Then there’s Echo. Now, Echo—he had a home and loved his humans. Then one day, his humans dropped him off here at the shelter and just walked away. No ‘atta boys, no goodbyes, no nothing. Echo’s a great little guy—so much fun, housetrained, the works—8 years-old, maybe not so great with other male dogs. But hey! Nobody’s perfect. 

My other pal, Ozzy? He also had a home, too, and his humans left him here because he had a few medical problems—which FOTAS and the shelter fixed right up! He’s 2 years-old, healthy, and he’s a great big snuggle bug. The volunteers love him. 

Point being, the how’s and why’s of how all us dogs got here are different, but our stories are all the same: our humans let us down. Big time. But you know what? The humans here, at the shelter? They’re top-notch, the best—especially the volunteers! I never even met a volunteer before I came to this place—and take it from me, you need to get one. They come every morning and walk us, sit with us in the yard and talk to us so sweetly. They bring us treats and throw balls. They take us to morning playgroups. 

Who knew humans were capable of such love and world-class belly rubs? Go figure!

But here’s the thing: there aren’t enough of them—volunteers, I mean (although you can never have enough belly-rubs, either!). It takes time in the morning to walk all us dogs, so if we’re lucky, we get maybe 15 minutes of me-time. That might not seem like a lot to you, but to us dogs? It’s everything. 

Plus, there’s no one to walk us in the afternoon. Do you know how hard it is, if you’re a gal me like me who would never mess in her kennel, to only get one chance a day? It’s a misery. 

So, please! All you humans reading this, I’m begging you: JOIN FOTAS. BE A VOLUNTEER! You’ll have a great time with all the other volunteers, and we dogs will show you a good time, too. Like Buster, who’s now a superstar thanks to the volunteers. He’s good in playgroup, walks on a leash, and sits on command. He’s a happy guy. And when you stop by the shelter, look me up—DayLilly.  They say I’m magnificent! Not sure what that means, but it sure sounds good!

So please, spread the word: we’re all ready to be adopted and be someone’s new BFF. And be a volunteer! We need you.

Our lives are in your hands.

Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice-President

But the best part is yet to come. On Monday mornings, Hallie Glennie and Bob Gordon take up their position in the main outdoor play yard while staff and volunteers leash up dogs and line up outside the gate. Hallie signals the release of the first dog into the yard, and after a moment, once she is certain the first dog is relaxed, she signals the release of the second dog. If those two dogs are getting along, she signals the release of the third dog . . . and then the fourth, the fifth, and so on. Over the next five hours, dogs come and go out of the yard having spent their time chasing, wrestling, drooling, and jumping on and over and around their pals. SO MUCH FUN!

Hallie and Bob (as well as county staff Jennifer Braden, Lisa Guadet, and Cynthia Gray), who have been trained by an organization called Dogs Playing for Life, watch carefully and assess the social behavior of every dog that comes into the yard. Rough and Rowdy dogs, for example, usually dominate the largest yard, while the Gentle & Dainty dogs commune quietly in a smaller yard. Hallie and Bob look for signs of defensiveness, fear, or aggression and move the dogs in and out of the yard as necessary. If the energy gets too high in one yard, Bob might siphon a few dogs off to play in a smaller yard. If a dog looks overwhelmed by all the action, it might get moved into the pen with the Gentle/Dainties.

The goal of every play session (every morning, Monday-Saturday) is to get as many dogs as possible out of its kennel and into the yard socializing with other dogs (the team once got 57 dogs out in a single morning!). Why? Because dogs are social animals by nature, but for safety reasons, shelters are required to maintain one dog per kennel.

So, take a social animal who ends up confined to a kennel in a noisy public shelter with dogs and people who are strangers, and couple that with being abandoned by their previous owners, you get—understandably—an anxious dog. Anxious, withdrawn dogs are not adoptable dogs.

Play groups have been proven to reduce the mental and physical stress of the dogs. Play groups allow staff to make more accurate assessments of a dog’s behavior to help an adopter find the right dog for their family and lifestyle. Play groups also maximize staff and volunteer resources; they are the fastest way to attend to the largest number of dogs in the shortest amount of time.

By 1p.m., Hallie and Bob’s play session is over. For a few blessed hours, a peaceful calm falls over the shelter. The dogs go back to their kennels tired, happy, and relaxed.

