Category Archives: Volunteer

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Volunteer

FOTAS volunteers get back as much as they give to shelter animals

Posted on by Angel Hartline
15
Dec

With Christmas just a week away, FOTAS Volunteer John Berk reflects on what he will be doing on the holiday. His children are coming to visit and he and his wife, Sally, have plans to celebrate with them. But he also plans to make another stop.

“I’m sure I’ll be at the shelter on Christmas morning walking the dogs and visiting with the cats,” Berk said. “It’s a constant need that we serve. I don’t think Christmas feels any different to these animals in need.”

FOTAS Volunteer John Berk enjoys walking and spending time with shelter dogs like Arthur.
FOTAS Volunteer John Berk enjoys walking and spending time with shelter dogs like Arthur.

Berk came to Aiken 20 years ago, ready to retire after a successful career as a plant manager for a large corporation. An avid and skillful golfer, he used to spend much of his time on the links. But about four months ago, at the urging of a friend, he decided to sign up as a FOTAS volunteer. After completing a short application and taking a two-hour orientation class, he hit the ground running and immediately felt at home.

“Once you walk one of these dogs, it’s hard not to come back,” he said. “I get great satisfaction from giving comfort and a little bit of happiness to a dog or cat that really just wants to be loved and accepted.”

Another new FOTAS volunteer who has found a second home at the animal shelter is Jackie Edel. A professional horse rider and trainer most of her life, Edel and her husband, John, moved from Connecticut to Aiken 11 years ago.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” Edel said. “But everyone was so friendly and welcomed me right away. I’m really impressed with how much effort people put in to get the dogs exercise and feeling more confident. And how hard they work to get them adopted.”

Volunteer Jackie Edel works with the County Shelter dogs nearly every day.
Volunteer Jackie Edel works with the County Shelter dogs nearly every day.

Edel has always been around animals and currently has four dogs and a cat at home. But it wasn’t until she and her husband decided to downsize from their farm to a smaller house, freeing her from her horse care duties, that she decided to give volunteering a try.

With her experience and comfort level around animals, she’s already become a star volunteer. She’s at the shelter nearly every day and even helps with play group, an advanced program in which dogs are brought together to interact and burn off energy in the shelter’s large, fenced-in yard.

But Edel’s favorite part of volunteering is seeing the dogs and cats finding their human matches and getting adopted.

“I certainly have become attached to some of the dogs, but I’m just so happy when they go to good homes,” she said.

If you would like to become a FOTAS volunteer, please stop by the County Shelter, 333 Wire Road, or call the FOTAS hotline, (803) 514-4313.

Their lives are in our hands.

above article written by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

BY THE NUMBERS

December specials – dogs/puppies $35, cats/kittens $10

Through November, the Aiken County Animal Shelter received 4,475 dogs and cats, and 3,722 were saved.

Please adopt and help our community shelter save 4,000 by year end!

PETS OF THE WEEK

BOO: Hound mix, female, 7 years old, black and red, 45 pounds – $0 (adoption sponsored by FOTAS donor)
BOO: Hound mix, female, 7 years old, black and red, 45 pounds – $0 (adoption sponsored by FOTAS donor)
STAR: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 1 year old, gray and black Tabby, 6 pounds - $10
STAR: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 1 year old, gray and black Tabby, 6 pounds – $10
Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Transfer, Volunteer

FOTAS needs your Christmas spirit

Posted on by Angel Hartline
03
Dec

“Every charitable act is a stepping stone towards heaven.”
Henry Ward Beecher

It’s the time of year when the spirit of Christmas thrives. It’s a time for gratitude, for family and friends. It’s a time to rejoice our faith. It’s a time for love.

It is also a time for charitable giving, and if your mailbox is anything like mine, it’s filled with requests from worthy local charities for year-end contributions. They all do good works, but you can’t give to them all. How do you decide?

I am going to take a leap of faith here—that if you are reading this column, you care about the plight of abused, abandoned and homeless animals. If that’s true, then FOTAS, the private partner of the Aiken County Animal Shelter, is the right choice for your charitable urges. Here’s why.

