Category Archives: Volunteer

2023, Adoption, DOGGIE DATES, Doggie Day Out, Volunteer

My Wonderful Date with a Shelter Dog

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
06
Jan

Here’s Minnie from the Aiken County Animal Shelter on our Doggie Day Out recently. Most of her life has been spent having litter after litter, starving for food and love, and being treated like trash.

But this was her day. Time away from the crowded stressful shelter where she’s finally up for adoption — hoping the tall odds against her don’t win over a loving home and happy future.

Because that’s all she wants: to be chosen and loved.

Minnie was perfect on our day together. She has one of those soft mouths that gives face kisses and tenderly takes treats from your hand. She’s gentle and loving with babies, older people, and everyone in between. She also adores dogs – big and small – and can’t wait to greet them.

Overall, the best words for her are happy, affectionate, curious, and easy. Whatever you’re up for, that’s good with her, too.

Minnie rides in the car perfectly and has wonderful manners in public. She loves a trail hike or walk through the park, but she also loves town life. She visited Bravefriend Downtown where she got loving and pumpkin treats, Downtown Dog where she got more loving and more treats, and the local Wendy’s where she enjoyed a hamburger with more enthusiasm than they’ve seen in a while.

What’s a Doggie Day Out and why do them?

Shelter dogs run out of time in more than one way. We’re so crowded now that there are multiple dogs in kennels meant for one. Being public, the shelter can’t turn away new dogs no matter how many come through the door, and no matter how ridiculous the reason is for disowning them.

But shelter dogs waiting for months in these kennels also break from stress. They’re not meant to live like this, and it takes a toll. Even more when they’ve got trauma from being given away by people they loved forever, or their beloved owner dies, or they were bait for dog fighting. The sad stories don’t end.

So, these Doggie Days Out (or overnights or weekend visits) give them a much-needed break, they get more socialization, and we learn more details about them so we can post better stories and match them better with the few adopters who show up.

If you live in Aiken County and you’re interested in a Doggie Day Out, email FOTAS (info@fotasaiken.org) for details. Or just stop by.

And if you’re open to more love in your life, no matter where you live, please consider adopting Minnie. She’s extraordinary and when you consider all she’s been through, her love for people is mind-boggling.

Minnie is 4 years old, 50 pounds, spayed, vaccinated, housetrained, and microchipped. She pulls a little on a leash, but it’ll only take a little training to fix that. Her adoption fee is only $35.

The shelter is located at 333 Wire Rd, Aiken SC. Stop by or email info@fotasaiken.org to schedule a meeting with Minnie.

Please support the shelter any way you can. Their lives are in our hands.

By Martha Anne Tudor, FOTAS Volunteer

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

Christmas Gratitude

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
31
Dec

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks to the army of volunteers who make the work of FOTAS possible – everything from manning the front desk; walking and socializing dogs; managing canine play groups; working special events and fundraisers; fostering dogs; organizing transfers; manning off-site adoption events; working on publicity, social media, and financial record and bookkeeping responsibilities; and coordinating FOTAS-Fix-a-Pet activities.

And finally, thanks to you, the Aiken Community, for your extraordinary generosity and support. You have made it possible for FOTAS to help the County provide the best possible care and outcome for its shelter animals.

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

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

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

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

2022, Shelter staff, Volunteer, Volunteers

 Dog Walking FOTAS Volunteer Shares Shelter Experience

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
18
Nov

My first contact with FOTAS came after the death of Gabe, our beautiful border collie of 14 years. My wife and I chose then to make a financial donation to FOTAS in Gabe’s memory.

Some months passed before we finally decided not to get another dog. I began looking for a way that I could still be around dogs and offer some meaningful service at the same time. One activity that Gabe absolutely loved was our daily walks. When I learned that the Shelter needed volunteers to walk dogs, the connection was immediate.

I had never been to the Shelter, and didn’t even know where it was. That was easily resolved but I still had many questions. I got answers to them when I attended an informative orientation session for volunteers that was held at the Shelter.

I learned that at any given time there are 34 dogs ready for immediate adoption. Therefore, dog walkers have lots of dogs to choose from for walking. Our choice. There are all sizes, all ages, and many different breeds/mixed breeds. At first I was hesitant to walk any dog that had pit bull features. I soon discovered that these were among some of the most loving, affectionate dogs at the Shelter and my hesitation vanished.

I learned to slip a leash over the head of any dog, including those that would sit patiently and easily accept the leash to those that were excitedly moving and jumping. The Shelter is located in a nicely wooded area and we walk the dogs on trails that wind around and through the woods. A typical walk time depends on the walker; for me it is from 15-20 minutes. The pace of each walk varies with the dog and can range from slow and leisurely to the excited, full-speed ahead of the “pullers.”

The Shelter gives every dog a name. Just last Thursday I walked Faith, Isaiah, AJ, Misty, Hutch, and Boone. Being an “oldster” myself I have a fondness for the older dogs; Faith is one of them.

In my nearly three years as a volunteer I have taken over 1,000 walks with hundreds of different dogs. I have developed attachments to many of them. Such relationships form naturally when you share the love and compassion you feel for these formerly homeless and abandoned dogs. They will return your affection many times over.

This year the Shelter’s save rate is over 90% and every adoptable animal received has been saved. My greatest satisfaction comes when I go to Zeus’s kennel, for example, and there is a different dog in it. Where’s Zeus? “He was adopted Saturday.” My heart celebrates every time I hear that. And it’s extra-special when a dog like Zeus had been in waiting for a long time for his forever family to find him.

Finally, I have had the pleasure to get to know many of the wonderful Shelter staff and other volunteers. Being affiliated with such friendly, dedicated, caring folks has been an added blessing to my experience.

Please go to fotasaiken.org to learn about more volunteer opportunities. Their lives are in our hands.

Written by Ernie Ness FOTAS Volunteer

2022, Adoption, Volunteer, Volunteers

County Animal Shelter is an excellent example of doing things right

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
16
Sep

My friend, Linda, and I recently visited the Aiken County Animal Shelter to drop off some donations We were there right at opening time and received a very warm welcome. I asked Kathy, a representative of FOTAS, if we could walk through and look at the dogs and pups, to which she graciously agreed.

It has been many years since I visited the Aiken County Animal Services facility, and I was genuinely impressed! Even at this early hour, the facility was clean and odor free. The animals seemed well-nourished and even given treats, toys and blankets (except for one little guy who eats his blankets!) Caring for this many animals is no small feat but is obviously very well done here. The shelter employees have always had my admiration for their dedication to the animals and to the public.

I was also delighted to see the new addition in progress that will be used for multiple purposes. The Aiken community seems to be more supportive of the shelter, and I truly believe FOTAS deserves much of the credit. In addition to significantly lowering the euthanasia rate, their network with the public – such as Kathy was with me – makes a good impression that can only be a positive reflection on the shelter.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any dog or pup that I can help with at this time. But I will be back in touch from time to time in hopes that when I can assist, I will surely and gladly do so. In the meantime, I made a donation (wish it were more) to help in any small way possible.

Thank you all for the amazing job you are doing. I wish the need for animal shelters would disappear, but that is highly unlikely. It does give me assurance, though, that Aiken County Animal Services is an excellent example of doing it right!

Shelter in crisis mode

Due to a recent drop in adoptions and no end to its high animal intake numbers, the County Animal Shelter is in crisis. Please consider adopting a homeless dog or cat from our facility located at 333 Wire Road in Aiken, SC. To see all the pets available, stop by the shelter or go to fotasaiken.org. We have so many wonderful pets in need, now is the best time to adopt and give a shelter animal another chance for a good life!

Their lives are in our hands.

By Jean Strein

2022, Cats, Foster, fostering, kittens, Volunteer

Kitten fostering: You don’t need lots of space or time to save lives

Posted on by Bob Gordon
09
Sep

With kitten season still going strong in September, the need for fosters is as great as ever. The Aiken County Animal Shelter is about to be overloaded with feline babes who need temporary care and assistance from county citizens.

While the Shelter provides all the care it can – and dedicated staff members even take kittens to their own homes for fostering – the influx of orphaned kittens is too much to handle for any shelter facility.

“The value of socialization is huge because everyone wants a confident, friendly kitten,” said Hillary Clark-Kulis, the shelter’s adoption coordinator. “Even if you have just fifteen minutes in the morning and fifteen minutes in the evening to spend with the kittens, that’s three times more socialization than they’ll receive at the shelter.”

The one-on-one time kittens receive in loving foster homes is vital because it better ensures they are well-prepared for adoption. However, we ask fosters to care for kittens only until they are two pounds, which takes anywhere from two to four-weeks.

Desiree VanZanten says fostering kittens looks harder than it really is.

“I love being able to watch them grow and develop, and know that I’m helping out the shelter” said Desiree VanZanten, who has been fostering kittens with her wife, Gretchen, for seven years. “Bonding with them and watching their personalities develop is like planting seeds and watching them grow and bloom.”

Becoming a kitten foster is simple. Just come to the shelter at 333 Wire Road in Aiken and fill out a foster application. Once you’re approved, we’ll get you started and provide you with the needed resources and support.

“Fostering kittens is one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done in my life,” said Cherylece Wiggins, who took in her first litter four years ago. “It’s not difficult or labor intensive, but it’s so gratifying to help these babies get good homes. All you have to do is give them love!”

While fostering kittens might seem like a lot of work, it is usually just a matter of feeding them, petting and playing with them, and cleaning their kitty litter box. Unless they are bottle babies (four weeks old or younger), kittens don’t require hours of your time. You don’t need a big space either –even a blanket on the bathroom floor will do.

FOTAS Bookkeeper Carol Miller and her husband, Mike, have been fostering kittens for eight years with the help of their own dogs and cats. The dogs like to take them under their wing and clean them while their cats enjoy teaching the babies how to play.

Carol Miller has been fostering kittens for eight years and loves it.
Carol Miller has been fostering kittens for eight years and loves it.

“It’s a lot of fun to see the kittens progress and start having a blast running around and playing with each other,” Carol said. “When everything is so depressing with world events, inflation and other bad news, I find spending time with the foster kittens helps me relax and forget about all the negative stuff.”

For more information about fostering kittens and other shelter animals, please call (803) 642-1537, option 3 or send an email to info@fotasaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2022, Adoption, Volunteer

Distressed shelter dog is the best surprise of my life

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
01
Sep

I took a break from my work and read Martha Anne Tudor’s compelling descriptions of animals waiting to be adopted at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. “Lonely hearts are waiting for you,” she always wrote at the end of her Facebook posts. One of those lonely hearts kept appearing on her posts – a German Shepherd/Carolina Dog/Heeler mix rolled into a striking chocolate-colored dog with antennas for ears, appropriately named Surprise.

I thought she’d be adopted quickly, but the posts kept coming. In Surprise, I saw something extraordinarily special, but nobody was coming forward. She had been in the shelter for over four months, and it was wearing on her.

This year has been especially hard on dogs and cats. So many animals were left in shelters or abandoned when families went back to work and school post-COVID 19. In addition, as prices rise, more and more families are giving up their pets. It is heartbreaking. I already had many animals, but I couldn’t sit on the sidelines waiting for someone else to step up.

I live in Columbia, but I go to Aiken every week. I stopped at the shelter to meet Surprise. She was frustrated in her kennel and exhibiting real signs of shelter stress. She spun in circles, chewed down her toenails, and had a hard time connecting with people. Questions about her adoptability hung in the air. And yet I could see that she was a great dog in a terrible situation. I decided to test my hypothesis.

I became certified as a FOTAS volunteer so that I could walk Surprise. I took her on 40-minute walks, letting her take her time. I expected absolutely nothing in return from her, and yet, each time, we would have a moment of connection. I started going to Aiken more to work with her, and she recognized me and wagged her tail. I’d cry all the way back to Columbia after I put her back in her kennel.

I began going to Aiken more just to see Surprise. She’d jump up and gently place her paws on me. It was deeply moving. I volunteered to be her trainer in the canine citizen class they offer to shelter dogs. For a second, I got her to focus on me and not on all the shelter stress. It was an amazing moment. For three weeks, I went to the shelter and worked with Surprise, and we got comfortable with each other. Then one day, I took her home. I cried all the way home, but this time the tears were of happiness and relief.

Surprise is one of the kindest, most responsive, cuddly dogs I have ever met. She is in the top one percent of dogs I have known. My partner and I work with her to build her confidence and help her adjust, and Surprise has responded faster than I could have imagined. She is the best surprise of my life!

By Gabi Kuenzli, FOTAS Volunteer and Pet Adopter

2022, Adoption, SOCIAL MEDIA, Volunteer

Share a Post, Save a Life!

Posted on by Bob Gordon
05
Aug

Every homeless pet has at least one person or family out there who is their perfect match. The person who will love and give that pet a wonderful life. The family that sees that homeless animal and instantly knows it is their pet of destiny.

The challenge for shelters, like ours, is finding and reaching those people, so we can effectively introduce them to their ideal pet. It is a difficult task. How can we get the faces and stories of these animals seen by the folks who want to adopt them? Well, luckily, we can achieve this goal through the power and tools of social media. But only with your help.

Every day we post photos and stories about the County Shelter’s adoptable dogs and cats on our FOTAS Facebook and Instagram pages, hoping to reach as many people as possible who are looking to add a furry friend to their home. But the number of people we reach with each post depends on how many people share it with their network of friends.

If everybody shared our Facebook and Instagram posts about adoptable pets, it would greatly expand our audience, helping us to reach more people who might be “the one” to adopt the pet being promoted.

Just one click can make all the difference — Share a Post, Save a Life

There is no better way than social media to promote the shelter’s adoptable pets to a vast yet targeted audience. Just one “like” or “share” can reach hundreds, if not thousands, of people in a way that grassroots promotion cannot. Last month on Facebook, our posts reached well over 300,000 people.

Thanks to our social media, people have come from all over the United States to adopt pets from the County Shelter. Folks have traveled from such regions as Texas, Chicago, Massachusetts and even Europe to pick up dogs and cats that they saw on our social media.

It helps us reach even more people when FOTAS volunteers, like Martha Anne Tudor, already have thousands of Facebook friends and she posts or shares a post about one of our adoptable pets. Her posts have helped the shelter adopt out more than a thousand dogs and cats. She usually promotes the pets that need extra tender loving care, like a sad and badly neglected dog named Kai, whose post was shared nearly 70,000 times around the world. Or Wink, a one-eyed dog, who desperately needed a home and was adopted by a woman in Nantucket. She flew to Aiken and took him home, where he’s enjoying the good life. Then there was Dante, a puppy with a life-threatening birth defect. Her post about the sick pup helped to get him adopted and he’s now cured and doing great with his family in Aiken.

We would love it if you’d join us

So, if you follow the FOTAS Facebook and our Instagram pages, be sure to “like” and “share” our posts. It just takes one click with your finger and could save a shelter animal’s life. If you don’t follow our social media, please do so. We’d love to have you join us in our mission to find loving homes for all of the County Shelter’s adoptable pets.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2022, Adoption, Volunteer

The long, hot, busy dog days of Summer

Posted on by Bob Gordon
15
Jul

The summer months are nerve-wracking at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, and this summer is no exception. Dogs are doubled and tripled-up in the kennels due to extraordinarily high owner-surrenders. We recently heard a shelter in Georgia is euthanizing adoptable animals because they ran out of space. That is our constant nightmare, but FOTAS volunteers and shelter staff are working double-time to avoid that outcome in Aiken.

Last Saturday began at 9:00 a.m. with the monthly FOTAS-sponsored pet food assistance drive. Cars were already lined up before we opened, and by 10 a.m., FOTAS had supplied food for more than 100 pets whose owners simply needed a little help. No owner should ever have to surrender their pet to the shelter because they can’t afford food—not if we can help it.

At 10:00 a.m., our “Dog Ears Listening” event began, which FOTAS sponsors with the Aiken County Library. Young school-age children come to the shelter with their parents and read to the dogs in kennels. It’s amazing how quiet the dogs get as the children read to them. I’m not sure who enjoys the event more: the kids, the dogs, the parents, or the FOTAS volunteers who supervise the program.

Simultaneously, in the outside yards, staff and volunteers were managing play groups of selected dogs as part of our “Dogs Playing for Life” program. Dogs are social animals, and this play time is critical for their physical and mental health, and a happy, relaxed dog is a more attractive adoption prospect.

After play groups wrapped up, the obedience training began, where volunteers, under the guidance of trainer Jennifer Jotblad, teach the dogs basic commands to make them more adoptable. Dogs who have been at the shelter the longest get the most attention. One such dog, Lady, has become a star. Volunteer Malia Koelker takes Lady in her car for doggie-day outings, taking her to Hopeland Gardens and treating her to chicken nuggets at McDonalds. Lady loves the car and next week, if she is not adopted, will go to an offsite adoption event at Dover Saddlery.

At 11:00 the shelter doors officially open for adoptions. The shelter is participating in the “Pick Me” South Carolina adoption event, where shelters across the state waive or reduce adoption fees. I was pleased to see potential adopters come through the door. It also made my day to see a new foster pick up a dog—we always need more fosters.

Then a good Samaritan pulled up with two dogs he found on the street. Both dogs were microchipped, and the kind gentleman agreed to drive the dogs to home. Love those happy endings!

I then had the pleasure of catching up with volunteer Joanne Goble. Joanne had moved to Maryland in 2020 to be close to her family. Although she loved Maryland, she loved volunteering for FOTAS even more. She recently moved back to Aiken and has resumed her volunteer duties at the shelter. How cool is that?

FOTAS and the county staff are working overtime during these hot days to make sure no adoptable animal must be euthanized on our watch, but we need your help. Please adopt, volunteer, foster, and donate.
Their lives are in our hands.