That’s a beautiful thing, because a relaxed dog is an adoptable dog. Hallelujah!

Their lives are in our hands.

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

We have been so incredibly lucky to have had some AMAZING school children hold donation drives for the Aiken County Animal Shelter. We have also had many groups coming to visit the shelter!

Recently we had one of our busiest weeks yet!

On Monday we visited the Warrenville Cares Club at Warrenville Elementary.

Talk about smarties! These kids were so fun and so engaged! They will be visiting the shelter this week to read to the dogs!

On Tuesday we had Horse Creek Academy’s Montessori class come to the shelter to meet the pets and learn about pet responsibility. Talk about cute kids!

Wednesday our volunteers were invited to bring dogs to the University of South Carolina Aiken. The dogs had the best time and were so relaxed and happy when they returned! Check out adoptable Wyatt, he had so much fun!

Friday we had over twenty individuals from the Savannah River Site’s Outreach Leadership for Young Professionals group (LEAP). They were ready to get right to work! It was one of those unseasonably hot mornings and they walked all our dogs, they were amazing! When they left every dog was tired and feeling great!

On Saturday we had the Gloverville Elementary School Beta Club come and read to our shelter dogs. We are always impressed by this group when they visit each year. The students are kind, well behaved and so excited to meet the dogs! They even brought donations!

We are so grateful for our community that shows up through donations, time and love!

Thank you to all!

Their lives are in our hands.

We even opened our home to bunnies and tortoises!  A virtual menagerie of God’s creatures. When we moved two years ago to South Carolina, sadly we left that business behind.  We now live in a community and not enough room to romp and play in the backyard.

When the hurricane came upon us I learned that there was no electricity at the Aiken County Animal Shelter and some of the resident cat’s there needed a safe haven for a few days.

It didn’t take me long to volunteer our warm home for these sweet angels. We had an unoccupied guest room and they could gaze out the large Palladian window for hours and play with toys, scratching posts and towers to climb.

When it was time to return them, I had my chin on my buttons and so sad to see them go and asked if I could help in any other way other than volunteering at the shelter itself…too much of a tug on the heartstrings.  Lucky for me they needed kitten fosters and BINGO….PAY DIRT!

I was grateful that my husband was on board as well. To date we have probably cycled through almost a dozen kittens or combination of mother and kittens for fostering.

Everyone wonders how we can do that and not get attached and want to keep them. The answer is simple.  Our job is to bring them along with food, love and safety.  Add socialization and lots of human contact so they are the perfect pet for their new family when ready.   We can’t afford to get too attached and become a foster fail because that’s not the job description.

We are so fulfilled knowing that we did a great job and as soon as they are presented in the lobby of the shelter they are snapped up instantly. Fostering does come with its sadness and disappointments. We have had two very, very young kittens that just didn’t make it no matter the efforts from us and FOTAS.

Recently Hilary contacted me about two pre-mature kittens with no mother.  The odds were stacked against their survival but the only hope was that if Monica (the mother cat we were currently fostering) would accept them as her own.  She did and we were so pleased to see that she would care for them. 

However, one was just too weak to get the sustenance needed to grow so sadly the little one passed. Miracle of miracles the other one fought his way to his new mama and started growing.  We weighed him on a daily basis and little by little he put on weight.  I named him Rocky Balboa!  My Italian Stallion was a fighter!

It’s such a joy to walk into their room and see them playing and hopping around!  If you were ever thinking about fostering kittens, it is a warm and fuzzy experience and one that you will never regret while making lots of meow memories!

Their Lives Are In Our Hands
By Carole Bennett, Kitten Foster

The staff is ready. Our volunteers have worked all morning to make sure all the dogs are walked and clean. It’s game day.

But this past Saturday was different.
We didn’t have a single adoption.

It’s been a long time since that has happened — and it’s heartbreaking.

In just the first two weeks of April, the shelter took in 256 dogs and cats. That’s a lot of pets needing homes. When no one comes on our busiest day, it hurts.

We have amazing animals waiting — house-trained dogs, loving cats, playful puppies. They’re ready. They just need someone to choose them.

We need our community.

Please share our posts, volunteer, donate to support our lifesaving programs — and most importantly, if you can, adopt.

Their lives are in our hands.
By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

This year we will celebrate our Woofstock Family Fun Day on Saturday, April 25 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. We are excited to bring the event back to the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

The format this year will be all about family-friendly and pet-friendly fun.

Eudora Wildlife Park will be joining us with amazing animals to meet — how cool is that?

We’ll also have our popular dog contests, including:

• Best Costume
• Best Ball or Frisbee Catcher
• So Ugly I’m Cute
• Dog/Owner Look-Alike
• Best Kisser
• Best Trick

Local celebrity judges will help decide the winners.

We are thrilled that local TV personality John Hart from Channel 6 will serve as our Master of Ceremonies.

Food trucks will be on site, including Flanigan’s Ice Cream — yum!

And that’s not all. Palmetto Dog Club will be giving agility and obedience demonstrations. There will also be face painting and balloons for kids (and adults!), along with vendors from local businesses. DJ Kenny Ray will keep the music going and the energy high throughout the event.

If you have adopted a dog from the Aiken County Animal Shelter, please join us for our Adopted Dog Parade — one of the highlights of the day!

And if you are looking for a new family pet, we will have adoptable dogs and cats ready to meet you.

This event benefits the Aiken County Animal Shelter by supporting the many life-saving programs that help animals in our community.

Please come be part of this fun day — we cannot wait to see everyone!

All dogs must be on a leash and comfortable around other dogs and children, as this will be a high-energy day full of fun.

A special thank you to our event leaders Amy Peterson, Linda LeBlanc and Leslie Henderson, and a big thank you to our many generous sponsors.

Dogs and cats arrive at the shelter every day. They cannot tell us their stories—their fears, or what makes them happy. Sometimes that may be a blessing, because we don’t have to know everything they have been through.

Gus was a dog who touched everyone at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. He was very scared when he first arrived. Gus had been surrendered by his owner due to animal control issues related to dogs not being properly contained. Gus had no idea what he had done wrong, and he was clearly devastated.

Once staff and volunteers began working with him, they quickly fell in love. This big boy turned out to be a marshmallow! Gus learned to trust people and began showing off his sweet personality. He would happily sit and give his paw, lounge in office chairs just to be close to staff, and he was walked by volunteers more than any other dog in the shelter.

Volunteer Susan said, “I love walking Gus! He is so happy to be out and about, and then he loves to sit on the couch for some snuggles.”

Gus had one big strike against him—he was a large brindle male dog. Sadly, those are some of the hardest dogs to find homes for. That seems ridiculous to those of us who know and love big brindle boys, because they are often the most lovable dogs around.

We wanted desperately to help him, so we shared videos of Gus wearing sweaters, giving kisses, and showing just how wonderful he really was. Still, he waited a long time for the right people to come along.

And thankfully, they did.

The update from his new family brings us pure joy:

“Gus is a diamond in the rough. I’m so glad we adopted him.”

Gus now lives in a home with both dogs and cats. He is getting the love, patience, and training he deserves. His new owners say he showed signs of past abuse and neglect, but today he is living his very best life.

Thank you to Gus’s new family—and to everyone willing to take a chance on the underdog. Those are the dogs who often teach us the most about love, patience, and the power of giving a second chance.

Their lives are in our hands.

By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

For some reason chocolate isn’t quite as special as it used to be. I guess with age comes the ability to buy sweet treats whenever we want them. But what if you could get an even better chocolate treat? Like a chocolate doggy?

Right now we have three gorgeous chocolate dogs at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Each one has lovely manners, and each is sweeter than any chocolate bunny you could find in a basket.

Take Bodhi, for example. This sweet boy is incredibly friendly and clearly wants to be your best friend. He sits and gazes up at you, hoping for a cuddle or a kiss. Bodhi has been wonderful with the children who visit the shelter, he’s house trained, and he truly is just as sweet as can be.

Then there is Bruno, who is absolutely dreamy. He is quiet, gentle, and happiest sitting beside you on the sofa for a nap. Bruno clearly was once someone’s beloved pet, even though he arrived at the shelter as a stray. He is house trained and already knows commands like “sit” and “down.” Our volunteers adore this handsome “bunny.”

And finally there is Captain, the oldest of all the chocolate bunnies. Caspian is another well-mannered dog with excellent cuddling skills. He is clean, knows commands, and loves spending time with people. Captain is nine years old and grateful for love and rope toys, they are his favorite! See a trend here? These dogs are good dogs—wonderful, loving pets who are simply waiting for a home.

So maybe this year, instead of only indulging in chocolate and jelly beans, consider adopting a chocolate “bunny” of your own. One that will fill your heart for years, not just your belly for an hour.

Their Lives Are In Our Hands.

By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

We often hear people say they stopped by the Aiken County Animal Shelter but didn’t see a good selection of pets available for adoption. That simply isn’t true.

This week alone we have a small Cattle Dog, a silver Labrador, a fluffy Golden Shepherd mix, a silver short-haired puppy, and even a gorgeous Shepherd/Hound with a Canine Good Citizen certification.

And the cats? Every color you can imagine — calico, tabby, and my personal favorite, black cats.

Yes, we definitely have variety!

But when choosing a dog, it’s not really about breed — it’s about personality. What dog matches you?

Are you a runner? We can find you a dog that will run beautifully right beside you.

Prefer to relax after work and skip the evening exercise? We have dogs for that too!

Are you older and looking for a calm companion? Let’s find you a dog that fits your lifestyle — probably not a puppy that needs constant bending, cleaning, and supervision.

Sometimes people simply choose the wrong dog for their lifestyle. No judgment — I’ve made that mistake myself! The difference is learning how to meet the dog’s needs once you bring them home.

The good news is that the Adoption Team at the Aiken County Animal Shelter truly knows their dogs. They run dog playgroups every day and understand which dogs get along with others, who has high energy, and who prefers the quiet life.

They know which dogs do well with children, which ones happily ride in the car for road trips, and which ones will stretch out on the couch beside you for hours.

Adoption Coordinator Cynthia Gray started with us as a volunteer. The shelter quickly hired her as an intake dog walker, and she worked her way up to become the adoption team’s “top dog.” Cynthia is kind, compassionate, and incredibly smart when it comes to matching people with the right pet. Helping families find the perfect dog means the world to her.

Fellow adoption counselors Bob Gordon and Lisa Gaudet are special people indeed.

Bob has been with the Aiken County Animal Shelter for over a decade and has earned a reputation for kindness and dedication. Lisa came to the shelter with an animal control background and has one of the most gentle, patient personalities you will ever meet. She even takes dogs home for overnights so she can better understand their personalities.

The entire shelter staff is terrific, but today we wanted to highlight the three people you will likely meet when you come in looking for your next family member.

Whether it’s a tiny tabby kitten, a senior Labrador, or a magnificent mutt, these adoption counselors will help you find the perfect match.

Because at the end of the day, their lives are in our hands — and together we can give them the homes they deserve.

By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

Stormy recovered while being fostered by Jeri Wesner and Joe Ryan — foster extraordinaires.

These two are simply kind people. Kind to animals, kind to people. They take care of everyone and always have a hug to share. If you know them, you love them.

Stormy was eventually adopted by Jeri and Joe, joining their dog Jack, who was also adopted from the Aiken County Animal Shelter. As a side note, Jeri was one of our very first volunteers, and her dedication to walking shelter dogs and fostering is unmatched. When dog walking became difficult with her schedule, the couple simply dedicated their home to fostering instead. I don’t think they’ve had a break in years!

They often say things like, “Lucky us again!”

When their dog Jack passed away, Stormy needed a job. That job became fostering — and she never disappoints.

Stormy plays with the foster puppies, shares her toys, and acts as a gentle teacher. She helps them learn how to be good pets, shows them what behaviors are appropriate, and can make even the most frightened puppy feel safe and comforted.

The most beautiful part of this story is that Stormy herself was once a discarded puppy, left injured and alone. Now she helps the discarded.

FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter are incredibly fortunate to have many dedicated foster families. Sometimes we forget to acknowledge the helpers behind the scenes — like Stormy.

Every time Jeri and Joe bring back their foster puppies (usually one or two), they ask the same question: Who can we take home next?

That is serious dedication. Anyone who has fostered puppies knows it is incredibly rewarding, but it also involves a lot of cleanup and hard work. Jeri and Joe never complain. They simply ask how they can keep helping.

“Thanks for letting us foster these fabulous animals. Our lives are blessed beyond the moon!” – Jeri and Joe

The Aiken County Animal Shelter continues to receive countless puppies and kittens, we urge Aiken County residents to consider fostering. Email us at info@fotasaiken.org if you are interested.

Their Lives Are In Our Hands.
By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator