Category Archives: Volunteers

2019, Demodex, Dogs, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, injured animals, kittens, neglected pets, News, Volunteers

Fostering Medical Needs Pets Brings New Challenges, Many Rewards

Posted on by Bob Gordon
19
Aug

This has been a long summer at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS). Kittens thrown from car windows, dogs starved, puppies abandoned in the woods…we’ve seen all these scenarios come through the door again and again.

FELICITY is no long in the shelter but is instead recovering from her condition in a FOTAS volunteer’s comfy, quiet home.

Shelter staff and FOTAS volunteers work so hard to help the many pets that are surrendered or found as strays. But look at the numbers: 500 plus animals per month, forty dogs and cats in one day. Where are we expected to put them? So many of these homeless pets need time to heal properly from neglect and abuse. To save them, we need community involvement. We need foster homes.

Luckily, we have a terrific group of foster volunteers. We just need to add to our team.

Today Gary Ly is picking up Felicity. Gary is one of those special foster dads who gives our medical needs dogs a safe and happy home for a month, or even two. We never even have to ask; he will call and tell us he has time for another long-term foster. How awesome is that!

Thanks to FOTAS Foster Gary Ly, Demodex puppy FELICITY is getting the quiet environment and socializing time she needs to regain her fur.

Felicity is a one-year-old, reddish, medium-sized cutie who longs for attention. She came in mostly bald due to Demodectic Mange or “Demodex”. Demodex is very common to any shelter and we never have enough foster homes to manage all the cases. It’s not contagious, but it can worsen from stress like that caused by being in a loud, strange environment. Felicity just needs a quiet place away from the shelter to heal. When 50 other dogs are barking, it is not an ideal place to recover.

She will go home with Gary and we will provide all her food and medicine while he provides her with love and time. Felicity will come back furry, happy and home ready!

We also had a litter of seven puppies, only a few pounds each. When young puppies are scared and without vaccinations, they are susceptible to getting sick. This litter came in and received their first vaccinations but needed a foster home for two weeks, until they could get another vaccination and be ready for adoption.

Thankfully, Anne Laver was available. Anne is one of those loving people who always has a horse stall free for a litter of pups. After she took them in, they came back so happy and socialized!

When we can’t find fosters, often members of the staff step up and take care of the animals. Gibson, a sweet Tabby kitten, was brought to the shelter with a severe hip injury. His hip is expected to heal but only if he can enjoy some extra TLC in a quiet environment. ACAS Adoption Coordinator Hillary Clark-Kulis, as she has done for so many infant felines, brought Gibson home to nurse him back to health. She has been fostering him for about a week and the hope is that he’ll fully recover from his injuries by the end of the month.

Medical needs kitten GIBSON with his foster mom, ACAS Adoption Coordinator Hillary Clark-Kulis.

Because there is always demand for special needs fosters, we are asking for your help with this specific type of situation. But we also have a need for short-term fosters for healthy animals ready for adoption. If you could just try fostering one time, we think you would see how amazingly rewarding it is!

To give fostering a try, please call FOTAS at (803) 514-4313, email us at info@fotasaiken.org or stop by the ACAS located at 333 Wire Road.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director

2019, FOTAS, News, Volunteer, Volunteers

FOTAS and Shelter Animals Lost an Angel

Posted on by Bob Gordon
04
Aug

“Every sunrise is an invitation for us to arise and brighten someone’s day.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, Smile Anyway

Every so often in life, we are privileged to know someone whose kindness knows no limits and whose patience is bottomless. Someone whose humanity is so deep, they dedicate their life to helping the lost, the hopeless, and the forgotten. Someone who gives so much and asks for nothing in return.

Nanci Santos with one of her favorites, Bear. Nanci died on July 22, 2019 after a long battle with cancer.

That someone for us was Nanci Santos, a long-time FOTAS volunteer and supporter, who died on July 22nd after a long and brave battle with cancer.

Nanci was a constant and reliable presence at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. She walked dogs, helped with new programs, and assisted with FOTAS fundraisers like Woofstock. She helped develop the orientation process for coordinating and training new volunteers, sharing her own experience and knowledge with warmth and humor.

She had a lot to share, too. Typically, she arrived at the shelter before the other volunteers had finished their daily walks and visits with the animals. She visited every kennel on the adoption floor, performing a last-minute check for the afternoon, doing an occasional clean-up and distributing toys to the dogs—one, maybe two toys, even though we tried to persuade her that one was sufficient. Nanci wasn’t buying it, and we gave up trying to convince her.

Nanci loved spending time with the shelter dogs.

She also made certain that every dog had a blanket (at least every dog that wasn’t a known blanket-eater).

“She had a very high standard for putting down blankets,” says Ellie Joos, FOTAS Secretary. “She didn’t just toss them down. She placed the blankets on the pallets and tucked them in at the corners so they were smooth, sometimes adding a second blanket if she thought this dog or that dog needed some extra cushioning or warmth. That was the thing about Nanci—no matter how many dogs were on the adoption floor, she knew them all and figured out their individual needs.”

On any given afternoon, Nanci could be found sitting on a bench in the shade with a dog beside her.

Nanci gets a kiss from shelter dog Rocky.

“It was usually a dog that only an hour before had been so scared and shutdown, it would tremble in the corner of its kennel and not make eye contact,” says Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director. “She’d be working her magic, stroking the dog and talking in soft tones, and the dog would be lying beside her, head in her lap, totally relaxed and content.”

She had a gift for bringing the hard cases back to life, which in turn made them attractive adoption prospects. Without her intervention, many of those dogs might have shut down completely, spent more time on the adoption floor, and had a harder time adjusting to a new family. She made a real difference in their lives.

The animals made a difference in her life, too.

“As Nanci struggled with the long, ugly battle with cancer, her time at the shelter gave her solace, a reason to get up every day—even on the bad days,” says her husband, Steve. “She loved going to the shelter.”

The truth is, Nanci made a difference in all of our lives. The world will be a slightly dimmer place without her.

Godspeed, dear friend. You will be missed.

–– By Jennifer Miller, FOTAS President
and Joanna Samson, FOTAS Vice-President

2019, Adoption, awards, Dogs, FOTAS, News, Volunteer, Volunteers

FOTAS Owes its Success to Aiken Community

Posted on by Bob Gordon
02
Jul

When the 2019 Aiken’s Choice winners were announced for the Best of Aiken Contest (hosted by the Aiken Standard), FOTAS was voted the winner of the Best Nonprofit Organization and FOTAS’s annual Woofstock Doggie Derby Day was voted as the Best Pet-Friendly Event. We couldn’t be more touched and pleased, not only because of the recognition (always nice) but because we were selected by you, the community.

We know how many other worthy nonprofits operate in Aiken and that makes your selection of FOTAS even more meaningful.

FOTAS President Jennifer Miller and Gary Bunker cut the ribbon for the shelter’s animal wellness center.

FOTAS was formed 10 years ago in response to the heartbreaking plight of the homeless and abandoned animals in Aiken County. At the time, about 6,000 animals were consigned to the County Shelter each year: only 5% made it out alive. The County Shelter was old and outdated. There were no play yards and very few volunteers. There was no adoption program to speak of. In 2009, the founders of FOTAS dreamed of a day when no adoptable animal would have to be euthanized in Aiken County.

We’re so close. In 10 short years, intake numbers have dropped roughly 16 to 21% (still too many but making progress), but the save rate at the County Shelter has increased from a dismal 5% to a whopping 90%. The 10% we can’t save are too emotionally or physically damaged to make good, safe family pets. Maybe one day the number of animals too far gone to save will be reduced to a few rare instances. We can only hope.

The volunteers work hard but there are rewards to what they do each day at the shelter.

We could not have come this far and saved those thousands of animals without your – the community’s – support. You showed up in droves to let your elected County officials know that you wanted better outcomes for our homeless animals, and they listened. You volunteer at the shelter six days a week and on holidays, performing as many as 10 full-time jobs to supplement the County’s dedicated staff.

The adoption program is thriving thanks to the army of committed citizens who come every day to walk and socialize the animals. We are able to market our animals and go the extra mile to find every animal a home because you help us with social media, outreach, fostering and transfer programs. Moreover, thanks to our fundraising efforts and special events and your seemingly bottomless generosity, we are able to finance new programs, equipment and training for and at the shelter, as well as subsidize the costs of adoption, spay/neuter and other medical needs – all designed to increase the number of adoptions while reducing the population of homeless animals and thus the annual intake at the shelter.

Volunteer Pat Kahn comforts a new arrival.

We are humbled and proud that you have recognized our efforts and celebrate our success through these 2019 Aiken’s Choice Awards. But the truth is we owe it all to your generosity and support, and these awards honor you as much as they honor us.

With your continued commitment, we will reduce the population of homeless and unwanted animals; we will get those intake numbers down; and we will attain the goal of never having to euthanize another adoptable pet in Aiken County.

That is our pledge to you. Thank you and God bless.

Their lives are in our hands.

P.S.: Help! The shelter is overrun with kittens and puppies. If you’re thinking about a new pet, now’s the time.

–By Jennifer Miller, FOTAS President and
Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

BY THE NUMBERS
In June, the Aiken County Animal Shelter received more than 500 strays and surrendered pets. The shelter facility is currently full.

PETS OF THE WEEK

OLYMPIA
Mixed breed, female, 1-1/2 years old, 57 pounds – $35

BRANDON
Domestic Shorthair kitten, 2 months old, Tabby, 1.5 pounds – $10

2019, Adoption, Bully Dogs, Dogs, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, News, Pibbles, surrendered pets, Training, Volunteer, Volunteers

Fostering Prepares Pets for Adoption and Saves Lives

Posted on by Bob Gordon
25
Jun

The need for foster homes is greater than ever. The Aiken County Animal Shelter is full of puppies, dogs, cats and kittens who are confused and afraid. So far in June, we have taken in more than 400 animals in just three weeks. There are only so many places to put these animals.

Yvonne Brookes works with her foster dog, WALTER, who since has been adopted.

Fostering saves lives and is rewarding beyond words! It gives strays and surrendered pets time to decompress, heal and thrive and when people temporarily take them into their homes, it makes room for more animals at the shelter. We choose foster pets that are easy to rehome and often need only a week in your care. Puppies and kittens need a bit longer — two to four weeks.

Young Boxer mix FANCY enjoys her stay with the Brookes family while waiting to be adopted
Senior Beagle ERNIE arrived at the shelter with a serious wound but healed in a foster home and then was adopted to a great family.

Fancy, a young female Boxer mix now available for adoption, has enjoyed spending time at the home of FOTAS fosters Colin and Yvonne Brookes.

“Fancy is the most amazing little house dog,” Yvonne noted. “Calm and polite, she is a joy to have around. Loves to play with her toys and fetch balls. She is housebroken and adores travelling in the car with you. She is good with adults, children and most dogs. She will sit on command and is very trainable – always eager to please. Come give this girl some sugar and a forever home … she will love you forever in return.”

Ernie, a senior Beagle, came to us with a large wound and needed time in foster care. After being in a foster home for a week, he was adopted and his new mom reported back, “He is the best — absolutely perfect! I have been looking for a dog for three years and I am so glad I waited.”

