that I’ve got my manners and my soup bone and my walks and a nice place to rest in the sun, I’m a friendly guy. Really.

Your happy dog, Dante

****

Dear Jennifer,

How quickly love, consistency and exercise brings the best out of a dog! Dante is an amazing dog. He will be an affectionate, loyal pet for some lucky family.

Love, Toni

****

Dear Jennifer and Ellie,

Please find someone to take me home forever. I promise to make you very proud of me.

Your (very) good dog, Dante

****

Please don’t wait. Dante’s time is running out. His life – all their lives – are in our hands.

 

PETS OF THE WEEK

TITAN — Male, American Bulldog, 5 years old, 64 lbs — $70

KEYS — Male, Domestic Short Hair, 7 months old, 6.7 lbs. — $35

Adoption, News, Volunteers

FOTAS volunteers — ambassadors of the Aiken County Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
13
Jun

15 March 2015

FOTAS volunteers -- ambassadors of the Aiken County Shelter

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

It’s Wednesday at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. The lunch break is over, and the doors have been opened to the public for the afternoon. There are a few moments of peace and quiet before the inevitable wave of shelter activity rolls in like gangbusters.

A man brings the bed, collars, leashes, toys, food and food bowls of his beloved, recently deceased dog to the shelter as a donation. A woman stops by to check about a lost Chihuahua. The phone rings. Another woman and her daughter have returned to adopt Mira, a sweet lab cross. Adoption Coordinator Annette van der Walt fills out the adoption paperwork and arranges for Mira to be micro-chipped. A young man fills out the forms for a spay/neuter voucher and asks to see some puppies. The phone rings again. A woman stops by to look at a German shepherd newly released to the adoption floor. A family drops off 10 boxes of dog biscuits as a donation. A FOTAS Board member drops by to discuss a potential fundraiser with Shelter Manager Martha Chadwick. A man walks into the lobby with a cat in a crate to be surrendered to the shelter. The phone continues to ring.

In the middle of it all – the staff, the customers, the phones, the dogs, the cats – Pat Ludwig and Paul Tallent, the FOTAS volunteers on desk duty, take it all in stride with a smile and an offer to help everyone who walks through the door. They are unflappable.

“We do a little of everything,” says Pat, who has been manning the front desk on Wednesday afternoons with Paul for about a year. “We answer phones, take folks back to the adoption area, help Annette with paperwork if she’s backed up, answer questions. All it takes is a little patience and a willingness to listen.”

“Plus,” says Paul with an easy smile and a twinkle in his eye, “a sense of humor always helps.”

Paul and Pat are two of a group of committed FOTAS volunteers who work the desk in the front lobby.  According to Annette van der Walt, the front desk volunteers play a crucial role.

“They are on the front lines – the first face the public encounters when they walk through the door. Their demeanor and presentation sets the tone in the lobby during those busy times,” says Annette, “so good people skills are a must.”

FOTAS volunteers Pat and Paul enjoy their time at the shelter. “I like being busy,” says Paul, “and I enjoy working with staff and other volunteers and especially with the people who come to the shelter looking to adopt. Nothing makes me happier than to see a happy person taking some lucky animal home to be loved and cherished.”

Pat agrees. “To see an animal and a person bond right in front of our eyes and go home full of hope and excitement, now that’s special. It always makes my day.”

FOTAS needs more volunteers to serve as ambassadors of the shelter. If you have ever considered helping us with this important work, now is the time. Call us at (803) 514-4313 or email us at info@angelhartlinedesigns.com. You’ll be glad you did.

Their lives are in our hands.

BY THE NUMBERS

February 2015

Total received=279 dogs and cats

Total adopted/transferred-=235 dogs and cats

Total euthanized 102 dogs and cats

Eutho rate-=37% lowest record to date for a normal February! Yay for the new shelter facility and staff

PETS OF THE WEEK

SYDNEY      Male, Beagle — 2 yrs old — 39 lbs — $70.00

BLUE     Male, Domestic Short Hair — 1 yr old — 7 lbs —  $35.00

Adoption, Dogs, Events, News, Volunteers

FOTAS and the SPCA-Albrecht Center come together for Fences4Fido

Posted on by Angel Hartline
13
Jun

08 March 2015

FOTAS & SPCA-Albrecht Center come together for Fence4Fido

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

When the SPCA-Albrecht Center’s Development Director, Chrissey Miller, proposed a joint FOTAS/SPCA pilot to save dogs from the cruel existence of living their entire life at the end of a chain tethered to a stake, we were delighted. Not only was it a chance to make a joint statement about responsible dog ownership with our sister agency, it was an opportunity to join a growing national movement to eliminate the cruel practice of chaining a dog to a stationary object.

Thus Fences4Fido was born. The team picked a date – February 28th – and began the search for a family in Aiken or Aiken County who wanted to improve the life of their tethered dog with a more humane containment system that was beyond their means to acquire without assistance. In short order, FOTAS volunteer Connie Jeffcoat identified the perfect family:  long-time Wagener residents with 4 mixed bull-breed dogs chained to stakes in the backyard.

“This family was a great choice,” said the County’s Chief Animal Control Officer, Bobby Arthurs. “They loved their dogs, but had fallen on some hard times and just did not have the resources to provide fencing. They were grateful for the help.”

The family also presented a challenge because they had 4 dogs in the backyard: 2 that don’t get along and 1 escape artist, so containing all 4 dogs in one fenced-in area wasn’t going to work. The team chewed it over and came up with an alternate plan: 2 fenced-in areas and one long trolley with plenty of unobstructed space to run for the escape artist. Plus, each dog would get a brand new doghouse.

All the pieces came together last Saturday for the first Fences4Fido project, and the results were sensational – on all levels.

First of all, the family was friendly, receptive and accommodating. I was worried they might feel overwhelmed when this team of 20 strangers showed up and began digging in their back yard, but they didn’t. On the contrary, they tended to their dogs, chatted with volunteers and offered to help. It was a pleasure to meet and work with them.

Second, the team of FOTAS and SPCA staff and volunteers, joined by Bobby Arthurs and Assistant County Administrators Andy Merriman and Brian Sanders wielding shovels and post-hole diggers, was awesome. Everyone was relaxed and efficient, and by lunchtime, the work was done.

“I felt a kindred spirit and enthusiasm among all of us who donated their time and skills to complete the project on time and under budget,” said Jennifer Miller, President of FOTAS.

“Plus,” said Frank Townsend, FOTAS Treasurer, “it was fun. The teamwork was impressive and at the end of the day, the pups were happy.”

Yes they were, which brings me to the most significant result of all – the reaction of the family’s 4 sweet, lovable dogs. They were visibly and undeniably happy. The 3 dogs romped around their assigned pens, elated with their newly found freedom. The escape artist explored every new inch of his greater movement on the trolley with a light cable and better fitting collar, wagging his tail furiously.

Every single one of us who witnessed their joy was deeply moved. Our efforts have made an enduring difference in the lives of these dogs.

After all, isn’t that what it’s all about?

PETS OF THE WEEK

HOPE      Female, Lab mix — 1 yr old — 86 lbs — $70.00

SYLVESTER     Male, Domestic Short Hair — 2 yrs old — 9 lbs —  $35.00

Adoption, Dogs, News

Dante — one fabulous dog!

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

26 February 2015

Dante -- one fabulous dog!

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Dante is one handsome guy. He sports a sleek blue-gray coat and a dashing white mask that spreads over one eye and down his neck and chest. He is a gifted athlete. Quick and nimble, there is no Frisbee too high or ball too fast that escapes his grasp.

Dante is a hit with the ladies. At the shelter, they vie for the honor of escorting him to the play yard to throw the coveted Frisbee. They love to stroke his muscular body and pop juicy treats into his mouth. Mesmerized by his charisma, they rub his belly for long periods of time. He accommodates their attentions with good humor and patience. Can he help it if he’s irresistible?

So if Dante is handsome, healthy, athletic and affectionate, if he is so adored by FOTAS volunteers and shelter staff, then why has he been on the adoption floor at the Aiken County Animal Shelter for close to 30 days?

Because Dante, through no fault of his own, through a random act of pure fate, was born a pit bull, and pit bulls make people nervous. Why is that?

“It’s their reputation and history as fighting dogs,” says Jerry Lyda, the President of Southern K9 Solutions and Veteran’s K9 Solutions, “yet pit bulls are not inherently dangerous or aggressive; in fact, just the opposite. They are generally people-lovers – eager to please and easy to train. We use them as service dogs all the time.”

Like any dog, their disposition and personalities are a direct reflection of the people who care for them. Sadly, the “bully” breeds are the most abused dogs on earth – most likely to be bred indiscriminately, starved and neglected on the end of a tether, or mistreated by criminals or cruel owners as a senseless demonstration of machismo and power.

“The fact is,” says Lyda, “pit bulls, like all strong, intelligent dogs, need to be properly socialized and trained by responsible owners, and when they are, they make extraordinary pets and companions.”

