Category Archives: News

Adoption, News

Dear valentine

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

15 February 2015

Dear valentine

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

“Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog, the world will change forever.” – Karen Davison, Author & Dog Trainer

Our dearest Ricky,

You were the handsomest dog in the shelter by far: all white with a buff colored triangle on your forehead, a devilish look in your eyes, and vibrating with pent-up energy. Your dad and I thought long and hard about taking you home, not because of the devilish look in your eyes (although in retrospect, perhaps we should have paid more attention to that), but because we were barely a family ourselves and nervous about taking on the responsibility.

In the end, we did adopt you, and it was the best decision we ever made. You made us laugh, you made us love, and you made us a family. Over the next 13 years, despite the countless hours we spent searching for you in the woods, by the river, at the dairy farm and even in the backyards of a suburban neighborhood in the middle of the night while you tormented a skunk; despite the multitude of apologies to our forbearing neighbors for stampeded cows, an expertly excavated hole under a pheasant coop and the missing, prize Chinese pheasants, and untold numbers of traumatized barn cats; despite the small fortune we spent on a state-of-the-art electric fence that couldn’t contain you; and despite the time we spent with you in obedience and remedial obedience classes, we loved you more each day. You will always be our most beloved Valentine.

Your two devoted humans

Dear most worthy humans,

I can’t say I remember the first time you came to the shelter, because there was a lot going on there with my new pals – like who could bark the loudest and the longest without stopping, which modestly speaking, I would have won paws down but for Sparky the terrier in the next aisle. See, in my past life, I had been chained to a stake in a yard, so the shelter was okay by me: two square meals, a warm place to sleep, and lots of friends.

I do remember when you took me for a walk around the play yard that first time. I loved the soft sound of your voice, the way your shoes smelled, and the way you scratched behind my ears in just the right spot. When you took me home, I confess to being a tiny bit worried there was a back yard and a chain waiting for me. Then you gave me my very own wubba, a blanket by the fire and a spot on the end of the bed, and I knew I was the luckiest dog on earth.

Whoa! Did we have fun or what over the next 13 years or what? While it’s true I had a nose for adventure after being chained up for so long, I always came back to you – every single time (except for that one unfortunate incident when you had to bail me out of the city pound for treeing that blasted cat – hardly worth mentioning now).  Plus, no matter what time I came home or how bad I smelled, you never left me outside by myself, and that meant the world to me.

You are the only humans I ever loved. If I knew what a Valentine was, believe me, you’d be mine.

Your adoring Ricky

 

Adopt the love of your life at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Remember, their lives are in our hands.

God Bless you and your family, and Happy Valentine’s Day.

 

PETS OF THE WEEK

DANTE   Male, American bull dog, 3 years old, 64 lbs — $70.00

 

BRADY   Male, Domestic short hair, 1 year old, 9 lbs — $35.00

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Events, News

Notes from a busy day at the Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

07 February 2015

Notes from a busy day at the Shelter

By Ellie Joos, FOTAS Director, On-Site Activities Coordinator

It was a busy afternoon at the shelter last Wednesday, when FOTAS hosted another Dog Ears Reading Program in conjunction with the Aiken County Library.

Jenny Beck from the library waited with me for our first arrivals, along with volunteer Sharon Kahl and several Serteens.

Shortly thereafter, the first mom showed up with her daughter Lane, Lane’s friend Megan and her little toddler. They had been at the shelter the day before and heard about the Dog Ears Reading Program and came back to read specifically to the five adorable Chihuahua puppies on the adoption floor. Sharon sat on the blanket with Lane, Megan and two of the Chihuahua puppies on blankets in the outside portion of the kennel while the girls took turns reading to the puppies and loving them up. What fun!

More kids arrived over the next 2 hours. Stella read to Owen, an enthusiastic border collie mix, with Serteen Stephanie, while her brother Sam read to the bouncy and ever so eager Belinda, a sweet hound dog mix who loves the attention, with help from Serteen Jade.

Young Christian and his mom came to the shelter to read to the cats – he can’t have one at home since his dad is allergic. First he read to a kitten he had selected from the new cat condo in the lobby with Jenny, then he repaired to the shelter feline house with Serteens Kate and Brandon to share the love with the feline residents residing in the colony.

Cindy from the “Aiken Standard” was on hand to photograph the activities. She told me how much she enjoys being assigned to the shelter to cover these events, which is evident from her terrific photos published in the on-line edition the next day. If you missed them, be sure to look them up – she really captured the joy of the participating children and the animals.

I also set up a craft table with all the necessary supplies, like paper, markers, stickers, rubber stamps and such, so the kids could make their own cards when they finished reading with the help of the Serteens.  They created some samples for the kids to see so the children could make their own cards when they finished reading.

Lane said she was making her Valentine card for the puppy she had named Cupcake. She had mounted a serious campaign to adopt little Cupcake, but her mother was not having it. Too bad for Lane and Cupcake – they did make a cute couple.

Next up at the shelter is the Valentine’s Day Yard Sale and Bake Sale to be held from 10 am to 1 pm, on Sat. Feb. 14. Come on over and check out the great bargains on pet supplies, household items, toys, books, maybe even some tack and equine supplies, and of course, some fabulous baked goods. The Valentine Card craft table will be set up for the kids to show their artsy side. In addition, photographer Janice Freeland will be on site to take photos of attendees with their pets in front of a Valentine backdrop.  The address is 333 Wire Road.

And don’t miss our Valentine’s Cat Adoption Special – only $2 to adopt a fully vaccinated and spayed or neutered adult cat, one day only — Sat., Feb. 14. If you’ve been thinking about adding a feline friend to your brood, now’s the time.

The Dog Ears Reading Program will be held at the shelter on the first Wednesday of each month, which is early release day for the schools. Be sure to check the FOTAS web site at www.fotasaiken.org for reservations information.

Thank you, and as always, remember – their lives are in our hands.

Adoption, News

Unchained! FOTAS and the SPCA-Albrecht Center initiate Fences4Fido

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

01 February 2015

Unchained! FOTAS and the SPCA-Albrecht Center initiate Fences4Fido

By Joanna Dunn Samson, Vice President of FOTAS

An emaciated black lab mix chained to a stake lies in the mud – a dirty, dry water bowl overturned out of reach.  A small female pit bull trembles on a tether attached to a dilapidated shed with a chain so short she can barely get out. Two dogs chained to stakes on a 97°day in a yard with no trees or shelters for shade and no access to water pant uncontrollably in a futile attempt to cool down. A mixed terrier breed staggers under the weight of a heavy chain wrapped and locked around her neck, which is scabbed and raw from jawbone to chest. These dogs are chained to stationary objects 24/7 with no relief, no exercise and no company.

Twenty-one states across the country have enacted some form of anti-tethering or anti-chaining laws for dogs (South Carolina is not one of them).  Although the details of these laws vary from state to state, they share the same basic prohibition: it is unlawful to tie or chain a dog to a stationary object except for brief periods of time. The chain must be sufficiently long to allow the dog to move freely, and the dog must have free access to shelter and water.

It’s a miserable existence, attached to a chain every second of every day for your entire life. Dogs are social animals; they thrive in a pack, whether it be a pack of humans or a pack of dogs or a combination of both. A tethered dog with limited contact to people or other animals and no opportunity to run and play becomes mentally unstable from loneliness and anxiety and physically impaired from lack of exercise. Sometimes that instability expresses itself in a dull, lifeless, dispirited dog; sometimes the instability expresses itself in aggression.

Plus, a dog can easily choke to death if its tether gets tangled in debris or if the dog attempts to escape. I am haunted by the horrific photographs of dead dogs hanging by their necks over a fence or railing.

Yes, chaining a dog to a fixed object all the time is cruel, yet most of the people who chain their dogs are good folks who simply lack the resources, ability or information to make a different choice for their dog. In many cases that’s all they’ve ever known.

Here’s some good news: FOTAS and the SPCA Albrecht Center are collaborating on an exciting new community initiative called Fences4Fido, through which we will build humane fencing for selected Aiken County families in need that currently contain their dogs through tethering and/or chaining or allow their dogs to roam at large. Through this initiative, we hope to educate the public regarding the dangers of chaining and tethering, the need to create a safe, secure space for their dogs, and the joy of making their dogs a real member of the family. Our first fence build is scheduled for February 28, 2015.

