Tag Archives: FOTAS

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, News

Balancing hope and despair

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

19 October 2014

BALANCING HOPE AND DESPAIR

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

It’s not easy writing a weekly column about a public shelter like the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

I could write every single week on the issues of overpopulation of animals in the County due to unplanned and indiscriminate breeding, the need to spay and neuter pets, animal abuse, overcrowded shelter facilities due to off-the-charts intake, or the 69% euthanasia rate, and then attach a photo of a desperate, sick and beat-up animal staring pitifully out of its kennel with a caption like “Why won’t someone love me?”

But that’s only half the picture, and really, isn’t the world scary enough these days without me adding a little Sunday sadness to your lives?

Here’s the other half of the picture: there are so many wonderful things happening at the new County shelter. I could also write every week about that and attach a photo of happy owners and happy dogs, children reading to puppies, Girl Scouts cleaning up the grounds, and dedicated FOTAS volunteers socializing the dogs and cats.

It’s a balancing act – making sure that you, the community, know that your extraordinary efforts and generosity have made a life-saving difference in the lives of the County’s homeless and abandoned animals without creating a false sense of job done, mission complete.

Because the job is not done: the intake numbers at the Shelter are still dismally high, nearly 5000 animals last year alone. It’s like sweeping back the ocean with a broom – they come through the door faster than we can move them out.

And the mission is not complete: 69% of the animals that pass through the County Shelter’s doors are euthanized.

So, I have to remind myself, and you, that significant, steady headway is being made in reducing overpopulation and increasing adoptions.

In September, FOTAS’ Lenny’s Brigade and Fix-a-Pet spayed and neutered 66 dogs and cats in the month of September; funded and organized 3 group pickups of pets and 1 group pickup of community cats from Wagner to be driven to the SPCA clinic, neutered and returned home; and funded 23 supplemental spay/neuter vouchers to qualifying citizens who called the FOTAS hotline.

Regular specials like the Silver Paws Program, $9 for 9 Lives and Back in Black have been wildly successful in increasing adoptions.

The FOTAS/County Heartworm Positive Program is also gaining momentum. In that program, heartworm positive dogs that are not sick are moved to the adoption floor (rather than euthanized), and FOTAS pays the first six months of heartworm medicine for anyone who adopts a heartworm positive dog. So far, 6 heartworm positive dogs have been adopted and saved.

FOTAS volunteer trainers Jay Lyda from Veterans K9 Solutions and Susi Cohen from Palmetto Dog Club work with other volunteers and high-energy dogs to teach basic obedience skills, which makes those dogs more adoptable.

In the past 4 months, Veteran’s K9 Solutions has placed 4 Shelter dogs with veterans to be service dogs.

Sixteen children attended the second Dog Ear’s Listening Program, where young children hone their reading skills by reading out loud to the attentive Shelter dogs.

So you see, lots of good things are happening at the Aiken County Animal Shelter – things that make a difference, things that save lives. We should all be proud of that.

But let’s not rest on our laurels.  Coconut, Rosa, Molly, Fiona, Mary Kate, Ashley, Mama Cass, Melissa, Bella, Onyx, Rufus, Ellie Mae, Chad, Lottie, Deno, Dale, Sassafras, Pal, Carrie, Wally, Romeo and a whole lot more fabulous dogs and cats at the County Shelter still need homes.

IT’S ALL PART OF FOTAS‘ MISSION

FOTAS’ Lenny’s Brigade and Fix a Pet programs funded the spay/neuters of 66 County dogs and cats in need  in month of September!

PETS OF THE WEEK

RUFUS — Male — Chow Chow — 4 yrs old — 42 lbs — $70

MOLLY — Female —  domestic short hair — 4 yrs old —  $35

Adoption, Dogs, News, Volunteers

You Can’t Keep a Good Dog Down

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

12 October 2014

YOU CAN'T KEEP A GOOD DOG DOWN

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

The little, red dachshund had been hit by a car. By the time Animal Control picked him up from the ditch beside the road, he was virtually comatose. His mouth and muzzle were misshapen and swollen, and his front right leg looked broken.

As it turns out, his leg was badly sprained, and his lower teeth were impaled in the soft tissue of the mouth from the impact. Over the next week, the Shelter staff administered sedatives, antibiotics and love. Day-by-day, he got better. Catherine Chadwick, the daughter of Shelter manager Martha Chadwick, named him Don Juan because he is such a loving little guy.

Enrique Vazquez is a Viet Nam veteran who lives in an apartment and walks with a cane. In recent months, Enrique has suffered a devastating family loss and the loss of his adored Boston Terrier.

Enrique told Jerry Lyda at Veteran’s K9 Solutions he was ready for another dog. On Monday morning, Jerry’s son, Jay, a trainer who works weekly with FOTAS volunteers, took Enrique to the Shelter to interview some prospects.

When Enrique met Don Juan, who had been moved to the adoption floor just minutes before Enrique and Jay arrived, it was love at first sight.

“Don Juan made a beeline for Enrique,” says Jay, “wagging his tail furiously. He jumped into his arms, rolled over and closed his eyes in ecstasy. Enrique couldn’t stop laughing.”

Volunteers and staff at the shelter rejoiced when Enrique took Don Juan home.

Then there’s Trinity, a young black lab mix with white markings, who was a victim of shocking abuse.

Picked up as a stray by Animal Control with a collar embedded in her neck, her back leg was severed below the knee with a bone protruding from mangled flesh.

Yet despite all the physical abuse meted out by humans and the obvious pain of her injuries, Trinity was not aggressive or threatening.

“She would lie quietly in her crate,” says Sandy Larsen, the Shelter’s senior vet tech. “Whenever someone stopped to check on her, she would wag her tail hopefully. I knew she was a special dog.”

So special, in fact, that she captured the heart of Dr. Lisa Levy, a veterinarian at Silver Bluff Animal Hospital who works with the shelter animals.  Dr. Levy appealed to her partners to allow her to properly amputate Trinity’s leg at the hospital gratis.

They agreed, and Dr. Levy operated immediately. By the end of the week, Trinity was back at the shelter. When she was able to walk on her own, FOTAS called on one of their most experienced volunteers, Sylvia Igoe, to foster Trinity until they found her a home.

“I was reluctant at first,” says Sylvia, “she seemed so hopelessly damaged. But I was touched by her willingness, so I agreed.”

Within 48 hours, Trinity went from cowering and shaking in her crate to totally bonding with Sylvia’s children, Isabelle and Sean, and her pack of four dogs, ranging from her big German Shepherd, Sam, to little Chi-Chi, a beloved Shelter alumni.

“Trinity is oblivious to her own disability. She runs and plays with my dogs with complete abandon. I came home the other day,” says Sylvia, “to find her happily sunning herself on a chaise lounge in the yard in the middle of my four dogs.”

“She is a rock star.”

These are stories of tragedy, resilience, forgiveness and love.

Despite their injuries and heartbreak, Enrique and Don Juan found each other. Two veterans of tragedy slowed down by age and disability – a perfect match.

Trinity teaches us about toughness of spirit and the healing powers of love. In two weeks, Trinity will leave Sylvia and go home with Dr. Levy, who just could not let her go.

The angels have been working overtime.

SPECIAL ADOPTION PROGRAM AT THE SHELTER:

SILVER PAWS & SENIORS — half price adoption special for adopters over 60 who adopt dog/cat 6+ yrs — $35/dogs — $17 cats

PETS OF THE WEEK

MAMA CASS   female, American bulldog, 6 months old, 30 lbs — $70.00

TASHA   female, Calico, 1 yr old,  6 1/2 lbs   — $35.00

Adoption, Events, Fundraisers, News, Volunteers

Community Comes Together for the Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

05 October 2014

Community Comes Together for the Shelter

Aiken’s Community Shelter

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

It’s happened.  The new Aiken County Animal Shelter has become a community place to be proud of – a place where folks like to come and volunteer their time and effort.

For those of us who experienced the dismal, depressing conditions of the old shelter, the transformation has been nothing short of amazing.

The FOTAS volunteer program is thriving.  The dedicated volunteers work closely with the County staff and are a critical, consistent, enthusiastic presence at the shelter.

Jay Lyda from Southern K9 Solutions in Augusta and Susi Cohen from the Palmetto Dog Club in Aiken come to the shelter weekly to help FOTAS volunteers and County staff with basic dog training skills.

The new shelter is host to a number of on-site community events, like the very popular Woofstock and the Children’s Dog Ears Reading Program.