At the County shelter, all dogs, but especially the bully dogs, are carefully screened by staff for aggression to people and other animals. No dog is released to the adoption floor unless staff is certain it will be a safe companion. Once cleared for adoption, the dogs are scrutinized and handled by volunteers and trainers virtually every day.

Moreover, because of the unfortunate bias against the bull breeds and the high number that populate open admissions shelters like the County shelter, it takes longer to find a home for dogs like Dante. But here’s the good news: the longer they stay at the shelter, the more time, effort and attention they receive. So much so that by the time they are adopted, FOTAS volunteers and shelter staff can say with certainty: this is a good dog.

Dante is a good dog. He needs a home – badly. The inevitable stress of shelter life is beginning to wear on him. He’s a little stir crazy. He’s dropping weight. His tail bleeds from thumping anxiously against the kennel wall when someone walks by. He desperately needs a person to love and a place of his own to run and play. His time is running out.

Please don’t wait. Dante’s life – all their lives – are in our hands.

BY THE NUMBERS

2/5/15 — 2/25/15  ten day period

In supplementing the County Shelter’s local  adoptions, FOTAS organized 6 transports, transferring 43 dogs who now can have forever loving homes.

Adoption, Dogs, News

A home for Velma

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

22 February 2015

A home for Velma

Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Velma is a 5 year-old, silken brown pit bull cross with white feet and sweet eyes who spent most of her life cooped-up and alone. Lonely and miserable, her back teeth are deeply grooved from gnawing constantly on her wire cage.

David Stinson is a man with a deep, resonant voice, a kind face and a very big heart who rescues dogs in desperate or hopeless circumstances and integrates them with love and patience into his busy life as a successful realtor.

This is their story.

David

Last year I lost two of my beloved canine companions: one to old age and one to a devastating heat stroke. I was heartbroken.

After muddling miserably through the grief, I set out to rescue a small companion dog for me and my two remaining canine buddies. It never occurred to me I would fall suddenly and inexplicably for a pit bull cross, but I did.

Her name was Velma. At first, I walked past her on the adoption floor. I prefer hounds and labs for their gentle and cooperative nature, and Velma was a pit cross. I was not inclined to take on a dog with the kind of reputation and energetic drive associated with a “bully” breed.

Yet, there was something about Velma that made me pause. I took a step back to look again. She was quiet and a little sad – almost like she had given up, like she figured I was yet one more person to walk on by without a glance. She looked up at me with soft brown eyes and wagged her tail slowly, a little glimmer of hope. It was that small endearing gesture that pulled my heartstrings.

Velma

I always thought home was a cage. I wanted desperately to play; after all, I am a terrier and “play” is hardwired into my DNA, but I was always caged.

Eventually I was “rescued,” whatever that means, but it was still cages and boxes and lots of other dogs. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the dogs, but I wanted a person to love and look after. But no one looked at me, and I kept gnawing on the cage.

One day a man walked by my kennel at the shelter – a man with a kind voice and a great smell. He didn’t even notice me. Disappointed, I laid my head back on my paws. Then, he turned and came back, and as he knelt in front of my cage and reached out his hand, something just sparked between us. I held my breath. I knew this was the one.

I was right! The man put me in his car and took me home. Can you believe it? Home! He was nervous about introducing me to his other dogs, I could tell, so I showed him what a good girl I was. I wagged my tail, gave everyone a big sloppy kiss, and crawled straight into my new bed, where I fell asleep immediately from exhaustion. Did I snore loudly? Perhaps.

I’ve been at my new home six months now. I eat with the hounds and guard my man’s hens during the day. I keep his kitchen floor sparkling clean from any fallen food crumbs. We play a game called, “sit, shake hands, lie down” – silly, but it makes him happy, and whatever makes him happy, makes me happy.

David

Velma is one of the sweetest and most willing dogs I have ever had. She has changed my mind about the “bully” breeds.

Velma

I knew I could make someone happy. Thanks for giving me a chance.

* * *

“Bully” breeds are not inherently dangerous or unpredictable; they are mostly victims of cruel or irresponsible owners. The Aiken County Animal Shelter carefully screens all dogs for aggressive tendencies before they are released to the adoption floor.

BY THE NUMBERS

Jan 2015 Aiken County Animal Shelter Statistics

Total dogs and cats Received = 403

Total dogs and cats Returned to owner = 25

Total dogs and cats adopted/transferred = 235

Total dogs and cats Euthanized = 100

Percent euthanized = 25% lowest % to date!

PETS OF THE WEEK

KRISTA    Female, lab retriever mix, 1 year, 46 lbs. — $70.00

WILSON     Male, tabby, 1 year, 9 lbs. — $35.00