Please join us in this effort. Do you or someone you know in the community need a fence? Call us at the FOTAS hotline – (803) 514-4313.

Donate funds to build the fence through Crowdrise CLICK  HERE

Volunteer and help us build the fence, or loan us your fence-building equipment, like a post-hole digger, for the day. Call or email us at info@angelhartlinedesigns.com.

Whatever you decide to do, please don’t wait. Their lives are in our hands.

BY THE NUMBERS

In 2013 & 2014, FOTAS organized & paid for 935 spay/neuter surgeries

PETS OF THE WEEK

BELINDA     Female, American bulldog, 5.5 months old, 21 lbs    $70

BENTLEY    Male, tabby, 8 months old, 7.8 lbs     $35

Adoption, Cats, News, Volunteers

Lenny’s Brigade strikes again

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

25 January 2015

Lenny's Brigade strikes again

By Joanna Dunn Samson, Vice President of FOTAS

Shortly after sunrise last Saturday, 3 trucks set off from Wagener and Graniteville with a collective cargo of 19 feral cats trapped the night before from various cat colonies located in and around the two towns. The cats, trapped by volunteers of FOTAS’ Trap, Neuter and Release (TNR) program called Lenny’s Brigade, were on their way to Aiken Animal Hospital to be spayed or neutered by Drs. Cindy Brown and Mary Tricia White, two local veterinarians with big hearts and a deep commitment to animal welfare.

By 8 a.m., all 19 crates had been unloaded at the Hospital.  By 8:15, Drs. Brown and White, accompanied by Veterinary Technicians, Leanna Long and Paxy Holley, and Veterinary Assistant Megan Degan, began to sedate and prep the animals for surgery. By noon, all 19 surgeries had been completed, and the cats were resting comfortably in their crates.

“Dr. Brown and her team are amazing,” says Jennifer Miller, President of FOTAS. “They are top-notch doctors dedicated to the highest standards of professional care. When Dr. Brown offered to donate not only her time, but her clinic and supplies as well, we were speechless with gratitude.”

“Between our practice and our families, time is a valuable commodity for all of us,” says Dr. Brown, “so we made the decision as a team to take this on. We have the skills, we have the place, and we have the supplies, and we thought, ‘This is really important.’ It’s another way for us to give back to the community.”

It is important. Community, or feral, cats are domestic cats that have been either abandoned or born in the wild. Highly adaptable, cats can survive quite well on their own; however, an unmanaged, unchecked population of feral cats has the potential to upset the balance of nature in the area in which they live.

Not surprising since it is estimated that a female cat is capable of producing as many as 100 kittens during her lifetime.  If a typical colony is 25 cats, and slightly more than half are female, that’s 1300 offspring per colony without factoring in the breeding capacity of the males and the fertility of the subsequent generations of female offspring.

TNR programs like Lenny’s Brigade involve humanely trapping, sterilizing and inoculating community cats, then returning them to their original colony. Long-term studies indicate that over time, TNR is a more effective way of reducing community cat populations than just euthanizing them since new cats always move in to fill the void.

Lenny’s Brigade, the brainchild of FOTAS volunteer Dr. Kathy Bissell, DVM, pioneered TNR in Aiken County, and thanks to FOTAS organizers Colleen Timmerman, Vicky Wright, Dottie Gantt, Carol Miller and other volunteers, and Mayor Mike Miller from Wagener, FOTAS has organized and funded the spay/neuter of more community cats in the past two years than any other organization in the County – 409 feral cats to be exact.

Back at the Aiken Animal Hospital, after a couple of hours of rest, the 19 cats were loaded back on to the trucks and returned to Wagener and Graniteville, where they were collected by the FOTAS volunteers who had dropped them off in the morning. Most of the cats spent the night with the volunteers and were reunited the next morning with their colony of origin – safe, inoculated from disease and no longer capable of contributing to future generations of unwanted cats.

If you do the math, that’s at least 1300 less future homeless kittens to worry about thanks to 2-3 days of hard work by dedicated volunteers.

It’s a start.

