Tag Archives: dogs

Bonded Dog and Cat Saved After Owner Goes into Assisted Living

Everything fell apart for Fergus and George when their owner’s health deteriorated, forcing him to move into an assisted living facility. Broken-hearted, Robert Toole brought Fergus, a 2-year-old, tan Chihuahua, and George, an 11-year-old cream-colored cat, to the Aiken County Animal Shelter on Jan. 8 and tearfully said goodbye to his sweet pets. Since Robert […]

A FOTAS Love Story: Fate and the Redemptive Power of Love

This week’s story is one about serendipity—a series of coincidental and seemingly unrelated events and encounters that resulted in happy good fortune for a scared, abandoned dog and a man stricken by grief. Bryce Lingo, a resident of Delaware, is a frequent winter visitor in Aiken. An accomplished equestrian, Bryce travels from his farm in […]

County Shelter Emergency: Transfers Cancelled Due to COVID-19

As the coronavirus spreads throughout the United States, the ways in which our daily lives are affected become more apparent with each passing day. Shortages in household goods, widespread closing of public places, self-quarantine, and social distancing are becoming the norm in a world stricken by the pandemic. Now is the time to focus on […]

Affectionate Shelter Dog Baya Is One Marvelous Mutt

Mutts are a tribute to the creativity of nature, each one unique—a mix of physical and behavioral characteristics divinely inspired and executed. As a rule, thanks to a broader, more diverse gene pool, mutts live longer, healthier lives than their purebred canine pals. According to DogTime.com, mutts are the ultimate family dog: “. . . […]

Adopting a New Canine Family Member

You’ve made the decision: you’re ready to bring a new dog into your life. Since you are reading this column, I’m guessing you’ve also decided to rescue your new pal from a shelter—maybe because your heart goes out to the thousands of homeless dogs who need and deserve a loving family, or maybe because you […]

The Dog I Didn’t Want Might Just Be My Favorite

The oldest of our three dogs, Yoda, died in August from cancer. My wife, Jennifer, wanted to honor Yoda’s memory by adopting another dog from the shelter. I was against the idea. Our other two dogs (Beethoven and Buster) are great dogs, best buddies with established routines, and our pet ownership experience was on autopilot. […]

It’s a Party! FOTAS Celebrates Ten Years of Saving Lives

On Saturday, November 2nd, FOTAS will host a party at the Aiken County Animal Shelter to celebrate its tenth anniversary partnering with the county and the shelter to save lives. What a ride it’s been. In 2009, a few dedicated and concerned citizens banded together to form FOTAS in response to the dismal conditions at […]

Adopters Report Back with Stories about Their County Shelter Pets

FOTAS volunteers and the shelter staff contact new pet owners within a week to 10 days of their adoption to see how they are doing Following up with new adopters not only helps ensure they are satisfied with their pets, but also provides us with great stories and feedback that can help with future adoptions. […]

Amazing Dogs Struggle to Find Homes Due to Kennel Stress

Last week I walked over to see the new dogs on the shelter’s intake wing. When I see the dog in kennel 8, my heart breaks. He is so scared. He is a larger dog, white with a gorgeous brown spot on his eye. He can’t make eye contact with me; he just turns and […]

A Tale of Tails: A Little Bit Shorter Now

We have all experienced that strange phenomenon where things seem to come in waves, or the old saying that things happen in “threes”. Well for the month of June that trend was tail surgery and it wasn’t three; it was five! I normally perform one or two tail amputations per year. But this particular month […]