Category Archives: Volunteers

2025, Volunteer, Volunteers

Making the New Year meaningful

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Change an animal's life as well as your own! Come volunteer with us at the Aiken County Shelter.
24
Dec

There’s something promising about the dawn of a new year. Maybe the upcoming year will be better than the last. Maybe the profound political divisions of the past will give way to a newfound compassion for our fellow human beings. Maybe civility will be restored to our civic and public life.

We hope and pray those things come true, but sadly those mega-issues are beyond our personal control. In the meantime, what we can do is shift our focus to the things in our life we can control. We can radiate kindness and concern for our family, friends, and neighbors. We can believe in the transformative power of love. We can engage in local causes that ease the suffering of those less fortunate than ourselves.

Change an animal's life as well as your own! Come volunteer with us at the Aiken County Shelter.
Change an animal’s life as well as your own! Come volunteer with us at the Aiken County Shelter.

If you love animals, there are thousands of neglected, homeless, and abused animals in Aiken County, over 5000 of which end up at the Aiken County Animal Shelter every year. They need comfort and attention, so becoming a FOTAS volunteer offers you the opportunity to help lonely, suffering animals; make friends; and feel good about yourself in the process.

The mission of FOTAS is to find a home for every adoptable animal picked up as a stray or surrendered to the shelter. This is no easy task—the animals at the shelter are pack animals isolated in a kennel in a busy, noisy shelter crowded with other anxious animals and human strangers. How do we make them less anxious and, thus, more adoptable?

In the words of John Lennon, all you need is love. Just 15-20 minutes/day of human attention and affection with a shelter animal—a short walk around the grounds, a romp in the play yard, some basic obedience instruction, a little praise and cuddle-time on the bench—makes all the difference in their world. FOTAS has been able to find a home for every adoptable animal at the shelter over the past five years thanks to the volunteers who bless those lost and homeless animals with time and affection.

It’s not all self-sacrifice. Our volunteers say the time they spend at the shelter makes a difference in their quality of life. Not only does it give them a happy place to go, a routine, a little exercise (not to mention the proven stress reduction of spending time with an animal), they make new friends through shared experiences. They chat about the dogs they walk and laugh about their escapades. They celebrate the animals who found homes and fret over the ones that haven’t. Your fellow volunteers are glad to see you and worry about you if you don’t show. For most volunteers, their time at the shelter is not an obligation, but a labor of love with unimaginable emotional and spiritual returns.

This year, make a New Year’s resolution that matters. Join our special community of FOTAS volunteers and fill your life with purpose, charity, and fellowship. Go to our website at www.fotasaiken.org and fill out a volunteer interest form, or email us at info@fotasaiken.org. We can’t wait to meet you.

God bless, and Happy New Year.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Vice President

2025, Foster, Volunteer, Volunteers

FOTAS: Coming together as a community to save homeless pets

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Milo goes for a Doggie Day Out!
26
Sep

In the past several weeks, we have been discussing the chronic overcrowding at the Aiken County Animal Shelter resulting from the overpopulation of homeless companion animals due to indiscriminate breeding practices. Let’s look at the numbers.

Because of its warmer climates, the breeding season in the South is longer than places farther north. Cats are seasonally polyestrous, meaning their heat cycles are triggered by longer daylight hours. Using conservative estimates, a mama cat can have up to 3 litters annually, with 12-18 kittens/year. Assuming a 25% female kitten survival rate, a single breeding mama can produce ~3000 kittens every six years.

As for dogs, females can go into heat twice a year, but let’s be conservative. Assume 1.5 litters/year (some heats skipped/failed), 5 pups/litter, and only 30% female pups survive to breed. In the case, the six year estimate for one unspayed female pup is ~600 cumulative pups.

With these numbers, it’s easy to understand how rapidly the overpopulation of homeless animals escalates in the South. It is also easy to see how unplanned and accidental breeding dangerously overwhelms the county shelter’s capacity and stresses a fragile animal welfare system desperately attempting to rehome every adoptable animal.

These numbers also demonstrate the need for a dedicated spay/neuter clinic in Aiken County to reduce the chronic overcrowding at the county shelter and to support a currently fragile animal control system without resorting to euthanizing adoptable animals.

The Aiken County Council understands the need and is making plans to build a spay/neuter clinic, but it could be years until the day it opens its doors. What can you do in the meantime.

  • Volunteer at the shelter to help with the increased number of animals.
  • Be a foster family.
  • Donate an afternoon to taking one of our dogs out for a well-deserved rest from a crowed shelter as part of our Dog Day Out program. All you need is a license and a few hours. We’ll pick you a suitable dog.
  • Adopt another animal (or two), maybe select one of the less adoptable senior animals or one with disabilities. If you cannot adopt another animal, please spread our social media posts about the many deserving animals available for adoption.
  • If you or someone you know finds a stray, or if circumstances force you or someone you know to do the unthinkable and give up your pet, please rehome your pet privately. Encourage others to rehome privately. Our Home-to-Home program is a great resource.
  • Encourage your friends, families, and neighbors to have their pets fixed with private vets and clinics if possible.
  • Donate, donate, donate—for our pet food bank, transfer costs to sister shelters, extra medical care when needed, and lifesaving equipment and programs. Think about designating a legacy gift to the shelter for future needs.

Collectively, we must pull together as a community to help the shelter and the thousands of homeless pets until the County’s dedicated, low-cost, spay/neuter clinic if open for business.

Your collective generosity and commitment have been, and continues to be, the hope of all those homeless, abandoned, and abused animals in Aiken County. God bless you all.

Go to fotasaiken.org to see all the ways you can help. Together, we can make our community shelter a resource and not a destination.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

2023, County Animal Control, Volunteers

Celebrating the folks who make it possible at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
FOTAS volunteer Melinda Gleaton with shelter dog for adoption at Aiken Steeplechase.
22
Dec

The Christmas season is upon us. It’s a time of festivity, bright lights, family, goodwill, and faith. It’s also a time to count our blessings. As we at FOTAS look back over the past fourteen years, it’s also a time to express our profound gratitude for our friends and supporters in the Aiken community.

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. Just this year, the new P.A.W.S. building opened to great acclaim, providing opportunities for quiet meet & greets, training sessions, and a new catio (indoor/outdoor cat patio).

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

Thanks to Aiken County Council Chairman, Gary Bunker, and County Council for making it possible to save the lives of thousands of homeless animals in the County. Our partnership grows stronger with each passing year.

Thanks to Brian Saunders, Aiken County Administrator; 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.

A huge shout-out and thanks to the army of volunteers who make the work of FOTAS possible – everything from manning the front desk, walking and socializing dogs, helping with 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 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 six years, the shelter has been able to save every adoptable animal. That’s a big deal, especially since the shelter’s intake is over 4000 animals/year.

Sadly, right now, the shelter is in crisis. Intake numbers have exploded nationally, and the County Shelter is no exception. The shelter is shockingly full for this time of year. Animals are doubled-up in the kennels. Staff and volunteer resources are stretched to the max. Why? Blame inflation; COVID, FLU, and RSV outbreaks, burgeoning development and population growth in the County; chronic shortages in spay/neuter services; and increased pet restrictions in rental properties. At this rate, the shelter’s ability to save every adoptable animal in 2024 is in jeopardy. That’s a heartbreaking prospect.

God bless you and your family during this holiday season, and may God bless the County’s homeless animals during these difficult times.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

2023, Foster, SOCIAL MEDIA, Volunteers

Power of social media saves Jax and Crystal

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
Aiken stray Crystal (left) and her new sister, Remy, found each other through FOTAS’s social media platforms.
16
Sep

While young, pretty, fluffy dogs at the Aiken County Animal Shelter typically are adopted in short order, less stunning homeless canines with physical imperfections need time and help to get noticed.

Their positive qualities cannot be captured in a photo. Their stories need to be told and the right adopter has to be reached through social media and word of mouth. This requires close teamwork between FOTAS and the shelter, as well as lots of shares and likes on Facebook and Instagram.

Take Jax for example.

Nine-year-old, brown and white, mixed breed Jax arrived at the County Shelter in bad shape. He was starving and looked like a walking skeleton. He also had an old back leg injury, likely from being hit by a car, which caused him to limp. Fly bites had scarred his ears and he was full of fleas. The senior stray had the saddest eyes, but they brightened when people greeted him.

Jax found his forever home thanks to the power of social media and a network of fosters, volunteers and FOTAS friends.
Jax found his forever home thanks to the power of social media and a network of fosters,
volunteers and FOTAS friends.