PETS OF THE WEEK

CASPER — Male, American bulldog  mix — 4 1/2 months, 23 lbs — $70

PINE — Male, Domestic Short Hair — 3 months — $35

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, News

The extra mile

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

18 January 2015

The extra mile

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

In late November, a tired and emaciated Pomeranian was picked up on the side of the road by a good Samaritan and turned into the Aiken County Animal Shelter. The tiny black dog was scrawny and frightened; her coat matted and crusted with dirt. She was examined by Dr. Levy, the Shelter Vet, and in addition to being malnourished, dirty and generally roughed up from her experience as a stray, several of her back teeth were broken.

Plus, she was no spring chicken – at least 10 by Dr. Levy’s calculations – making her medical prognosis and ultimate adoptability even more uncertain.

Betty Erickson and Sandy Larsen, the two experienced staff on duty, cleaned and fed her before setting her up on a soft blanket in a kennel in the medical suite. She was warm and safe.

The plight of the little dog plagued Betty. The dog was too sweet, too trusting and too old to have been on her own very long – she must have been someone’s pet. So Betty checked the online lost and found websites for the local area.

She hit pay dirt on AikenPetsReunited.com, where she discovered a notice for a lost black Pomeranian named Tori who had been missing since late September. Squinting at the tiny image on the screen, Betty thought, “Yeah, add a little weight and a shiny coat, that could be Tori!”

Betty called the owner’s number and left a message on voice mail. When she hadn’t heard back by closing time, she called again. This time, a breathless Darlene Tarvin answered the phone.

“I was so excited,” says Darlene, “I just knew it had to be my Tori! I had been frantic with worry for two months.”

The next morning, Darlene and her husband Charles were at the door when the shelter opened, and to everyone’s delight and relief, Darlene was reunited with her beloved Tori. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

Tori was lucky, not every story ends this well, but it’s not for lack of trying. The amazing shelter staff and FOTAS volunteers always go that extra mile.

Whether it’s Betty making calls on behalf of one little lost dog, or Sandy Larsen organizing a pre-dawn pickup to feature adoptable animals on the local news at 6 a.m., or Annette Van Der Walt, the shelter adoption coordinator, giving up a day off (without pay) during the busy holiday season, or FOTAS volunteers like Girl and Caroline Conger taking shelter dogs to a special event on a rainy Saturday, or Ray Eckenrode fostering a hard–to-place dog whose time is running out, or Toni and Gary Urben mounting special appeals to the Aiken equestrian community to find a deserving dog a home – the amount of effort expended to place these unfortunate animals is nothing short of breathtaking.

And here’s the good news – it’s working. Last month a record number of animals, 262 to be exact, were adopted from or transferred out of the shelter, thanks in large measure to the success of our heartworm positive, transfer, foster and off-site adoption programs and the depth of commitment by staff and volunteers.

Back at the Tarvin home, the amazing little Tori (who, as it turns out, is actually 14) is safe and sound and dearly loved.

“She’s been my constant companion since she was 6-weeks-old,” says Darlene, “I was heartbroken when she was lost, but my kids, my grandkids, my husband – we never stopped searching. I never gave up hope.” She pauses. “It’s a miracle.”

Yes, it is – a miracle made possible by love, resolve and commitment.

BY THE NUMBERS

December stats 2014

Total dogs and cats received – 458

Total dogs and cats adopted/transferred –  262

Totals dogs and cats euthanized – 184

Percent euthanized- 41%

PETS OF THE WEEK

SARA    Female, retriever mix, 1 years old, 44 lbs — $70

ANJA    Female, tortoiseshell, 3 years old, 8.3 lbs — $35

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, News, Volunteers

New Year’s resolutions worth keeping

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

11 January 2015

New Year’s resolutions worth keeping

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

Every New Year’s Eve since I turned 40, I have resolved to launch a rigorous exercise program in the upcoming year. Now that I am 60, it doesn’t seem like such a lofty goal as much as a practical necessity, but somehow the commitment wanes as January turns into February turns into March turns into . . . well, you get the picture.

I am not alone –“ exercising more” is a common New Year’s resolution, so why is it also the one so quickly abandoned with such minimal guilt? I’m no psychologist, but I’m going to hazard a guess here: resolutions that involve tending only to the physical body are perhaps too shallow to be taken seriously.

What if, then, we were to resolve to exercise in a way that satisfies both body and soul, makes homeless animals happy and saves lives at the same time?  Based on the experience of our FOTAS volunteers, those resolutions might just be winners.

Susan Hilderbrand began volunteering at the old Aiken County Animal Shelter in 2008, the year before FOTAS was founded. At first she played and walked with the animals. Now, twice a week, Susan takes pictures of the shelter residents, talks to volunteers and staff about their personalities, gathers some data such as age, weight, gender, and uploads this information to PetFinder, a national database for animal adoptions, and to the County shelter’s website.

“I love taking those photos,” says Susan. “I can help find these animals a forever home by expanding the potential pool of adopters, which is so satisfying. Some of my friends say, ‘How can you go there two times a week, every week, and see all those poor animals?’ And I say, ‘How can I not?

She continues. “Plus, the new shelter is such a bright and welcoming place, it’s a pleasure to spend time there with the animals, the other volunteers and the County staff, who are just plain wonderful.”

Kathy Jacobs and her 9-year-old son Noah have been walking and playing with the shelter dogs since last May.

“It’s something I always wanted to do,” says Kathy, “but I wasn’t sure I could. I was afraid I’d be too upset seeing all those homeless dogs. I was wrong. It’s so easy to make them happy and so rewarding when they finally go home with that special someone.

I spend a lot of time hugging the dogs. These animals have been abandoned or abused or alone for so long, I feel like it’s my and Noah’s job to teach them how to be loved.”

In addition, this year Noah performed odd jobs around the house between Thanksgiving and Christmas and donated the money to FOTAS. Talk about dedication.

Karen Peck began volunteering for FOTAS at the County shelter 4 years ago as part of a Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound Program. Since then, in addition to walking the dogs, she baths, grooms, takes photos of the animals for FOTAS social media and assists with transfers. Karen injured her leg last year, so now she works the front desk, greets visitors, helps with adoption counseling, and performs the thankless job of filling out paperwork for adoptions and transfers.

Karen and her family have also fostered over 50 dogs in the last 18 months. “I love fostering,” she says, “We get to care for and love them for a short time knowing they’re already spoken for. It’s magic.”

So there you have it. These FOTAS volunteers and their colleagues in the FOTAS volunteer army, exercise their bodies, exercise their hearts, exercise their humanity, and exercise their civic duty, and in the process, saved the lives of hundreds of the County’s most vulnerable animals.

Proof positive that resolutions involving a commitment of body and soul are the most enduring.

Make your resolutions count this year; join us in this important work. Their lives are in our hands.

BY THE NUMBERS

162 dogs and cats adopted during the “No Place Like Home” adoption special Nov. 29, 2014 – Jan. 3, 2015

PETS OF THE WEEK

DARYL     Male, Shepherd mix, 9 months old, 44 lbs — $70

PIPPA   Female, Domestic short hair, 1 1/2 years old — $35

Adoption, Events, News

A good day at Fox Nation

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

05 January 2015

A good day at Fox Nation

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

The horse trailers started rumbling down the dirt road around 8:30 on Monday morning, December 29th, to attend the Fifth Annual FOTAS Hunter Pace held at the Fox Nation, a magnificent 1300-acre farm in Windsor owned by Sarah and Jim Wildasin. Despite a cloudy day with occasional drizzle, by noon 24 teams totaling 62 riders had signed up, tacked up, mounted up and taken off on a picturesque 6-mile course through verdant meadows and groves of stately pines.

Also in attendance were four residents of the Aiken County Animal Shelter: Duke, a happy, yellow lab cross; Charlie, an affectionate, scruffy-haired gray terrier; Robert, a quiet, low-key, black coon hound cross with brown markings; and Rusty, a 35-pound, pretty 8-month-old female of indeterminate breeding with an affectionate and exuberant personality. They were escorted around Fox Nation all morning by long-time FOTAS volunteers and supporters: Girl, Randy and Caroline Wolcott and Elizabeth, Kelsey, Bennett and Celia van Liew.

“What a place!” said Duke, lying on his back and squirming ecstatically on the grass. “Is this heaven or what?”

“Oh yes,” said Rusty, wagging her tail furiously and ogling the crowd. “And look at all these people! So many people! Oh my, oh, my – this could be my day. Maybe someone will take me home! I’m so excited I can hardly stand it!”

Charlie moved closer to Caroline. “Did you see all those gigantic horses with those huge hooves? They don’t make me nervous, though, not one bit.  No, siree. Well . . . maybe it would be safer . . . Hey! Caroline! Down here! Down here!” he barked, jumping up and dophotos courtesy of Barry Koster Photographywn. “Pick me up, will ya? I really need a cuddle.”

“No worries, little guy,” said Robert, “you’re totally safe. This Pace was planned by crackerjack FOTAS supporters – Sarah and Jim Wildasin, Melanie Oldham and Gina Salatino. They’re total pros.”

“Uh huh.” said Duke, leaning against Randy’s leg for a possible scratch behind the ear. “Know what else? Nigel and Jim built 31 jumps built around the property, and on each jump is a snazzy sign made by Wendy Gutfarb with the name of a sponsor and a photo of one of the Shelter alumni – how cool is that?”

Charlie peered down at them from Caroline’s arms, “What? Horses jump? Oh dear, those hooves . . .” He shivered and buried his head in Caroline’s sweater.

“Huh,” said Robert, sniffing the grass for varmints, “that’s twice as many sponsors as last year. The community has really rallied around this event – big time.”

“Oh yes!” said Rusty, “and all the money they make here goes directly to help all us animals at the shelter, you know, with medicine, supplies, leashes – where would we be without leashes for our walks? ”

“Whoa! A life without walks? Too awful to imagine,” said Duke, with a vigorous shake and a roll in the grass for good measure.

“For sure,” said Robert. “I’d like to tell all those volunteers and organizers and the whole darn community how grateful we are for everything they do for us!”

“Us, too!” they all agreed and wagged their tails with ebullient enthusiasm.

It was a great day for everyone.

Betsey Minton and Ann Kinney won first place in the First Flight Division. Tom and Caitlin Tiernes and Scout and Paris Beddington blew everyone out of the water with the fastest course time. Betty Alexander, Douglas Berry, Sue Sisco and Jean Bickley took home the Third Flight first place ribbons.

Charlie found his true love at the Pace and went directly to his forever home. Duke and Robert were adopted the next day and in a loving home by New Year’s Eve.

The beautiful Rusty is still waiting at the Shelter for someone to take her home.

Please don’t wait. Their lives are in our hands.

Happy New Year and God Bless.

PETS OF THE WEEK

RUSTY     Female, mixed breed, 8 months old, 40 lbs — $70

FRECKLES   Female, Calico, 2 years old, 7.6 lbs — $35

Adoption, Dogs, News

Love, forgiveness and a second chance in the New Year

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

28 December 2014

Love, forgiveness and a second chance in the New Year

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

“No matter how dark the night, morning always comes. And our journey begins anew.”

Anonymous

Harley graduated from the School of Hard Knocks. A bull terrier cross with a dark brindle coat and a white chest, Harley spent most of his short unhappy life in the yard of a house full of crack addicts and drunks. He was abused, malnourished and had never been to a veterinarian. He survived by keeping his head down and steering clear of trouble.

A kindly neighbor took pity on Harley and fed and cared for him whenever he could, but he did not have the wherewithal to care for him on a permanent basis. Eventually another neighbor called County Animal Control because Harley was scrounging for food in neighborhood trashcans.

I was surprised to hear how easy it was for the Animal Control officer to catch Harley – his experience with the human race had been, for the most part, miserable. Yet Harley never showed an ounce of aggression. He came to the officer quietly and jumped willingly into the truck.

The FOTAS volunteers and staff at the Aiken County Animal Shelter were impressed with Harley’s kind nature, especially in light of his appalling physical condition. He was scrawny and showed scars of repeated physical abuse. Fortunately, a full examination by Dr. Levy revealed that other than testing positive for early stage heartworm disease (which was 100% treatable), there was nothing wrong with Harley that couldn’t be cured with love, consistent care and a good diet.