FOTAS provides critical assistance to 5000 Shelter animals a year. In the first ten months of this year, 3456 animals have been saved. That’s an average of 340 animals a month. No other organization comes close to saving that many animals—day after day, month after month, year after year.

FOTAS has funded the design, construction and equipping of a wellness and isolation building at the Shelter to isolate and treat contagious, treatable illnesses—a much-needed project that has been two years in the making and is close to completion. FOTAS also purchased a new anesthesia machine for on-site surgeries and a commercial dishwasher that properly sterilizes feed and water bowls. It arranged for the donation of an x-ray machine and paid for the setup and training of medical clinic personnel.

FOTAS goes the extra mile to find every animal a home.

FOTAS Super Foster Manuela Segre-Amar holds puppy Rose
FOTAS Super Foster Manuela Segre-Amar holds puppy Rose

It aggressively markets adoptable animals through print and social media and transports animals to off-site adoption events in a van donated by FOTAS. It supplements adoption fees for active Military Personnel and veterans and pays for heartworm medicine for HWP dogs adopted from the Shelter (150 this year).

FOTAS developed a network of rescue partners in other parts of the country and organizes and pays expenses for transfers of adoptable animals. FOTAS recruits foster families (and funds their provisions, if necessary) to provide interim care for animals approved for transfer and longer-term care for animals in “a family way.”

FOTAS addresses the cause of high Shelter intake: rampant overpopulation of dogs and cats. Since 2013, FOTAS has paid for over 2427 spay/neuter surgeries and neutered and returned to field 880 free-roaming community cats.

Since its inception in 2009, the Shelter’s live release rate has increased from a dismal 5% to 82.9%. That’s literally thousands more animals saved annually thanks to the substantial supplemental resources (both financial and manpower) provided by FOTAS.

Last month, the South Carolina Secretary of State honored FOTAS as one of the ten “Angel” charities in the state. FOTAS spends 83 cents of every dollar on its charitable purpose, which means you can be certain that your donations will make a difference.

The success of FOTAS is a testament to the generosity of the Aiken community, but there is still so much to do. Please send your much-needed donations to FOTAS, PO Box 2207, Aiken SC 29802 to help us continue the good work.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

By the Numbers

On Tuesday, Nov. 28, the County Shelter received 26 strays and owner-surrendered animals.

December Adoption Special: cats/kittens $10, dogs/puppies $35

Pets of the Week

BOJACK: Shepherd mix, male, 8 years old, brown, 43 pounds, calm and sweet – $35
BOJACK: Shepherd mix, male, 8 years old, brown, 43 pounds, calm and sweet – $35
DEUCE: Domestic Medium-haired cat, male, 1 year old, black and brown Tabby, 5 pounds, very friendly - $10 (available at Aiken PetSmart)
DEUCE: Domestic Medium-haired cat, male, 1 year old, black and brown Tabby, 5 pounds, very friendly – $10 (available at Aiken PetSmart)
Adoption, Cats, Foster, FOTAS, Spay/Neuter, Volunteer

Feral kittens and the Good Samaritan

Posted on by Angel Hartline
17
Nov

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

One morning, you come downstairs to the kitchen, turn on the coffee maker, and open the back door to check the weather. Then you hear it: faint, pitiful mewing sounds coming from the crawl space under the porch. You grab a flashlight and go out to investigate. What you find breaks your heart: six tiny feral kittens, eyes still closed, mewing for what? Food? Mama? Warmth?

What do you do?

mother cat and kittenThe Good Samaritan in you wants to spring into action and rescue the little snuggle nuggets, but is that the wisest course?

“It isn’t, at least not right away,” says Hillary Clark-Kulis, the Adoption Coordinator for the Aiken County Animal Shelter. “Odds are mama has gone out to feed herself and will be returning soon to care for her babies, and it is always better for little kittens to be cared for by their mama. She can properly clean and feed them around the clock. We advise waiting and watching for mama to return. Patience is the better part of valor in these cases.”

Raising little kittens is tricky business. They need to be fed every two hours around the clock. They cannot eliminate waste on their own, so cleaning and massaging in just the right places is required to allow them to process their food. Mama’s milk also provides crucial antibodies. When the kittens are weaned to hard food, mama teaches them how to be little cats, how to fend for themselves, how to hunt.

kitten bottle feederAssuming mama comes home, the best thing you can do is support mama until the kittens are weaned. Provide her healthy cat food and clean water, maybe a box with soft towels for a warm dry place to nest.

Feral cats are often fearful of humans, so speak softly, move slowly, try to befriend her, get her accustomed to friendly human contact. FOTAS can provide you with the appropriate supplies if needed.

After about five weeks, call the Shelter and make an appointment to bring mama in to get vaccinated, spayed and returned to field (no cost to you), and the kittens to be vetted and put up for adoption (unless the kittens are too feral, in which case, they too can be vaccinated, spayed and returned to field.)

Let’s rewind: what if you watch the little kittens all day and mama doesn’t return, then what do you do?

Now it’s time to collect the little kittens and bring them to the Shelter. Dr. Levy will assess their health, then FOTAS volunteers will foster the kittens at home. That means two weeks of bottle feeding every two hours, watching their temperature, keeping them clean until their eyes open and they can eat on their own. Once they pass that critical stage, the little snuggle muffins can be socialized until they are big enough to be adopted.
“Taking proper care of new-born kittens requires skill and patience, but there are experienced FOTAS volunteers we call upon for help,” says Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director. “We couldn’t do it without them, and we always need more volunteers!”

Call the FOTAS hotline at (803) 514-4313 or the County Shelter at (803) 642-1537, when your Good Samaritan is called into service.

Their lives are in our hands.

By the Numbers
Jan. to Sept. 2017: FOTAS Fix-A-Pet and the Aiken County Animal Shelter spayed/neutered 864 community/feral cats that were returned to field.

Pets of the Week

REMINGTON: Retriever mix, male, 2 years old, light brown and white, 46 pounds – $35
REMINGTON: Retriever mix, male, 2 years old, light brown and white, 46 pounds – $35
ERIK: Domestic shorthair cat, male, 1-1/2 years old, light orange Tabby, 10 pounds – $10 (available at Aiken PetSmart)
ERIK: Domestic shorthair cat, male, 1-1/2 years old, light orange Tabby, 10 pounds – $10 (available at Aiken PetSmart)
Adoption, Children, FOTAS, Volunteer

Children are the future of FOTAS

Posted on by Angel Hartline
28
Oct

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

“I believe the children are our future,
Teach them well and let them lead the way.”
Whitney Houston

If FOTAS had a poster child, it would be Noah Jacobs. Noah and his mother, Kathy Jacobs, have been volunteering at the Aiken County Animal Shelter since the new shelter opened in 2013. (Kathy is now the full-time FOTAS Program Director). Noah was eight years old at the time, and like his mother, has a magic touch with animals. Whenever an adoptable dog is identified as “kid friendly,” it means that it has passed the Noah Jacobs “kid friendly” test, which has proven to be a tried and true endorsement.

Noah, who is twelve now, attends the Tall Pines STEM Academy. The Academy is mission oriented, and last year, the students in Noah’s class selected FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter as one of their missions. The students asked Kathy and Bobby Arthurs, the Shelter Manager and Chief Animal Control Officer for the County, to make a presentation to the class.

Tall Pines STEM Academy students visit the Aiken County Animal Shelter to learn more about FOTAS.  Students include: Karylle Hambrick, Dylan Seeley, Kahlei Morris, Noah Jacobs, Christian Grove, Gabey Marshall, Blake Scott and Sydney Ledere
Tall Pines STEM Academy students visit the Aiken County Animal Shelter to learn more about FOTAS.  Students include: Karylle Hambrick, Dylan Seeley, Kahlei Morris, Noah Jacobs, Christian Grove, Gabey Marshall, Blake Scott and Sydney Ledere

Kathy and Bobby, along with a couple of adoptable dogs, made the trek to the school and talked to the students about the work and dedication involved in caring and finding homes for the thousands of homeless animals that come through the Shelter every year. The students rallied to the cause, and over the next month, raised money and in-kind goods (pet food, leashes, etc.) to donate to the Shelter.

Cool.

Over the course of that year, the Principal Griffin would call Kathy from time to time to come and pick up a stray dog on the property, and Kathy would drop off the current FOTAS Newsletters.

Then, this past September, Kathy attended the Academy’s open house to meet Noah’s teachers. When she walked into the English Language Arts room, to her surprise and delight, she discovered that the walls were covered with essays written by the students on how kids can make a difference for homeless animals, along with countless pictures of dogs and cats drawn by the students.

“My son tells me nothing!” says Kathy, and when she questioned Noah, he told her they had even had student debates on what FOTAS does and how it could do more. (Not to worry, says Noah, he totally educated the class on all the important things FOTAS does.)IMG_0295

Very cool.

It gets better. The staff, teachers and students at the Academy have become active supporters of FOTAS and the Shelter: homework assignments to write essays on the FOTAS mission, contributions to FOTAS fundraisers, teachers and their children volunteering at the Shelter.

The kids at the Academy are required to complete eight hours of community service before the end of the year. Kathy has scheduled three service days for students to serve their hours at the Shelter reading to the animals. On the first service day last Wednesday, eight children participated.

Beyond cool.

With programs and interest like this, developed early in life, there is hope the next generation will carry on our work and solve, once and for all, the vexing problem of overpopulation of unwanted pets.

Their lives are in our hands; but soon their lives will be in the hands of our very capable children.

IMG_0300IMG_0355higher pixel pic of young students visiting ACASIMG_0303

November Adoption Special: cats/kittens $10, dogs/puppies $35

Pets of the Week

RILEY: Pointer mix, female, 1 year old, white and black, 44 pounds – $35
RILEY: Pointer mix, female, 1 year old, white and black, 44 pounds – $35
TAFFY: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 2 years old, gray and black Tabby, 7 pounds - $10
TAFFY: Domestic shorthair cat, female, 2 years old, gray and black Tabby, 7 pounds – $10

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Volunteer

Clearing the Aiken County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
25
Aug

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Last Saturday, people started lining up at the County Shelter around 10:00 in the morning. FOTAS volunteers and County staff were manning the sign-in desk, cleaning up the yards, walking and grooming dogs, drying off kittens, organizing paperwork, plugging in gigantic fans, directing traffic and icing down the water bottles. The morning was bright and hot. By 11:00, the mercury had risen to 87 degrees, and the line of people snaked around the building.

What would possess so many good citizens to stand patiently in line in the brutal heat? They were waiting to adopt their new best friend and be part of the national Clear the Shelters Day, an annual pet adoption initiative in which 900 shelters across the country participate. The collective goal? To find a home for every single resident of all 900 shelters in one day, including the 63 cats, kittens, dogs and puppies at the County Shelter.

The doors opened promptly at 11:00. The next three hours were a flurry of frenzied, but well-orchestrated, activity. “It was an unbelievable team effort,” said Jennifer Miller, FOTAS President. “All hands were on deck, including Ashley Jacobs and Brian Sanders, the Assistant County Administrators, Bobby Arthurs, the Shelter Manager, and Dr. Lisa Levy, the Shelter veterinarian, who spent her day off at the Shelter answering questions about the animals and moving cats and kittens from the intake wing to the Adoption Floor.”

And it worked. By the time the dust settled and the Shelter doors closed at 4:00, every kennel on the Adoption Floor was empty, and 37 dogs and 26 cats were on their way to a new family and a better life.

Like Gil, a large muscular dog who was adopted by a kindhearted older couple. Or Archie, who had the unfortunate distinction of being the longest-term resident of the Shelter. Or Ripley, a large brown dog with a gray muzzle with scars and filed-down teeth—evidence of abuse as a “bait” dog in an illegal fighting ring. Or Poppy, a black and white mamma dog whose puppies had been born and weaned in foster care. Or Ray, a blind senior cat; or Mindy and Marietta, two kittens from the same litter with a deep bond; or Nina, the last lovely lady taken home at the end of the day.

The list goes on and on. All of these animals were in the Shelter through no fault of their own, and they all needed someone to give them a chance to love and be loved. The Clear the Shelter Day gave them that chance.

It couldn’t have come at a better time. The Shelter is packed to capacity during the summer months—two weeks ago, a staggering 186 animals were admitted to the Shelter in a single week. Now that there is room, all of the animals in Intake can move to the Adoption Floor for their second chance to find a home with people to love. The work goes on and on. We cannot let them down.

Finally, the response of you, the Aiken community, was nothing short of breathtaking. We are profoundly touched by your commitment and your compassion. Thank you and God Bless.

Their lives are in our hands.

By the Numbers
From August 1-23, 400+ dogs and cats were received by the County Shelter.
Through Aug. 31, cats and kittens are just $10, dogs and puppies $35.

 

Pets of the Week

olive potw august 27

OLIVE: Shepherd mix, female, 9 years old, tan, 23 pounds – $35

Dax POTW August 27MEL: Domestic medium-hair kitten, male, 2 months old,

gray with white, 2 pounds – $10

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Volunteer

Surgically saved shelter cats bring joy to their new families

Posted on by Angel Hartline
22
Jun

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

In last week’s column, Dr. Lisa Levy, the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s veterinarian, wrote about saving three cats that were brought in with chronic conditions. But after these special felines were saved through challenging surgeries, what happened to them? Here is how three cats – Rose, Stump and Aimee – beat the odds and found loving forever homes. These extraordinary animals are not only recovering from their dark, painful pasts, but are making a positive difference in their adopters’ lives.

Rose, who had to have emergency surgery to remove her infected uterus, is lucky to be alive. But now fully recovered, she is thriving in her new home with Annabel Bradham. The 3-year-old, long-haired, gray cat was shy and a bit skittish at first due to the trauma she’s been through, but is blooming into an outgoing, confident feline.

“Rose is doing wonderfully,” said Annabel. “I have absolutely fallen in love with her and she’s made herself at home…usually you can find her sleeping on the couch. She’s the perfect cat for me.”

Rose is currently staying with Annabel, her mom and two sisters, in their North Augusta home. But she will be Annabel’s roommate when she goes back to school at the College of Charleston.

Annabel Bradham adopted Rose – “She’s the perfect cat for me.”
Annabel Bradham adopted Rose – “She’s the perfect cat for me.”

Stump, the cat brought to the Shelter with his tail torn off, is also doing very well. Kristen Walker, who found the 7-month-old kitty badly injured and with a belt wrapped around his neck, ended up adopting him! Kristen said she’s not the kind of person that usually gets all warm and gooey inside when she sees a stray animal. But something about Stump (who she renamed Panda) touched her. Maybe it was the abuse he had suffered or the way he looked at her. But she knew her life had changed the instant she pulled the bleeding, maggot infested cat out of the bushes.

“I’ve never had an animal click with me like that,” Kristen said. “From the moment I picked him up and held him, I felt he should be part of our family.”

Panda is now a very happy cat and Kristen and her husband, Chris, are thrilled to have him in their Graniteville home. The big-eyed, white and black feline sleeps in their son’s bed and is best friends with the family dog, Kenway.

Aimee, the 1-year-old cat who arrived at the Shelter with her left, rear leg so deformed and mangled it had to be amputated, is now living the good life in her new Augusta home. Brad and Dana Harris adopted the special needs feline after seeing her photo and story posted on Facebook. They renamed the three-legged cat “Ilean” and she has already bonded with the Harris family’s other pets – Gilligan, a 26-pound Lynx hybrid cat; Skipper, a Siamese cat; and Bella, a German Shepherd/Boxer mix.

Brad Harris adopted Ilean, a three-legged cat who’s had a difficult past.
Brad Harris adopted Ilean, a three-legged cat who’s had a difficult past.

Ilean has also become fast friends with the children in the family – especially the Harris’s 8-year-old grandson.

“She’s been good for him and the first animal he’s really gotten close to,” Brad said. “And I’ve noticed he’s more interested in the other animals as well. Maybe it’s because he can tell she’s had a hard life and needs extra love.”

Their lives are in our hands.

 

PETS OF THE WEEK

 

FOXY Mountain Feist mix, female, 1-1/2 years old, brown -- 49 lbs $35.00
FOXY
Mountain Feist mix,
female, 1-1/2 years old,
brown — 49 lbs
$35.00
TAZ Domestic short hair cat Male -- 1 year old Orange & white tabby 6.7 lbs $10.00
TAZ
Domestic short hair cat
Male — 1 year old
Orange & white tabby — 6.7 lbs
$10.00

By the Numbers
From June 1-21, 2017,   360 dogs and cats were received by the County Shelter.

All cats are just $10 in June — Dogs are $35.00.

 

Adoption, Cats, FOTAS, Volunteer

Injured and abused cats get second chance after successful surgeries

Posted on by Angel Hartline
16
Jun

by Dr. Lisa Levy, ACAS Veterinarian

This month, we’ve already taken in more than 300 strays and surrendered animals at the County Animal Shelter. Last month, we took in more than 500. When you receive this many animals, some are certain to be injured or abused, and May was a rough month for kitties. We had several special needs cats come through our doors.

First was Rose. Rose came in just as I was leaving for the day. She was listless, weak and her back end was covered in pus. On examination, it was determined that she had a severe uterine infection, also known as pyometra. These animals get very sick as the uterus fills with pus and causes them to become toxic. The only treatment is surgery to remove the uterus. But obviously there is great risk to doing surgery on a patient that is so ill.

After I graduated from veterinary school, my first boss had a saying that has stuck with me. He said, “Never let the sun set on a pyometra.” What he meant is that surgery needs to be done immediately because they will be sicker in the morning. So, I put my scrubs back on and immediately did the surgery. She made it through anesthesia and we gave her fluid therapy and antibiotics, although I had little hope that she would make it through the night. But when we came in the next morning, she was sitting up in her cage! She got stronger each day and showed us a gentle, loving personality that wasn’t evident when she was so sick.

Stump is a kitty who was brought in by a couple who found him tied to a tree. His tail was gone (either cut off by someone or possibly ripped off by a dog) and he had exposed bone sticking out of a mound of raw, infected tissue about two inches in diameter. My first thought was, “I can’t fix this.” But amazingly, once the bad tissue and bone was trimmed away, there was enough skin left to close the wound. Now the big question was would there be nerve damage that might interfere with his ability to urinate and defecate? The next morning, there was no urine in his litter box and he was straining and not able to defecate. We put him on kitty laxatives and within two days he was going on his own.

Aimee came into the shelter with a rear leg that was severely deformed. It had been broken at some point and healed without being set properly. She was unable to bend at the knee and the lower part of the leg pointed in the wrong direction. Unfortunately, there was no way to fix the leg, so we amputated it. Aimee adjusted beautifully since she really couldn’t use the leg before the surgery, and is doing terrific!

It was a trying month but all three cats were adopted and are doing extremely well. Great outcomes like these are why we – the entire shelter staff and volunteers – do what we do.

Next Week: How these special needs cats are making a difference in their adopters’ lives.Caption: Stump arrived at the Shelter with his tail cut or ripped off, but he is doing great following surgery.

Pets of the Week

POTW JUNE 18 CHIANNAH
CHIANNAH: Retriever/Terrier mix, female, 2 years old, brown and white, 48 pounds – $35.00
TEASPOON POTW JUNE 18
TEASPOON: Domestic shorthair cat, male, 9 months old, black/gray Tabby, 7.5 pounds – $10.00

      

BY THE NUMBERS

May 1- 31:  580 dogs and cats were received by the County Shelter.

June Adoption Special:  Cats $10.00 and Dogs $35.00

FOTAS, Volunteer

Three abandoned horses and the compassion of the Aiken Community

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS VP

Two emaciated mares and a skinny mini-horse were dumped at the home of a very kind soul in the County, and although he had the heart to care for them, he did not have the experience or the facilities to do so. He called several equine rescue organizations and pleaded for help, but no one was interested in the plight of three scraggly-looking equines of uncertain origins.

These stories rarely turn out well. Horses are eating machines; they need land and lots of food to thrive. It’s an expensive proposition, particularly for neglected animals who need medical attention as well. All in all, not a prescription for a happy ending.

Fortunately, in this case, all the planets and stars lined up. Richard Hall, our conscientious citizen-hero, called Bobby Arthurs, the County’s Chief Animal Control Officer and Shelter Manager. Animal Control is not readily equipped to deal with horse issues, but Bobby was determined to help Mr. Hall. He called on FOTAS, not because FOTAS is equipped to deal with equine emergencies either (our hands are full with the thousands of homeless dogs and cats that pass through the Shelter), but because he knows FOTAS can, and will, mobilize its resources to help Aiken County Animal Control with any animal in need.

FOTAS President Jennifer Miller called Gina Salatino, an experienced, expert horsewoman and a long-time, loyal FOTAS supporter in every way—Gina always responds, without fail, to a FOTAS plea for help. Gina and Bobby drove out to Mr. Hall’s immediately with ten bales of hay. The horses could not be moved to another location until they had been tested for equine infectious diseases, so in the meantime, Mr. Hall agreed to continue to care for the horses on his property with Bobby and Gina’s help. An anonymous woman (thank you!) donated 20 bales of hay, and Aiken County Farm Supply contributed more food.

Bobby and FOTAS arranged for Ridge Haven Equine Veterinary Services to worm and inoculate the horses and to perform a Coggins test to rule out Equine Infection Anemia, a non-curable, highly infection disease (the horses tested negative, after which they started gaining weight. Gina called Dr. Mike Brown to geld the mini-horse (which he did as a donation), and Gina found the little fellow a home with local equine dentist, Lou Heffner and his wife.

Placing the mares was more difficult. When Bobby had driven to Ridge Haven to make arrangements for inoculating and worming the horses, he had struck up a conversation with Natalie Hutto in the office (Bobby confessed later that he struck up the conversation because Natalie was dressed in western-like clothing, so he figured her for a horsewoman). Natalie had a farm but had never owned or cared for full-grown horses, but the plight of the two mares tugged at her heart-strings.

Long story short? Natalie agreed to give the two girls a home on her farm if Bobby, Gina and FOTAS would teach her how to care for them. They agreed, they did, and today the mares are flourishing on Natalie’s farm, with her children taking active roles in their care.

God bless them all. My faith in the goodness of humanity, miracles, and divine intervention is re-affirmed.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

Gina Salatino with the mini horse
Gina Salatino with the mini horse
Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Volunteer

Touched by an angel at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

It is May 24th as I write this article, only three weeks into the month of May, and a heart-breaking, record number of animals—480 to be exact—have been consigned to the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

You read that correctly; your eyes are not playing tricks on you—480 dogs, cats, puppies and kittens in the first three weeks of May.

Do the math; I did. Every single day the Shelter was open this month (21 operating days), 22-23 animals were consigned to the Shelter. That’s hard to fathom—there is no way to find local homes for or transfer out that many animals on top of the ones that are already there. Supply far exceeds demand. It’s like sweeping back the ocean with a broom.

A shelter is a stressful place for an animal under any circumstances, but the stress level in a crowded shelter is even worse for these unfortunate animals who are there through no fault of their own. They need lots of help to manage their stress levels until we can find them a home.

That’s why volunteers like the indomitable Nanci Santos are so important.

Nanci has been a FOTAS volunteer for a long time. She has never wavered in her commitment. You can find her at the Shelter every day, seven days a week, without fail. Even a serious health condition some years back did not deter Nanci—unable to walk dogs, she organized and conducted orientations for new volunteers until she had the physical strength to pick up the leash again.

Today, she touches every dog, literally. After the morning walks, Nanci folds and arranges blankets in all the kennel beds so the dogs will be comfortable. She cleans up any messes.

She gives every dog an appropriate toy, making certain that, say, a determined chewer is given an indestructible rope toy and a dainty licker gets a nice squeak toy. That’s how good she is—she figures it out for every one of them.

Nanci’s compassion and intuition have made her invaluable in working with shy, anxious and fearful dogs whose contact with humans has been either non-existent or just plain bad.

“It’s not unusual for Nanci to sit for hours on the floor of a kennel working with a terrified dog, speaking softly, coaxing it to take a treat,” says Kathy Jacobs, the FOTAS Program Director. “Two days later, I’ll find her sitting on a bench in a quiet place, that very same dog curled up in her lap – it could be 15 pounds or 50 pounds—it doesn’t matter. In the end, every dog, no matter how scared, climbs into Nanci’s lap, so to speak. She transforms them.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote: “To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” Thousands of canine lives have breathed easier because of Nanci Santos. Her success is immeasurable.

The Shelter needs your help all the time, but particularly in the summer months when intake skyrockets and folks go on vacation. Please volunteer, foster, or donate; call the FOTAS hotline (803-514-4313) or email info@angelhartlinedesigns.com and start making a difference today.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

Nanci Santos, FOTAS volunteer, with one of the dogs at the Aiken County Animal Shelter
Nanci Santos, FOTAS volunteer, with one of the dogs at the Aiken County Animal Shelter
Adoption, Dogs, Foster, FOTAS, Spay/Neuter, Volunteer

Honor National Pet Month by adopting a loving animal in need

Posted on by Angel Hartline
19
May

by Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

 

This has been a tough month at the County Animal Shelter. In just the first 18 days of May, 376 homeless animals have been received by the facility at 333 Wire Road.

Yes, you read that right. We’re only slightly past the halfway point of the month and the shelter is already packed full of animals surrendered by owners or picked up as strays. If this pace keeps up, the Shelter will receive more than 700 homeless animals by month’s end.

The County Shelter urgently needs adopters, fosters and volunteers to help offset this flood of homeless animals. It is also vital for all County citizens to get their pets spayed/neutered to reduce such an overpopulation of dogs and cats. County vouchers for these surgeries are available at the Shelter, 333 Wire Road.

Ironically, May is National Pet Month, an annual celebration of the benefits that pets bring to our lives and a time to reflect on what we can do to make their lives better. While far from being in a celebratory mood due to the latest intake numbers, we can take the National Pet Month’s goals to heart by finding these unwanted animals loving forever homes.

Let’s start by shining a spotlight on three special dogs up for adoption – a trio of truly sweet souls who need a break in life. These animals, through no fault of their own, have suffered especially difficult pasts and yet remain full of joy and affection for people. Two of them come from cruelty cases.

These dogs – all housebroken – are looking for, and deserve, loving homes where they can be the only canine:

CLAUS: This handsome, brindle and white Terrier mix is a very calm boy who loves people but prefers his humans all to himself. He’s just two years old and is described by volunteers as a “cuddle bug” because he will make an ideal couch companion for anyone looking for a dog to snuggle with while reading or watching television.

LUCIE: High-energy Lucie is a super sweet, outgoing Terrier/Boxer mix who has so much love to give! She adores people – so much so, she tries to hug every friendly human she meets. She’s also a terrific athlete. Lucie was found as a stray shortly after having puppies that were never found. She’s only two years old and has expressive eyes that dominate her pretty face.

HAYDEN: Like Claus, this 5-year-old likes to relax and is extremely affectionate – but also enjoys long walks and is great on a leash. His looks stand out because he has one brown and one blue eye. As far as getting along with other dogs, Hayden is very selective. If you already own a dog, you’ll need to bring him/her to the shelter for a “meet and greet” to see how they get along with Hayden. However, this warmhearted Hound mix would be ideal as the only dog in your family.

Please come visit these three dogs in need and all the other terrific animals available for adoption at the County Shelter! Remember, all animals are half price this month – dogs $35, and cats $15.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

Claus enjoys some one-on-one time with FOTAS Volunteer and Canine Coach Darling Rios.
Claus enjoys some one-on-one time with FOTAS Volunteer and Canine Coach Darling Rios.
Hayden, wearing an e-collar so he doesn’t lick at his stitches, visits front desk volunteer Joyce Egge.
Hayden, wearing an e-collar so he doesn’t lick at his stitches, visits front desk volunteer Joyce Egge.