Terrified at the shelter, Jax needed a calmer environment in which to decompress. Thankfully, FOTAS Volunteer Christine Harmel took Jax home to foster him and his sweet personality began to shine as he gained more confidence under her care.

Over the next month, we posted Jax all over our social media. Still, no one came to visit him. Then his luck changed. Debbie Roland, a local realtor, saw Jax online and shared his photo and story with her uncle Dennis in Pennsylvania. His dog had recently passed away and Jax was just the kind of dog he was looking for! FOTAS arranged Jax’s transport to Dennis and the sweet dog is now living his best life.

“This morning was the first day of school up here, so all the kids were at the bus stop during his morning walk,” Dennis said. “Of course, Jax had to greet every kid.”

Another homeless dog who benefited from social media is Crystal. This three-year-old, white 46-pound mixed breed needed a home with a fenced-in yard. A true gem, Crystal loves other dogs and playing in water. Crystal just has one so-called imperfection. She is deaf.

Even after weeks of posting a myriad of videos and photos of Crystal on social media, no one came to visit her. However, just as we were losing hope of adopting her out, the right person saw Crystal on Instagram. Faye Brothers, a woman with a deaf dog in need of a friend, saw a video of Crystal shared by her daughter. When Faye learned Crystal was deaf, she knew she was the dog for her family. FOTAS arranged Crystal’s travel to Faye’s home in upstate New York and now this amazing stray and her new canine sister, Remy, are besties!

There are other homeless pets at the shelter just like these two special dogs – animals that need extra support and promotion to ensure they get good homes. Please follow FOTAS on Facebook and Instagram and share our posts with your friends. With one click, you just might save a homeless pet’s life.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

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, abandoned animals, Therapy Dogs, Volunteers

Unwanted strays blossom into certified therapy dogs

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
23
Sep

Their histories are similar. They were both picked up as strays and brought to the County Shelter hungry, terrified and covered in fleas. Unwanted and unwashed, their futures looked bleak.

Snowflake, an alarmingly thin, heartworm positive Great Pyrenees, hated his kennel and cowered in fear when he first arrived at the shelter in July of 2020. Clint, a black Retriever mix, arrived at the shelter in late Sept. 2021. He sat quietly in his kennel but was confused by his new environment and didn’t
understand why so many of the dogs around him kept barking in his direction.

However, both dogs saw their fortunes dramatically change when FOTAS volunteers fell in love with them and saw their potential for greatness. Biz and Eddie Mann adopted Snowflake on July 14, 2020, and Judi and John Sauer adopted Clint on Oct. 7, 2021.

“Snowflake was so loving, I knew he could become a therapy dog,” Biz said. “He just needed some love and care to help him gain more confidence.” Snowflake was 84 pounds and a matted mess when he arrived at the shelter. Now he is 102 pounds, well-groomed, heartworm negative (thanks to treatment funded by FOTAS) and the calmest, most self-assured dog you will come across. He became a certified therapy dog a little more than a year ago and has been visiting retirement homes, schools and hospice patients with Biz ever since.

“It’s wonderful,” Biz said. “The people smile and love petting Snowflake, who enjoys every minute of it. “I’ve had people lay their head down on his back because he’s so fluffy and soft, and children just want to hug him. Snowflake has a gift of making people happy and brightening their day.”

Clint is on a similar career path. Three months ago, the handsome Retriever passed all his tests to become a certified therapy dog, and he and Judi already have a full schedule of schools, long-term care facilities and hospices to visit.

Both Snowflake and Clint were certified by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs organization in Aiken.

“There are many venues where a therapy dog can be of benefit to both children and adults, Judi said. “I am not sure who gets more out of these sessions, the people or me. The response from people is truly magical and heartwarming.”

Recently, Snowflake and Clint visited Cumberland Village together, sharing their love with the senior residents. With his big smile and gentle demeanor, Clint brought a lot of joy to the people. Following closely behind, gentle giant Snowflake and his soft, white fur delighted the group.

Recently certified therapy dog, Clint, was a stray adopted from the County Shelter.

“It’s important for people to realize how terrific so many shelter dogs are,” Biz said. “They’re loving and trainable…they just need some love and direction.”

The County Shelter is full of wonderful dogs who desperately need homes. Please consider adopting your next pet from us. We are located at 333 Wire Road in Aiken. See all of our adoptable pets at fotasaiken.org. This month, dogs and puppies are $35; cats and kittens are only $10.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

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, Adoption, Events, Volunteers

It Doesn’t Get Better Than This

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
26
Aug

I can say, without reservation, that FOTAS volunteers are simply the best—maybe the greatest volunteers ever.

Case in point: their perfect execution of a multi-pronged game plan at the Aiken County Animal Shelter on Saturday, August 20th for the annual “Clear the Shelter Day.” Our goal for that day was to re-home as many shelter residents as possible and it required lots of coordination and teamwork to make that happen.

The publicity crew had done its advance work in promoting stories on Channel 6 and Channel 12, articles in the Aiken Standard, and many shared posts featuring the adoptable dogs and cats on FOTAS’s Facebook page.

The volunteers were prepared early on the day of the event. We have learned that it is important to present the dogs outside of their kennels where they are more relaxed and show their true personalities on such a busy day. So, an army of FOTAS volunteers arrived early at 7:30 a.m. to walk the dogs before the arrival of the first potential adopters. After their walk, each dog was taken to its assigned outside station where they were attended by two volunteers. Accordingly, every potential adopter spent quality time with each dog (or cat in the lobby) and their volunteers.

The adoption part of the day was to start at 9 a.m. but potential adopters began arriving an hour early. The volunteers were ready, helping people park and showing them where to go.

Finally, it was time for the dogs and cats to get adopted. First one, then another. The 50 volunteers who came that day clapped in unison whenever an animal was adopted. Adoptions represent the fruits of their labor and make it all worthwhile.

Another group of volunteers was assigned to a table to work with the dedicated shelter staff to make the adoption paperwork quick and easy.

Two other volunteers supplied each adopter with a gift to help the pet and pet-owner get off to a good start.

FOTAS’s volunteers come from all walks of lives with diverse political and social opinions. But all of those personal issues are put aside at the shelter, and they all come together recognizing the greater good of helping the animals. Their purpose is shared and the camaraderie is genuine.

At the end o the day, 25 dogs and cats were adopted. That meant there was room for 25 of the many animals received at the shelter already this month and, even though the shelter is still overcrowded, no adoptable animal would have to be euthanized due to lack of space.

The great family of FOTAS volunteers clapped in unison 25 times that Saturday.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Jennifer Miller FOTAS President

2022, Children, Dog Ears Reading Program, Volunteers

Barks and Books

Posted on by Shana Ryberg
The FOTAS Dog Ears Reading program helps children hone their reading skills and reduces the kennel stress of the County Animal Shelter’s dogs and cats.
11
Aug

How do you calm a barking, excited dog who is confined to a kennel at the Aiken County Animal Shelter? The solution is really simple. Ask a group of children to come and read to them. FOTAS (Friends of the Animal Shelter) had this idea a few years ago in conjunction with the Aiken County Library to create the Dog Ears Reading Program. This program is also part of our Junior FOTAS outreach program, which teaches pet responsibility. It is a Win-Win for both the four-legged and two-legged participants.

Do you want to know how this is done? Walk with me into the pod of ten kennels of very excited dogs. They all watch as I lay down blankets for their guests to sit on when they arrive. The dogs are all extremely curious as to what I am doing. Soon, ten very eager boys and girls arrive with their book bags full of reading material. As the children and their parents enter the pod, there is much barking and excitement as everyone takes a spot in front of a dog. The children pull out their books and start to read to the dogs while the volunteers and the parents keep a watchful eye over the scene unfolding before their eyes. All of a sudden there is a quietness that occurs, and we all realize that the dogs are actually listening to the children reading to them. Jasmine, the cute black lab mix, leans against the kennel door so she can get as close as possible to Susie who is reading to her a book titled Sit, Stay, Love, and Paco, the handsome black and white terrier mix, lays on his blanket covered pallet with his bone and appears to drift off to sleep as Kevin is reading a book called Saving Sadie. The connection between the children and the dogs is truly magical. There is no other way to explain this phenomenon.

This reading program is just one of the ways that FOTAS works with The Aiken County Animal Shelter to promote the well-being of the dogs who find themselves in a shelter atmosphere through no fault of their own. Efforts like this help to lessen the stress of shelter life for these animals. By offering programs like this, it is our goal to place all of the adoptable animals that we can through exposure to the community.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Judi Sauer, FOTAS Volunteer