FOTAS volunteers were so taken with Harley that they called upon Toni and Gary Urben, one of their most experienced foster families, to care for Harley at their home until he could be appropriately placed. The Urbens agreed, and in short order, Toni was in love.

“I’ve fostered a lot of dogs over the years,” said Toni, “and I never, ever had a dog this special, this kind. He listened; he sat at my feet; he walked at my side. He is an extraordinary dog. We desperately wanted to keep him, but we just couldn’t. It was killing me.”

“But I knew one thing: Harley was not leaving us until he had the perfect home.”

And so it was. After a week or so of appeals to the Aiken community, John and Lisa Mitchell responded to an email sent out to the Aiken Hounds membership. The Mitchells drove over to the Urben’s house to meet Harley, and they, too, were hopelessly smitten by his quiet good nature. Harley was going home with them.

And so he did. In fact, Harley bonded with their son and became a beloved member of

the family so quickly, they couldn’t bear to part with him over the holidays. So they packed Harley into the car and headed west to California to visit their children and grandchildren for Christmas. Harley goes where they go. Period.

Harley is an extraordinary soul. We can learn much from Harley about hardship, forgiveness and love, qualities we mere mortals strive for but rarely accomplish with such perfect grace as this remarkable dog.

There is a remarkable, perfect dog or cat waiting for you at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.  Please don’t wait: their lives are in our hands.

Happy New Year and God Bless from all of us in the FOTAS community.

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Fundraisers, News, Volunteers

FOTAS community: making a difference for homeless animals

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

21 December 2014

FOTAS Community: making a difference for homeless animals

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Director

What makes the Aiken County Animal Shelter a true community shelter?

It’s not just because it’s owned and operated by a public body and funded through taxpayer dollars. It’s not just because it’s obligated by law to serve all of Aiken County, which is 50 times larger than the City of Aiken (1071 square miles versus 21) and serves a population almost 5 times larger than the City’s.  It’s also not just because the County shelter is legally obligated to accept and care for all County strays, all County and City owner-surrenders – a whopping average intake of 400 dogs and cats per month.

Those are the legal technicalities that define the basic nature of the County shelter, but to me, it is a community shelter because the Aiken community itself has claimed the County shelter as its own. It is the heart that makes the shelter tick, the force that breathes life into the daunting task of caring for thousands of homeless and abandoned animals every year.

That’s why the Friends of the Aiken County Animal Shelter (FOTAS) was created in 2009 – to marshal the private resources of the Aiken community to supplement and support the County shelter’s limited budgetary and operational needs.

FOTAS formed an army of committed community volunteers, who perform the jobs equivalent of 9-10 paid staff positions. Volunteers organize, coordinate and implement transfers to no-kill sister agencies in other parts of the country, on-site events such as Woofstock, the Dog Ears Reading Program, puppy socials and off-site adoption events. They recruit and support local citizens to privately foster animals in their homes.FOTAS volunteers developed and manage a website and social media to keep the community informed. They create and run fundraising community events like Play Fore the Dogs, Broadway Sings for the Pets, and the FOTAS Hunter Pace. They coordinate spay/neuter services through FOTAS Fix-a-Pet and Lenny’s Brigade. They love-up the cats and walk the dogs at the shelter 6 days a week and on holidays. They work with and train difficult-to-place dogs. They write thank-you notes, make phone calls, keep the books and greet visitors at the shelter.Because FOTAS is an all-volunteer organization funded solely by private donations, virtually every dollar contributed to FOTAS is used to improve the lives of and outcomes for the County’s homeless animals.

In addition to funding improvements to the shelter itself (play yards with appropriate drainage and irrigation, a separate feline facility with a hot water heater, stainless steel kennels with guillotine doors, surgical equipment, etc.), FOTAS dollars also fund essential needs (heartworm medicine, flea and tick treatments, toys, leashes, collars, supplies for foster families, vet clinics for pets and citizens in need, an off-site adoption van and the like) and the programmatic costs of transfer and spay/neuter.

Here’s the good news: all this effort and support is making a difference.

In the last 23 months, FOTAS organized and funded the spay/neuter surgeries of 859 dogs and cats and transferred 1339 dogs to sister agencies. As of the end of November, there has been a 14% reduction in shelter intake and a 43% increase in adoptions and transfers over 2013. The average monthly euthanasia rate has dropped from 90+% in pre-FOTAS years to 55%. That’s huge.

This Christmas, make your holiday gifts count: donate to FOTAS to save a life in honor of your family and friends. A $45 gift will fix a pet cat and $80 a dog. A $75 gift will treat a heartworm positive dog. A $90 gift will help FOTAS fund the transfer of an animal to a no-kill facility and a forever home.

Seriously, does Dad really need a new tie? Call us at 803-514-4313 or email us at info@angelhartlinedesigns.com to discuss the possibilities.

And don’t forget to take advantage of our special Holiday adoption rates until January 3rd ($35 for dogs and $10 for cats).

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and God Bless you and your family.

BY THE NUMBERS

January 2013 through November 2014:

1339 dogs/cats— FOTAS worked with the Shelter and transferred these animals to partner rescues/shelters ( this is in ADDITION to local adoptions from the County Shelter )

876 pets & community cats were spayed/neutered, organized and paid for by FOTAS ( this is in ADDITION to those animals spayed/neutered through the County’s voucher program )

 

 

Adoption, Dogs, News

Preparing to go Home for the Holidays

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

14 December 2014

Preparing to go Home for the Holidays

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

I was snoozing in the sun after breakfast in my outdoor kennel when I heard a door open. I cocked my head. Could it be my friend Ellie coming to take me for my morning walk? It was! I could tell by the squeak of her shoes on the floor, particularly on that one side.  Is that one of my very favorite sounds in the world? You bet, because Ellie is one of my very favorite people. Champion ear-scratcher, that Ellie.

I jumped up and gave myself a gigantic shake  – no sleeping on the job for this guy. What job, I’m not sure, something to do with Christmas and fostering.  Christmas I know about, it’s my very favorite holiday, but fostering? No clue, really, but if it involves Christmas, hey, I’m in.

I wanted to show Ellie I’m always ready for action. I squeezed through the door to my inside kennel to sit in perfect attention, because that’s what a good dog does, and Ellie always tells me I’m a good dog.

All us dogs here at the Aiken County Animal Shelter are working hard with our volunteers to be the very best dogs so we can spend Christmas with a family, in a home, rather than here in the shelter. Don’t get me wrong, the shelter is a great place thanks to Ellie and my pals, Angus and Buster and Amber and Fluffy, but there aren’t any kids to play with, or cookie crumbs to clean off the floor, or treats hanging in a sock above the fireplace – all things that make Christmas second to none among holidays, in my experience, except for maybe Thanksgiving on account of that exciting incident with the turkey carcass when I was a puppy, but that’s old news now.

“Zeus,” said Ellie, reaching for the leash clipped to the kennel door “look at you! What a good boy you are.” Music to my ears; I’m top-notch in the good boy category. I demonstrate my very best whole body wag, the one that starts with my tail, moves through my body and ends at my head – a specialty of mine.

Did I pant with excitement? Of course! Did I drool? Just the tiniest bit, not worth mentioning, really.

Ellie and I went for a walk around the property, me doing my best leash walking ever despite all the smells and all the action in the play yard.  I see my pal Angus playing in the yard with . . . Whoa! Is that Buster? It is! What a sight! Buster is a handsome fellow, a little smaller than me, but when he came to the shelter, he was terrified of everyone. Now look at him; those volunteers are the greatest.

Ellie and I took a break on the bench out front next to the parking lot.  My pals Amber and Fluffy stopped by with their volunteers, so we had a fast little romp-around. I was delighted to meet a sweet little blond girl walking into the shelter with her mother – that’s always occasion for the whole-body wag.

After all the excitement died down, I laid my head on Ellie’s lap for a nice head scratch, right behind the ears. Did I mention Ellie’s a champion ear-scratcher? After awhile, I lay down on the grass, sun on my face, and watched the cars go by.

As I dozed off, I had one of my very best thoughts: just maybe one of those cars will take me home for Christmas.

Take advantage of the Holiday Adoption Special: $35 for dogs and $10 for cats, or call the Shelter to learn how you can foster Zeus and his friends this Christmas season.

Their lives are in our hands.