The shelter is also the beneficiary this year of the Aiken Lowe’s Project Heroes, a program in which Lowe’s employees volunteer to perform community service for a local nonprofit organization.

Lowe’s employees Mark Brown, Chip Poston, Yvonne Fitzgerald, Matt Diggin, Patrick Casper and William Frashuer are providing the labor and care necessary to install wiring and speakers throughout the shelter for a much-needed public address system, which can also be used to pipe-in calming music (a little Om Guitar, anybody?) for stressed-out shelter animals, staff and volunteers.

Then there’s Logan Gibbons, an Eagle Scout candidate with Boy Scout Troup 432 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, who also chose the County Shelter to be the focus of his community project.

Logan and his troop members, under the supervision of his dad, Grant Gibbons, constructed a gazebo shelter in the dog exercise yard. The boys poured concrete footings, constructed new posts and moved the roof of the overhang from the shelter created by FOTAS at the old shelter.

Now, as a result of their generosity and hard work, the dogs, volunteers and staff have a place to relax in the exercise yard shielded from the scorching summer sun.

The 6th graders from Aiken Girl Scout Troup 2409 were also busy at the shelter this summer.  In order to earn their Bronze Award, the girls must perform community service. They resolved to help the homeless – both people and animals.

The girls came to the shelter twice a week for a month to help wherever needed, doing everything from weeding, cleaning and helping walk and groom the animals.

“They loved it,” says troop leader Wendy Dietzel, those daughter Ella is a member of Troup 2409. “Because they were there on a regular basis, they got to know the animals – they felt a part of it. They were thrilled when the dogs found homes. They learned about the need to spay and neuter, and they learned about the sad realities of a crowded shelter.”

“The experience really had a positive impact on the girls. It ended up being much more of an educational experience than I had anticipated.

The growing connection of the Aiken community to the County Shelter, as illustrated by these few examples, is heartwarming.  More and more, folks are adopting their new pets from the shelter, practicing responsible pet ownership, and committing to spaying and neutering their animals to reduce the overpopulation of unwanted pets.

Thank you good citizens of Aiken. Together we are making a difference in the lives of the County’s thousands of homeless and unwanted animals.

ADOPTION SPECIAL AT THE SHELTER:

SILVER PAWS & SENIORS — half price adoption special for adopters over 60 who adopt dog/cat 6+ yrs — $35/dogs — $17 cats

PETS OF THE WEEK

LOUISE   female, Shepherd mix, 4 months old, 28 lbs — $70.00

MELISSA   female, Tabby, 3 years old — $35.00

Adoption, Events, Fundraisers, News

And Then It Rained Golf Balls ….

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

28 September 2014

AND THEN IT RAINED GOLF BALLS ...

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

It really did. Last Monday afternoon, a helicopter dropped 1000 golf balls on to the driving range at Houndslake Country Club for the FOTAS Playing Fore the Pets Golf Tournament.  It was quite a spectacle.

But first, some great news: both Andrew and Skittles, the long-term shelter residents I wrote about last Sunday, have been adopted and are now adjusting to their forever homes. We couldn’t be happier or more relieved.

If you are thinking, “Well, shoot! I wanted to adopt Andrew (or Skittles),” do not despair.  There are so many affectionate, sensational dogs like Andrew and Skittles at the shelter right now – dogs that have been loved and socialized and in many cases, trained by our volunteers and will make genuinely devoted pets.

They too need homes before their time runs out. Sadly, the County Shelter is filled way beyond its capacity, because as a public facility, it is not permitted to turn away any owner-surrenders or strays due to lack of space.

Playing for the Pets was a great success thanks to the amazing and feverish efforts of FOTAS volunteers Sandy and Ross Staiger, along with Jim Johnson, Barbara Gunter and an army of dedicated volunteers. We are profoundly grateful to all of them.

Despite a little spotty drizzle (nothing that would keep a real golfer away from the tees), 117 golfers participated in the tournament. The winners were:

  • 1st place — Stephen Welch, Terry Green, David Wolfe, John Perara
  • 2nd place — Charles Mims, Brian Epperly, Charlie Berensden, Steve Kubik
  • 3rd place — Dick Funkhouser, Rick Arkin, Brent Boore, Don Carlberg
  • Putting contest/Men — Art Sotak
  • Putting contest/Women — Peggy Sharp

About the 1000 balls dropped from the helicopter: each ball had a number corresponding with a ticket issued for a $10 donation. When the balls were dropped out of the helicopter, the person whose ball landed closest to the hole won $1000. Ball #628 assigned to Emily Hanna fell closest to the hole (2” to be exact). Congratulations Emily!

FOTAS is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization funded wholly through private donations. Fundraisers like Playing Fore the Pets are critical to its ability to supplement the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s resources to care for its animal residents.

Last year alone, almost 5000 animals passed through the shelter doors. Caring for that many animals is expensive, and FOTAS funds are necessary to bridge the budgetary gap between public funding through tax dollars and actual funding needs.

In addition, FOTAS helps its foster families with expenses, pays costs of transfer to other rescue facilities when necessary, and pays the costs to spay/neuter associated with FOTAS Fix-a-Pet, as well as FOTAS’ Lenny’s Brigade, which traps, neuters and returns feral cats in the County.

So, to all of you who supported and participated in Playing Fore the Pets – thank you.

FOTAS also is deeply grateful for the support of our sponsors: Honda Cars of Aiken, Atlantic Broadband, Carolina Outdoors, Prime Steakhouse, Chesterfield Court, Chesterfield Interiors, Fatz Café, Chick-Fil-A, and the other 60 local Aiken businesses that sponsored golf holes, golfer goody bags, and door prizes.

And of course, many thanks to Houndslake Country Club, and particularly to Rob Lee, the Houndslake Pro, for graciously hosting the golf tournament and organizing the golfers. We hope it will be the first of many.

BY THE NUMBERS

FOTAS’ Lenny’s Brigade Trap/Neuter/Return (TNR) spay/neuter results

January through August 2014 = 115 community cats fixed

 

Adoption, Dogs, News

Love and Kindness Make a Prince and Princess out of Two Frogs

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

21 September 2014

LOVE & KINDNESS MAKE A PRINCE & PRINCESS OUT OF TWO FROGS

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

It’s not just the stuff of fairytales, you know. It really happens.

Take Andrew and Skittles, both American boxer/bull terrier/retriever crosses currently available for adoption at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

Andrew was a stray picked up by Animal Control in July. He was emaciated, hungry and scared.  His reddish brown coat was dull, his white chest dirty and matted.

In his kennel in the Intake Building, Andrew cowered in the corner and would not make eye contact, but Sandy Larsen, the shelter’s senior vet tech, and the shelter staff were patient and kind. After a day or two, Andrew began to relax.

Over the next week, Larsen continued to evaluate Andrew. Despite his fear, he showed no aggression towards people. He was underweight, but otherwise healthy. Larsen was confident Andrew would continue to improve with training and attention, so she released him to the Adoption floor.

After that, FOTAS volunteer Ellie Joos and Andrew bonded immediately.

“He is the first dog I walk in the morning,” says Ellie. “On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I work in the yard with trainer Jay Lyda from Southern K9 Solutions.  I always walk him again before I leave.”

“His progress has been amazing,” says Jay. “Andrew has become a happy, affectionate dog. He walks quietly on the leash, sits and comes when called.  He still gets excited in his kennel, but that’s to be expected – he’s young and energetic.  What’s important is how quickly he calms down when he’s taken out.”

Then there’s Skittles, a stunning 5 year-old white dog with a striking brown mask over her eyes.  She is quiet and calm by nature and adores people. After regular weekly sessions with Jay, she walks quietly on a leash, sits and rolls over for a nice belly rub.

Volunteers Kathy Jacobs and her nine-year-old son, Noah, visit Skittles frequently and play ball with her in the yard. Skittles loves her tennis balls, but she loves her playmates more. When they call her, she comes back quickly.

So Andrew has blossomed from a lonely, scared frog to a handsome, happy prince with Ellie’s devotion, Jay’s training and consistent care, while Skittles has transformed into a majestic, loving princess under the same formula.

Amazing.

But here’s the bad news: Andrew has been on the Adoption Floor longer than any previous shelter resident, followed closely by Skittles.

That’s a seriously bad place to be for a dog in a public shelter desperate for space.

It’s a mystery to FOTAS volunteers and staff why these two sensational dogs are still at the shelter.

Andrew loves people and children – he recently entertained an entire troop of girl scouts.  After his walk and training, Ellie takes him into the Lobby, where he sits quietly by the desk and wags his tail furiously for everyone who stops by.

Skittles is quiet and mature. She loves people, especially children. She loves to play. She is a devoted and kind and will make someone a faithful companion.

Help us save these dogs – you won’t be sorry. Their adoption price has been reduced to $35, a small price to pay for a fully vaccinated and neutered dog and a life long companion.

And please, please don’t wait.  Their time is running out.

Adoption, Events, News

On the Move: the Spiffy New FOTAS Van Saves Lives

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

14 September 2014

ON THE MOVE -- New FOTAS Van Saves Lives

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

Summers are hard at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. As temperatures soar, so do the intake numbers for homeless animals.  As temperatures soar, so do the intake numbers for homeless animals. When that happens, a sense of urgency grips shelter staff and FOTAS volunteers – as many adoptable animals as possible must be moved out of the shelter quickly to make room for the hundreds of other dogs and cats abandoned, picked up as strays or surrendered by their owners.

It’s deadly serious and grueling business, trying to save all those lives, and FOTAS and its army of dedicated volunteers are busy.

Last week Larry Mitchell drove 15 adoptable shelter dogs to a partner rescue in South Carolina that will care for them until they have found new homes.

FOTAS volunteer Ellie Joos and her husband Bill take adoptable animals downtown on Thursday nights to the Farmer’s Market.

Heather Wiseman, the FOTAS Off-Site Adoption Coordinator, held an off-site adoption event last Saturday at Ladd Britt Auto Sales, a FOTAS corporate supporter who invited FOTAS to bring the animals to their business in the hopes of finding them new homes with their customers and employees.

Girl Conger, another long time FOTAS volunteer, transported adoptable shelter animals to PetSmart for a recent in-store adoption event.

And there are many more off-site events planned in the upcoming months.

For example, on September 22nd, Girl will take adoptable animals to the Play Fore the Pets golf tournament at Hounds Lake Country Club.

In October, Girl and Heather will also take adoptable animals to the Chocolate Festival at St. Mary’s and to the Blessing of the Animals at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

As you can see, saving more animals takes a lot of moving around, travel, securing the animals in their crates and properly loading the crates for safe transport. In the past, that meant FOTAS volunteers had to strap crates into the back seats and cargo holds of their personal cars and trucks to make trip.

But not anymore.  Thanks to the generous donation of Trout Farms, FOTAS has a brand new, highly functional, easy to drive High Top Cargo Van to haul its precious cargo.

Everyone loves the new van.  Girl Conger says it’s easy to drive, and unlike hauling a trailer, anyone can drive it.

“It’s also easily recognizable,” says Girl.  “When I pull into the parking lot at PetSmart, people smile and wave. They come over to the van to talk and check out the animals.

Bill Joos says it’s easy to maneuver down the narrow downtown streets and alleys, easy to park, and easy to load and unload the animals.

Assistant County Administrator Andy Merriman is also thrilled.

“For years,” says Merriman, “the Aiken County Animal Shelter has needed a practical vehicle capable of easily transporting its animals to offsite adoption events, as well as meeting other routine day-to-day transport needs so critical to our ability to save more shelter animals.  We are deeply grateful to our partner FOTAS and to Trout Farms for making that happen. It’s a godsend.”

Yes, it is.

By the way, if you have been thinking about volunteering your time, please don’t wait.  Come by the new County animal shelter on 333 Wire Road and fill out a volunteer application.

You can also call the FOTAS hotline at (803) 514-4313 or email us at info@angelhartlinedesigns.com.

The lives of all those animals are in our hands.

 

Adoption, Dogs, Events, Volunteer

CHILDREN AND DOGS, READING TOGETHER

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

31 August 2014

CHILDREN AND DOGS, READING TOGETHER

By Ellie Joos, FOTAS On-Site Program Coordinator 

A serious child sits on the kennel floor with a book in his hands, and a floppy-eared puppy sits attentively by his side with a look on its face that says, “Tell me a story, I’m all ears.”

This will be the happy scene on Wednesday, September 3, 2014, at the Aiken County Animal Shelter when FOTAS, in proud partnership with the ABBE Regional Library System, launches the “Dog Ears” reading program.

Like many shelters and libraries nationwide, the Shelter and the County Library recognize the joy and magic that happens when eager children read out loud to shelter animals who crave and need loving human attention.

What a fabulous idea!

Dog Ear-type reading programs have been studied by several prominent veterinary schools, including the University of California Davis’ School of Veterinary Medicine and the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.

UC Davis reported that reading fluency improved as much as 30%, with 75% of the parents reporting that their children read aloud more frequently and with greater confidence.

The Cummings School compared reading programs where children read to dogs with reading programs where children read to people.

And guess what?  The Cummings study concluded that children who read to dogs gained in reading ability and had a more positive attitude toward reading all together, and that the children who read to people showed no significant improvement in ability or attitude.

How can we explain that?

Animals make wonderful reading companions. They listen attentively, allowing the child to read at his or her own pace and in their own words.  As a result, kids improve their reading skills in a non-judgmental, stress-free environment.

And, as the child is learning and building self-esteem, the shelter dogs and cats bask in the sounds of a sweet, soothing voice.  The experience calms and relaxes the animals, making them a more adoptable prospect.

How cool is that?

The first “Dog Ears” reading session will take place from 1pm to 3pm at the County Shelter at 333 Wire Road.

Jennie Beck, the Children’s Services Coordinator from the ABBE Regional Library System, will train FOTAS volunteers to serve as reading assistants for the children during each 20 minute reading session.

Children age 5 and over are invited to attend. They will be given a choice of age-appropriate books selected by Jennie and her staff to read to one of the dogs or cats living in the Shelter.

Then each child will sit with a volunteer companion and his or her selected animal companion at a designated quiet spot on the grounds of the Shelter.

This first session does not require advance registration.

The “Dog Ears” reading program is one of several new on-site events that are taking place at the shelter and coordinated by FOTAS volunteers with support from the new shelter manager, Martha Chadwick, and her staff.

There are so many loving and lovely adoptable animals at the County Shelter that need love, attention and most of all, a new place to call home.

Events like the Dog Ears reading program, birthday parties, doggie reunions, and other programs now in the planning stages are bringing together the County Shelter, other County agencies and the community to give these animals a second chance.

For further information about “Dog Ears” or other events, please contact 803-514-4313   or    info@FOTASAiken.org

 

NIKKI    American Bulldog, female, 10 mos., 39 lbs — $70

HECTOR   Domestic short hair, male, 3 yrs, 11 lbs — $35

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Events, News

Wagener Cares

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

24 August 2014

Wagener Cares

By Joanna Samson, FOTAS Board of Directors

On Saturday, August 16th, CTFK (Churches Together for the Kids Ministries) hosted its annual Back2School Bash in downtown Wagener to ready area students for the upcoming school year.

It was a beautiful day.  Friends and families gathered to catch up with their neighbors and have some lunch, while children of all ages lined up for free school supplies, haircuts and health screenings.

FOTAS was on-site to provide information about its Fix-a-Pet Program, which provides low or no-cost spay/neuter surgeries for pets in the Wagener area.

“I bet we saw 600 people,” says Carol Miller, one of the FOTAS Fix-a-Pet coordinators. “We ran out of stickers, coloring sheets and animal cards after lunch.  We handed out all of our Fix-a-Pet fliers and spoke to lots of people who were interested in taking advantage of the program.”

“It was a huge success,” she continues. “20 people scheduled spay/neuter surgeries for last Tuesday. We have had so many calls, we are already scheduling the next pick-up date.”

Wagener is a town that has preserved a strong sense of community and tradition. It has not fallen prey to the nondescript modernity of chain stores and fast food restaurants.  In so many ways, Wagener is a picture of Americana, representing the small-town values upon which this country is built.

Yet over time, Wagener has become a hotspot in the County for problematic overpopulation of dogs and cats, resulting in a disproportionately high number of homeless animals euthanized in the County Shelter every year.

Over the past three years, FOTAS has worked closely with Mayor Miller’s office to address this issue by providing low or no-cost spay/neuter surgeries for pets in the Wagener area.

Once or twice a month, depending on the number of people who have signed up at the Mayor’s office, FOTAS volunteers arrange the pick up, transportation and return of the animals to and from the SPCA’s spay/neuter clinic, and FOTAS pays the costs of the surgery.

“We know how hard it is for families and working folks to find the time and resources to spay or neuter their pets,” says Colleen Timmerman, another FOTAS Fix-a-Pet coordinator, “so we try to make it as financially and logistically painless as possible.”

The hard work is paying off.  In 2013, FOTAS paid for 379 spay/neuter surgeries, the majority of which came from the Wagener area. This year should be even better as the FOTAS Fix-a-Pet Program (which also supplements the County Voucher Program for all County residents) gains traction in the community.

Every spay/neuter surgery does make a difference.

According to theoretical breeding statistics, that is, the number of kittens or puppies an un-spayed female and her offspring are capable of producing over a 7 year period, one un-spayed female cat and one un-neutered male cat can produce 420,000 kittens in 7 years.  For dogs, one un-spayed female and one un-neutered male can produce 67,000 puppies over the same period.

While it’s true these numbers are theoretical and assume maximum health and reproduction capabilities and longevity, they are nevertheless mind-blowing. The population of unfixed animals in the County is the reason for the shockingly high number of homeless animals (4800 last year, down from 6500 in the past) consigned to the County shelter each year and the correspondingly high euthanasia rates.

Pope Paul II once said, “A community needs a soul if it is to become a true home for human beings,” and that it is the people of the community that give it that soul.

Wagener is a community with soul.  As evidenced by the Back2School Bash, it is a place that cares deeply for its people and its children. The increasing success rate of the FOTAS Fix-a-Pet Program demonstrates Wagener is a place that cares deeply for its animals as well.

 

MAXIMUS    Male    Germand shepherd mix    9 mos   40 lbs

SCOOTER     Male   Domestic Medium Hair    8 wks    1.6 lbs.

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Events, Fundraisers

Raining golf balls in September

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

17 August 2014

Raining golf balls in September

By Edie Hubler, FOTAS Director

There are so many things to love about Aiken. It is a quaint southern town, full of tradition, historic homes, shaded parkways, and cool shops.

And then there are the citizens of the Aiken community: active and generous people who love their sports as much as they love their animals. Among other things, Aiken boasts the oldest continuously used polo field in the country, one of the few court tennis facilities in the country, and one of the oldest fox hunting drag hunts in the country.

And then there’s golf:  Aiken is a quintessential haven for golfers because of the rolling country and temperate climates.  Courses ranging from the iconic Augusta National just across the state line to the oldest golf course in the country, Palmetto Golf Course, so many people move or retire here solely for the golf.

So when FOTAS volunteer Sandy Staiger proposed organizing a golf tournament to raise money for FOTAS and the animals in the Aiken County Animal Shelter, we were thrilled.  What a great way to combine the community’s fervor to help its helpless animals with its fever for fun.

On September 22, 2014, FOTAS is sponsoring Playing Fore the Pets at the popular Houndslake Country Club, with lots of prizes and surprises.

The tournament will be played as atraditional 4-person Captain’s Choice, and the first player who sinks a hole-in-one on a Par 3 hole will win a car from Honda Cars of Aiken.  There will be other hole challenges, various trophies & prizes for the golfers as well as food and drink. Plus, all registered golfers will receive a coupon to receive a FREE Razor Golf Club valued at $120.

But wait, that’s not all, folks, there’s a twist.  In fact, it’s a

$1,000.00 Twist.

It’s going to rain golf balls.

That’s right – golf balls.  In the early afternoon, and never before seen in Aiken, a helicopter will drop pre-numbered golf balls from 300 feet over a designated hole.  If you donate $10.00 to FOTAS for a corresponding ticket to one of the pre-numbered golf balls, you will have a chance to win $1,000.00.  The first ball that goes in the hole or lands closest to the hole is the winner.  There are a limited number of ball tickets being sold and you don’t have to play in the tournament or be present to win.  Tickets can be purchased at Aiken Dry Goods, Aiken Saddlery, Family Pharmacy (Price Ave. location), Aiken County Animal Shelter, Houndslake Country Club, Honda Cars of Aiken, or by contacting golf@FOTASAiken.org.

All proceeds from this action-packed event will benefit the Aiken County Animal Shelter, because, as you know, keeping the County’s homeless animals is not fun and games.

Virtually every dollar FOTAS raises is dedicated to those animals. Through fundraisers like this, FOTAS buys necessary medicine and equipment, like flea and heartworm treatments, leashes, collars, grooming supplies and training treats.

The money buys food and supplies for our animals in foster care and veterinary treatment for animals with special needs.  It supplements the County’s spay/neuter voucher program and provides manpower and resources to fix pets and neuter community cats in County hotspots.  It pays the cost of transporting animals to no-kill partner shelters in other parts of the country.

Join us on September 22nd at Houndslake.  Play golf, watch the festivities, meet some of our adoptable animals.  Your participation and donations will make a difference in the lives of the dogs and cats at the County Shelter.

For more information on the event, activities and sponsorship opportunities, go to fotasaiken.com.

 

PET OF THE WEEK

BUDDY   Beagle … Male … 2 yrs… 21 lbs. — $70

COCONUT   Tabby … Male… 4 ys .. 8.9 lbs. — $35

Adoption, Board of Directors, Cats, Dogs, Events, News

A Triumphant History and a New Era

Posted on by Angel Hartline
12
Jun

10 August 2014

A Triumphant History and a New Era

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

Last week was a banner week for FOTAS, the Aiken County Animal Shelter and its animal residents.

Adoptions were at a record high: 15 dogs and 7 cats were rehomed to loving families.  Sixteen dogs were transferred to one of our partner shelters.  The FOTAS Fix-a-Pet program assisted County citizens in need and organized and funded the spay/neuter of 33 dogs and cats at the SPCA’s clinic.  FOTAS celebrated its fifth birthday, and Martha Chadwick became the first Shelter Manager.

These events represent a remarkable journey of hard work, persistence and perseverance and the dawn of a new era for the County Shelter.

FOTAS was officially formed on July 28, 2009 to help the County with the wretched conditions at the old shelter.

At that time, the annual intake often exceeded 6000 animals.  Up to 95% of the animals surrendered to the shelter or picked up by animal control were put to death.

The shelter was hopelessly outdated – open trenches for waste, no outdoor facilities, no ventilation systems for proper air exchange, no isolation facilities, as many as five to six animals housed in one small indoor crate. The shelter was a breeding ground for anxiety and contagious diseases.

Fast forward five years. Through the innovative and effective public/private partnership forged by the County and FOTAS, a modern, healthy new shelter was built – a facility in which the community can take pride. The partnership also has developed and established successful adoption, volunteer, training, foster, transfer, and spay/neuter programs.

The result? The euthanasia rate has dropped from a haunting 95% to a still haunting, but significantly improved, 69%.

But wait – it gets better.  The County recently restructured it’s animal control/shelter program to better coordinate the County’s staff and private resources, ensure better care of the animals, and meet the needs of the shelter and the community.

First, animal control and shelter management have been separated, allowing Chief Animal Control Officer Bobby Arthurs to be out in the community solving problems, interacting with County citizens, enforcing state and county laws, and educating the public about responsible pet ownership.

“No one has been more committed to the care of the County’s unfortunate animals or more supportive of the changes at the shelter than Bobby,” says Jennifer Miller, the President of FOTAS.  “He is a tremendous asset with an amazing depth of experience, equaled only by his amazing depth of compassion.”

Second, the County created a Shelter Manager position that reports directly to the Assistant County Administrator’s office and hired Martha Chadwick to fill the position.

Martha, who moved to Aiken five years ago from Virginia with her husband and three children, has the people skills, management experience and love for animals necessary to continue to develop the shelter’s programs, increase adoptions, and further reduce the euthanasia rate.

Martha also wants to encourage greater community involvement with the shelter.  “I want folks to know that they can make a difference, either by adopting their next pet from the shelter or joining the FOTAS volunteer program or both.”

That’s a tall order, but Martha is certain she has the right people to make it happen.

“I am so impressed with the shelter staff and FOTAS volunteers, who have managed to do so much with so little for so long.  They have welcomed me with open hearts and made my transition into this new position effortless,” says Martha.

“I am so excited about this job.”

She pauses. “ I can hardly believe I am getting paid to do it.”

Joanna Dunn Samson is a retired attorney and environmental administrator who specialized in the development of large public projects and public/private partnerships. Appointed to the FOTAS Board in 2012, she and her husband David, their two dogs and two ponies moved to Aiken in 2006.

Pets of the Week:

JOSE — Male, American bulldog mix — 4 months old — 20 lbs — $70

LEMON – Female, tabby kitten — 12 wks old — 3.1 lbs — $35