Volunteers often write notes to the people who adopt their foster animals. Here are some examples:

“These young dogs are so fabulous. They love to play together and keep each other company. They were skittish and fearful at first, but we walk twice a day in the woods and at every turn they run back to me. We have really enjoyed watching them blossom!” – Foster Betty Ryberg

“This Southern Doll Baby is stout, sturdy, wiggles when she walks and just adorable. She plays well with her foster brother. She is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Does not bark. Enjoy her as we have.” – Fosters Gary and Toni Urben

FOTAS Volunteer Gary Urben has been fostering ACAS dogs for a long time.

“Blake is a super happy and beautiful dog. He wags his tail vigorously at the sight of his people. He is crate-trained, walks off leash with other dogs easily, comes when called, sits on command, and is eager to learn. Blake enjoys playing with other dogs, shares food and toys well. We really loved having him in our life for the week.” – Foster Shana Pearsons

Foster parents help get these pets ready for forever homes and the adopting families are so grateful. They love their rescue dogs and love to know that someone else loved them, too.

If you are interested in fostering, please contact FOTAS at info@fotasaiken.org or (803) 514-4313. You can also come to the County Animal Shelter at 333 Wire Road and fill out a short application.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director

PETS OF THE WEEK

NIGELLA
German Shepherd, female, 4 years old, 65 pounds – $35

OLIVIA
Domestic Medium-hair kitten, 2 months old, 1.5 pounds – $10

2019, Adoption, Bully Dogs, DOGGIE DATES, Dogs, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, News, Pibbles, Training, Volunteers

Doggie Dates and Sleepovers Help Shelter Pets Relax, Find Forever Homes

Posted on by Bob Gordon
04
Jun

Did you know you can go on dates with dogs who are waiting to be adopted at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS)? You can! If you live in the County, FOTAS has a program that allows you to take homeless dogs out for an hour or two, on a day-long field trip or even overnight.

And the dogs love it. Getting out of the shelter for even a short car ride can work wonders to reduce their stress, build trust and boost their confidence.

“The biggest value of the Doggie Days Out and sleepovers is how they reduce the dogs’ anxiety,” said FOTAS volunteer Kelly Meyers, who often takes ACAS dogs home for the weekend. “Currently I’m working with Bastian, and he goes from amped up to chilled out as soon as he gets in my car. The experience gives them a break from the stress of shelter life and a chance to decompress. “

BASTIAN, a terrific 7-year-old Retriever mix currently available for adoption at the County Animal Shelter, enjoys some down time at Kelly Meyers’ house. The time away from the shelter helps make dogs more confident and ensures more successful adoptions.

The experience also provides staff and volunteers with critical information about the dog’s personality traits, strengths and weaknesses. Is the dog housebroken? Does he get along with cats? Is he friendly to strangers? Answers to such questions provide key data for successfully matching them with potential adopters.

“It’s good to give these dogs some quiet time, so I take them on walks downtown or bring them to a local horse farm,” said FOTAS Volunteer Donna Dring. “Sometimes I take them for a walk in the woods or bring them to my home for an hour just to unwind and get some sleep.”

Going on a doggie date or hosting a doggie sleepover can also give citizens greater insight about a dog they are interested in adopting. Marti Healy recently took black Lab mix Cooper home for a sleepover to see how he would mesh with her pets. Her dog, Quincy, became quick friends with Cooper but her cat, Tuppence, didn’t fare as well. The feline liked Cooper but he couldn’t help himself from chasing her around the house.

LADY, who has since been adopted to a great home, enjoys some cuddling with FOTAS Volunteer Donna Dring during a Doggie Day Out.

Although Healy was disappointed Cooper wasn’t the right match for her family, she was thankful for the experience.

“Getting the chance to see how Cooper got along with my animals in a relaxed setting was a huge help,” she said. “I would have felt bad if I had adopted him and then had to take him back.” Her experience also let the shelter know that Cooper bonds well with other dogs but needs to find a home without kitties.

In the summer, the need for doggie daters is at its greatest because thousands of animals are received during the hot months, the shelter is usually at capacity and we are short on volunteers as some go on vacation. When citizens take these homeless pets on walks or field trips, it’s greatly therapeutic for them, especially the dogs who are shy or scared.

If you would like to take an ACAS dog on a date, please come to the shelter, located at 333 Wire Road, and we’ll set you up. All you need is your driver’s license and a love for dogs.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

PETS OF THE WEEK

BOLT
Mixed breed, male, 3 years old, 42 pounds – $35

JADA
Domestic Longhair, female, 2 months old, 1.5 pounds – $10

2019, Adoption, animal abuse, County Animal Control, Demodex, Dogs, Events, Foster, fostering, FOTAS, neglected pets, News, Uncategorized, Volunteer, Volunteers

Neglected Puppy Coco Makes Amazing Recovery

Posted on by Bob Gordon
28
Jan

In early November, a stray puppy was brought into the Aiken County Animal Shelter by one of the animal control officers. I have seen a lot of neglected dogs enter the shelter but this one instantly brought tears to my eyes. We could all feel her pain. Her face was dripping blood, she had no fur, and she was just a baby!

COCO was hairless and in severe discomfort when she was brought in to the Shelter

This sweet little girl didn’t make a peep. She lay in the medical clinic on a blanket, eyes wide with fear, while allowing Dr. Levy and her kind-hearted assistants to clean and treat her. The puppy had a condition called Demodectic mange or “Demodex”, a very treatable and non-contagious skin condition that we see in neglected, malnourished or stressed dogs. This was just the most severe case I had ever seen.

We called Paula Neuroth, one of FOTAS’ most dedicated foster moms, and told her what just came in. Paula came in the next day and picked up the frightened pup. She and her husband, Rod, named the puppy Coco. During the next four weeks she healed beautifully. Paula called and said she thought Coco was some kind of Spaniel or Hound, and when her fur came in, she had a beautiful white coat with brown spots.

Paula Neuroth holds COCO, who through excellent medical and foster care, made a full recovery and regained her beautiful coat.

“Coco is a very brave little girl who has been through a lot,” Paula said. “From the moment we brought her home she was gentle and so sweet. We just showed her a lot of love and she learned it is okay to have fun, eat without fear, and to trust people.”

We have many dogs that come to the shelter with Demodex and they need foster care. Some just have patches of fur missing while others, like Coco, temporarily lose their entire coat. The recovery time is so much less when they are in a home environment, away from the stress of the shelter.

Coco is already in her forever home and living her dream life. Paula continues to foster those that need her, but we need more foster volunteers who can help. Currently we have other dogs with very treatable medical conditions that need a safe place to recover. These dogs are so grateful, they will love you more than any other.

Please consider fostering a puppy or dog in need. It is one of the most rewarding experiences you will have.

Their lives are in our hands.

— by Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Program Director

By the Numbers
From January 1 to 23, the County Animal Shelter took in more than 300 strays and surrendered pets.


Pets of the Week

MARKUS
Mixed breed, male, 6 years old, 73 pounds – $35

HOLLY
Domestic Shorthair Dilute Tortoiseshell cat, female, 4-1/2 years old, 6.5 pounds – $10  (at Aiken PetSmart store)

2019, Doggie Day Out, fostering, FOTAS, News, Training, Volunteer, Volunteers

Couple Fosters Shelter Dogs, Prepares them for Good Homes

Posted on by Bob Gordon
08
Jan

When Yvonne and Colin Brookes moved to Aiken from the UK two years ago, they didn’t think they’d have any dogs in their home. They planned to make frequent trips back to the UK to visit family and friends across the pond, so owning pets wasn’t practical.

But for a couple not used to life without animals, this was a difficult adjustment. Yvonne spent most of her life as a professional horse trainer and rider in North Yorkshire, England and at one time she and Colin owned six horses, two dogs and two cats. Shortly before moving to Aiken, their last dog, a Jack Russell named Bernie, passed away at the age of 18.

“It was very hard not having a pet but then we heard about FOTAS and attended their Woofstock festival – and we discovered a way to spend time with animals and at the same time help dogs in need,” Yvonne said.

They started by walking dogs and spending time with them on the shelter grounds. Then Yvonne began to take dogs on “Doggie Days Out,” a FOTAS program that allows people to take shelter canines for short trips to the park, downtown or even just for a car ride. Yvonne was taking so many dogs on days out that a separate sign-out sheet was created for her.

Finally, Yvonne and Colin took in a puppy, Tyler, for about a week to help the 5-month-old Hound get used to people and experience what living in a house is like before being placed in his forever home.

“The fear we had initially was getting too attached to the dogs,” Yvonne explained. “We had never fostered before and in the past, any animal in our home was considered a member of the family. But once we took the approach that these dogs were just with us for a little while and already destined to be someone else’s pet, it became an extremely rewarding experience.”

Yvonne Brookes takes shelter dog Zeus on a walk downtown to help socialize him. Such special attention and training helped prepare Zeus for his forever home.

After Tyler, the couple fostered a young Lab mix Carlos. Then came Mac, Maverick, Celeste, Polo and Zeus. All were dogs needing socialization and training. Retriever Celeste was shy but bloomed into a confident canine under the two-week tutelage of Yvonne.

Polo, a chain dog, learned better manners and how to walk well on a leash. Zeus, a large Rhodesian Ridgeback, who was anxious and bit at his leash when being walked, became a well-behaved, calmer dog.

“I would tell anyone who’s thinking of fostering, give it a go,” Yvonne said. “It really helps these animals. It helps them find homes and raises the likelihood of a successful adoption. Sometimes it’s just a matter of teaching these animals that they can be loved.”

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

By the Numbers
On the first  two days of the new year, the County Animal Shelter took in 58 strays and surrendered pets.

 

Pets of the Week
PHILO
Mixed breed, male, 3 years old, brindle/white, 48 pounds – $35

CLARA
Domestic Shorthair cat, female, 1 year old, tortoiseshell, 8 pounds – $10

2018, Foster, FOTAS, News, Pibbles, Training, Volunteer, Volunteers

Volunteering at the Animal Shelter: What’s in it for You?

Posted on by Bob Gordon
01
Jan

Rain or shine, hot or cold, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year! In some way, shape or form, FOTAS volunteers are helping to find homes for the more than 5,000 animals taken in annually by the Aiken County Animal Shelter!

Volunteer John Berk socializes Kromer on the Shelter couch.

Let me count the ways you can help at this special place: fostering, walking, socializing animals, front desk reception, publicity, fundraising, assisting at special events, and much more. You’re never too old to sit quietly in the sunshine with a scared or lonely dog by your side, or too young to cuddle a kitten under the watchful eyes of a parent. Seeing a dog run, play and chase toys in the play yard often results in the transfer of that same energy, enthusiasm and sense of well-being to the humans watching.

Nanci Santos, a longtime volunteer, says, “Sitting with a dog on the couch, watching the cars go by gives us both a sense of peace and love – feelings that flow both ways.”

Always present and often our comedy relief, Volunteer John Berk loves to take pets for a doggy day out – walking in Hitchcock Woods, sipping coffee at his favorite downtown watering hole, or home for a weekend of up close and personal attention. An ex avid golfer John claims that, “Surely there is more joy in walking a dog than missing a three-foot putt!”

Dana Hollon, who is at the Shelter every Saturday, says “the animals’ antics make me happy; they make me laugh!”

Bill Carter, another dog walking volunteer, explains, “I know they relieve my stress and I like to think I relieve theirs.”

Front desk and lobby volunteers also find great satisfaction and challenge in helping visitors. These valuable folks greet everyone who walks through the door and match personalities — human, canine, and feline. Watching folks walk out the door and back to their car having adopted the perfect pet is so rewarding! My belief is that the pet finds you, not the reverse.

Volunteer Nanci Santos cuddles a Beagle mix after their long walk.

Major off-site fundraisers such as Woofstock and the FOTAS Playing Fore the Pets Annual Golf Tournament require months of behind the scenes preparation but result in community camaraderie, solidarity and raising funds. All of the donations go to the shelter animals who need spay/neutering, medical treatment, food and so much more.

If none of the above roles have your name on it, how about the simple enticement of happy people, smiling faces, teamwork, and the chance to meet and make new friends. Where else can you choose your own hours, be your own boss, and experience great job satisfaction?

So, consider volunteering at the Aiken County Animal Shelter among your New Year’s resolutions and come to 333 Wire Road or go online and fill out a FOTAS volunteer application. Orientation sessions are scheduled at convenient intervals and last about an hour and a half. After that, you’re good to go.

Welcome to the world of FOTAS volunteers – there’s a lot in it for you!

 

— By Jan Barker, FOTAS Volunteer Trainer

 


By the Numbers
Since October 1, the County Animal Shelter has taken in 1,125 strays and surrendered pets.

 

 Pets of the Week

WYATT: Boxer mix, male, 3 years old, brown/rust, 53 pounds – $35

 

CEE CEE: Domestic Shorthair cat, female, 1-1/2 years old, black & white, 6.5 pounds – $10

 

2018, Adoption, Cats, Chained dogs, community cats, County animal laws, County tethering ordinance, Dogs, Donate, donations, Foster, FOTAS, Fundraisers, Heartworms, News, PetSmart cats, Pibbles, Spay/Neuter, Stray hold requirements, surrendered pets, TNR Program, Volunteer, Volunteers

The Christmas Spirit of Gratitude and Charity

Posted on by Bob Gordon
24
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 nine years, it’s also a time to reflect upon our profound gratitude for our friends and supporters in the Aiken community.

FOTAS Volunteer John Berk with Cleo, who was adopted to a good home this year.

We’ve come a long way together. With your help, we successfully lobbied the County Council to build a new shelter and partnered with the county to raise money to fund the architectural design and construction-ready plans.

Once the new shelter opened in early 2014, we recruited and trained an army of volunteers to work at the shelter, performing the equivalent of eight to 10 full-time jobs. We funded training programs for county personnel. We developed and funded exciting new programs with the county to increase adoption rates. We created a network of transfer partners in the northeast that take animals we can’t adopt locally, along with a system of foster care for dogs and cats who have been accepted for transfer or have special needs. We also supplement adoption fees for military personnel and veterans.

LUCY gets some lovin’ from young FOTAS volunteers.

We provided fencing to create exercise yards, bought a new van to move animals locally to outside adoption events, and installed a storage shed. We pay for toys, blankets, treats, flea and tick meds, cat condos, a doggie treadmill to rehabilitate and socialize dogs, and humane runners for folks who need to take their dogs off of chains.

We funded the construction of an isolation pod to separate shelter animals with temporary infectious diseases, as well as a host of necessary medical equipment and supplies. Through this assistance, we’ve made it possible for sick and injured animals to have a second chance. A total of 450 heartworm positive dogs have been saved through our funding. We also pay for outside veterinarian services when necessary.

FOTAS PetSmart Volunteer Twylia with feline Mabel.

Our funding has made it possible to attack overpopulation of pets at the source. Last year, the county and FOTAS paid for the spay/neuter of over 1,300 citizen-owned pets and 1,120 community feral/cats.

Has all this effort made a difference? You bet it has. In 2009, the old county shelter often took in more than 6,000 animals a year; only 5% made it out alive. This year, the shelter will have taken in 4,200 animals, and 90% were saved. Hands down, FOTAS and the county save more animals than any other rescue agencies in the country.

It couldn’t have happened without a lot of hard work, dedication, and support from you, the Aiken community.

Adopted dog HILDE in her forever home December 2018.

We and Aiken’s homeless animals are blessed to have your support.

But there is still so much to do. In the last two months, a whopping 1,000 animals were surrendered to the shelter. Please consider an end-of-the-year donation to FOTAS, either by mail to FOTAS, PO Box 2207, Aiken SC 29802 or online at FOTASAiken.org.

By the way, since FOTAS was recognized by South Carolina as one of the 10 most efficient and effective charity “Angels” in the state, you can be certain that your hard-earned dollars are spent on our mission.

Thank you and God bless your family this Christmas season.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

— By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice-President

 

By the Numbers
Since October 1, the County Animal Shelter has taken in well over 1,000 strays and surrendered pets. Please spay/neuter your dogs and cats.
 
Pets of the Week
ANGIE: Retriever mix, female, 3 years old, brindle and white, 50 pounds – $35

 

BEE BEE: Domestic Shorthair cat, female, 1-1/2 years old, black and white, 6.5 pounds – $10
2018, awards, essay, FOTAS, News, Spay/Neuter, surrendered pets, TNR Program, Volunteers

Giving Thanks at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Bob Gordon
26
Nov

Thanksgiving is a time of reflection for those of us at FOTAS — a time to take stock of our blessings; to consider the remarkable progress we and the County have made in making the world a better place for Aiken County’s homeless, abandoned and abused animals; and in particular, to celebrate the many people who have contributed to our success and made this journey so meaningful.

Thanks to our committed partner, Aiken County, for making it possible to save the lives of thousands of homeless animals in the County.

Volunteer Joanne Goble with recently adopted Retriever mix GLENDA

Thanks to Paige Bayne, the County’s Enforcement and Animal Services Director, Bobby Arthurs, the Shelter Manager and Chief Animal Control Officer, Dr. Lisa Levy, the Shelter’s veterinarian, and all the Shelter staff for their dedication to increasing 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 training dogs, managing canine play groups, working special events and fundraisers, fostering dogs, organizing transfers, manning off-site adoption events, working on publicity and social media, to financial records and bookkeeping.

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 for shelter animals and to find them forever homes. As a result of all our collective efforts, FOTAS was one of ten recipients out of thirty-three thousand charities in South Carolina recognized by the secretary of state as an “angel” charity for its effective and efficient service in the community.

That’s a very big deal.

Abby Grant, who won the Adopt a Shelter Pet Coloring Contest in the Aiken Standard, plays with a kitten at the shelter.

But there’s still so much to do. Intake at the shelter has exploded— in the last six weeks over 700 animals were surrendered to the shelter. The strain on the system, our resources, volunteers, and staff is huge, and eventually the system will not be able to keep up. It just can’t.

The answer to reducing these extraordinary intake numbers is to reduce the homeless population by fixing every pet. Adopting a pet into the family requires commitment and responsibility for shelter, food, and medical care for the pet’s entire life.

Sure, sometimes awful things happen to good people and they are forced to do the unthinkable and give up a beloved pet, but surrendering an animal to a public shelter must be the very last resort. We are pleading with folks to network with their friends and family, use social media, do everything they can to rehome their pet into a safe and healthy situation. No matter how good FOTAS and the county shelter are, a pet surrendered to the shelter is at risk because there are just so many animals that can be absorbed into an already pet-saturated community at any given time.

Please join us in our fight to reduce the homeless population of pets through spay/neuter and educating the public about pet responsibility. Thank you, and God bless you and your family during this holiday season.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

 

 

By the Numbers
In the last six weeks, more than 700 animals have been received by the Shelter as strays or surrendered pets.

 

Pets of the Week

LINNETTE
Domestic Shorthair, female, brown Tabby, 2 months old, 1.8 pounds – $10

 

PUMPKIN
Boxer mix, male, brown & white, 2 years old, 63 pounds – $35