By Jennifer Miller, FOTAS President

2022, Adoption, Doggie Day Out, Volunteer

Doggie daters needed now more than ever at the County Shelter

Posted on by Bob Gordon
02
Jul

When the County shelter is full, as it has been most of this spring and early summer, the stress level for the dogs rises considerably. The adoption floor is louder with barks and howls, and the dogs become amped up, needing to relieve their anxiety by going on more walks, running in the play yard or spending quality quiet time on the couch with a volunteer.

But even these on-site activities don’t allow them to find complete relief from the pressure of living among so many other confused and scared homeless pets. They crave a brief escape. They need to get out of Dodge. See new sites. Meet new people.

How? By going on a date with a County resident.

Krysta Buchholz and her young son took seven-year-old, 60-pound mixed breed Gwyneth out on a date and took selfies and other photos to post on Facebook

Krysta Buchholz with Gwyneth during her Doggie Day Out.

“We had a fun doggie date!” Buchholz said. “She was promised snow cones but Pelican’s was way too busy, so we opted for a nature walk! It was a little difficult getting her in and out of the car, but overall she did well! “

Tiffany Stapleton and her young son, Brooks also enjoyed their separate dates with shelter dogs Scout and Lex.

“I read about FOTAS Doggie Days Out online and thought it would be great for the kids and a way to help out,” Stapleton said. “We took Lex out to Citizens Park and then to Chick-fil-A for lunch.” Early on, the six-year-old Retriever mix, hopped from the back seat to the front seat, excited but unsure of what to do in a car. But by the time they made their return to the shelter, Lex was more relaxed and cozied up to Brooks in the back seat.

“I think the program is very valuable to the dogs and teaches the kids responsibility and patience,” Stapleton added. “It also exposes the dogs to new experiences and social situations, which prepares them for their eventual home.”

The dogs always come back from their Doggie Dates happier and more relaxed. They often go back to their kennels exhausted and ready to get some much-needed sleep.

If you can help by taking a dog on a day out or even a sleepover, stop by the shelter, 333 Wire Road, or call 803.642.1537, option 3. It’s fun, easy and gives the dogs the break they need!

Their lives are in our hands.

– By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2021, Dogs, FOTAS, kennel stress, Volunteer, Volunteers

Pioneer volunteer Procter: ‘Nothing beats the joy of seeing animals adopted’

Posted on by Bob Gordon
03
Jan

We have countless wonderful volunteers who serve important roles at the shelter. Some greet people in our lobby, some help with events, some foster, others walk dogs or help with PetSmart cats.
That being said, I would love to tell you about our Sandra.

Sandra Procter was there to help train me eight years ago, when my son and I came to volunteer for the first time. I immediately loved her and wanted to volunteer on the same days she volunteered. I credit her as the reason I felt so comfortable coming back. She is one of the many surrogate grandmothers my son has been lucky to gain through volunteering. She has a warmth to her that draws not only people to her, but the dogs as well.

Sandra was one of FOTAS’ first volunteers. Over the years she has done it all – walking and bathing dogs, fostering at home and recruiting and orienting other volunteers. She and her husband Dick have adopted two Shelter dogs, Ellie and Sophie, and one Shelter cat, Maggie. They also make peanut butter and green bean treats for the dogs. We are careful how many treats we give our dogs (tummy aches), and Sandra is the only volunteer authorized by our veterinarian to make homemade treats. They get so excited when they see her coming! They start licking their lips and wagging. Sandra speaks to each, telling them how wonderful they are.

Recently, it was raining hard and Sandra and the other dog walkers got drenched! I sent them a thank you and Sandra replied, “It was my pleasure! Can’t disappoint the poor dogs that look so forward to us taking them for a walk and spending time with them.” Sandra is truly beautiful inside and out!

What motivates someone to volunteer three days a week for more than a decade?

“There are many reasons,” says Procter. “Happiness is when a shy dog looks you in the eye and comes to its kennel door excited to see you knowing it will get a walk, hugs and maybe even couch time. Nothing beats the joy of knowing one of these animals has been adopted and now has a good home. You think, maybe, just maybe, I had a part in making that happen.”

As Procter reflects on 13 years as a volunteer, she notes, “There are people friends, too. The staff is so dedicated, caring and supportive. Volunteers bond quickly. I look forward to seeing all my FOTAS family.”

Procter gives one of her doggy cookies to shelter dog.

“Opening a kennel door and having a little face look up at you as if you are the best person in the world is a feeling like no other,” she added. “A walk in the sunshine, the smell of the woods, a previously neglected or abused creature stopping on the trail to give you a hug, what could be better than that? It makes your day.”

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator