Tag Archives: News

News, Volunteer

The Eagles Have Arrived!

Posted on by Angel Hartline

By Edie Hubler, FOTAS Director

THAT SATURDAY MORNING AS I WALKED MY DOGS MEG AND ZEUS, I COULD FEEL A SLIGHT BREEZE AND NOTICED THE HUMIDITY HAD DROPPED SOMEWHAT.  AT MID-MORNING, I ARRIVED AT THE ANIMAL SHELTER, SAW THE GROUP AT WORK, COULD HEAR THEIR PICK-AXES AND SEE THEIR SWEAT.  THEY WERE DILIGENT IN THE TASK AT HAND.  I WAS GLAD THE WEATHER HAD SOFTENED SOMEWHAT FOR THEM.

THEY WERE CLEARING SOME PATHS IN THE TREES TO BUILD WALKING TRAILSS FOR THE VOLUNTEERS AND ADOPTABLE DOGS – 500 FEET OF TRAILS TO BE EXACT.  I KNEW THEY WERE A GOD-SEND.  SEVERAL OF THE FOTAS VOLUNTEERS WHO WERE WALKING DOGS COMMENTED THAT THEY WERE SO HAPPY TO SEE THIS FOTAS PLAN COME TO FRUITION.

THE “THEY” IN THIS ARTICLE ARE SOME OF THE BOY SCOUTS FROM TROOP 115 OF ST. MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS CHURCH.  ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS, WHIT BABINEAU, IS WORKING TOWARD HIS EAGLE SCOUT DESIGNATION, THE HIGHEST BOY SCOUT ACHIEVEMENT.  HE IS 15 YEARS OLD, JUST FINISHED HIS FRESHMAN YEAR AT AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL, AND HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN SCOUTING SINCE HE WAS 5 YEARS OLD.  WHIT, SOME OF THE OTHER SCOUTS IN HIS TROOP, HIS DAD (DAVID BABINEAU, THE COMMITTEE CHAIR) AND THE TROOP LEADER (RICK KITCHENS) WERE AMONG THE WORKERS.  THERE ARE 12 SCOUTS IN TROOP 115, AND 6 ARE ACTIVELY WORKING TO BECOME EAGLE SCOUTS.  THE SCOUT MUST PLAN, ORGANIZE, LEAD AND MANAGE THE PROJECT FOR THE BENEFIT OF ANY RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION, SCHOOL OR THE COMMUNITY — WHICH DEMONSTRATES BOTH LEADERSHIP AND A COMMITMENT TO DUTY.  WHIT CHOSE COMMUNITY FOR HIS PROJECT AND THE AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER IS THE RECIPIENT OF HIS EFFORTS.  HE CHOSE THE SHELTER BECAUSE HIS FAMILY HAS ALWAYS RESCUED DOGS (THEY CURRENTLY HAVE 4 DOGS), HORSES (THEY CURRENTLY HAVE 4 BUT HAVE HAD AS MANY AS 10), AND A SNAKE, WHOSE NAME IS SLICK.  THIS PROJECT IS ONE OF THE LAST THINGS HE NEEDS TO COMPLETE TO BECOME AN EAGLE SCOUT.  HE AND HIS SCOUT COMRADES WILL ALSO BE BUILDING A BENCH IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO TO BE PLACED ON THE WALKING TRAILS IN THE TREES (FOTAS WILL BE PROVIDING THE MATERIALS.)

I’VE NO DOUBT THESE EAGLE SCOUT CANDIDATES WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.  THE EAGLE SCOUT ACHIEVEMENT BEGAN IN 1911, AND SINCE THAT TIME MANY WELL-KNOWN PEOPLE HAVE ACHIEVED THIS GOAL INCLUDING:

NEIL ARMSTRONG, ASTRONAUT, FIRST MAN ON THE MOON

MICHAEL BLOOMBURG, FORMER MAYOR OF NY

BILL BRADLEY, PRO BASKETBALL STAR & U.S. SENATOR FROM NJ

GERALD FORD, U.S. PRESIDENT (1ST EAGLE TO BE PRESIDENT OF THE  UNITED STATES)

WILLARD MARRIOTT, JR. (PRESIDENT OF MARRIOTT CORP.)

RICK PERRY (GOVERNOR OF TX)

STEVEN SPIELBERG (MOVIE PRODUCER)

SAM WALTON (FOUNDER OF WAL-MART)

ELMO R. ZUMWALT, JR. (ADMIRAL, CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS)

THE BABINEAU FAMILY (WHIT, HIS SISTER BECCA, DAVID, HIS DAD, AND PEGGY, HIS MOM) HAS ALSO BECOME A GREAT SUPPORTER OF FOTAS AND THE COUNTY SHELTER — THEY ARE OUR NEWEST FOSTER FAMILY, AND ARE CURRENTLY FOSTERING BOBBY.  DAVID SAYS BOBBY IS SPOILED, BUT IS WELL BEHAVED AND WILL MAKE A GREAT PET FOR SOMEONE.

BACK TO THE WALKING TRAILS … ON THE MONDAY FOLLOWING THEIR COMPLETION, I WAS CONTACTED BY SEVERAL OF THE VOLUNTEERS.  THEY COULDN’T SAY ENOUGH POSITIVE COMMENTS ABOUT HOW WONDERFUL THESE TRAILS ARE, HOW MUCH THE DOGS ARE ENJOYING THEM AND ASKED THAT I THANK WHIT AND HIS “ASSISTANTS.”

WELL WHIT, HERE IS A PUBLIC SHOUT OUT  TO YOU AND YOUR SCOUT TROOP.  THE DOGS THANK YOU, THE VOLUNTEERS THANK YOU, FOTAS THANKS YOU, AND THE AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER THANKS YOU.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, EMAIL INFO@FOTASAIKEN.ORG OR VISIT WWW.FOTASAIKEN.ORG

FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 333 Wire Road.  For more information, contact “info@angelhartlinedesigns.com” or visit FOTAS on line at www.fotasaiken.org.

 

HALF PRICE ADOPTION SPECIALS THROUGH JULY 28, 2014

DOGS $35     AND     CATS $17

 

AIKEN COUNTY SHELTER “PETS OF THE WEEK!” 

**All adoption fees include:  spay/neuter, heartworm test, all shots, worming, and microchip.

 

BEAR       LAB RETRIEVER, MALE, 1 YR OLD, 56 LBS.  ONLY $35 

GARFIELD  DOMESTIC SHORT HAIR — MALE — KITTEN  ONLY $17

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Volunteer

War Stories and the Heartbreaking Sounds of Surrendered Animals

Posted on by Angel Hartline
09
Jun

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

Summer is a hard time for the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Aside from the beastly heat, the number of animals at the shelter skyrockets during the summer.

This summer is no exception. Last Wednesday, by 3:00 in the afternoon, eight surrendered animals were lined up in crates outside the intake building waiting for a space to open up. It was 95 degrees outside.

Inside, up to 5 dogs are housed in one kennel run in the intake wing because the intake numbers are so high. The shelter accepted 534 animals in may, and the June numbers will be equally as dismal.

Where do they come from? From the County, the City, Edgefield county, occasionally private rescue agencies already filled to capacity, but primarily, they come from private citizens. In May alone, 322 animals were citizen-surrendered—twice as many as in the winter months.

Why so many surrenders this time of year? Are you ready for this?

Vacations! Can you believe it? There are people in this world who choose to surrender their pets to the county shelter when they go on vacation—people who consign their confused and trusting pets to the stress of a shelter environment and an uncertain future—rather than make proper arrangements for their care.

I am haunted by this callous disregard for the welfare of helpless animals.

No question, the solution to this gross overcrowding is to reduce overpopulation through a rigorous spay/neuter program.

Experts estimate that 75% of the pet population must be spayed/neutered in order to see a significant reduction in intake numbers. For that reason, fotas focuses its spay/neuter activities in Wagener, which is a county hot spot for overpopulation, and will continue to do so until we see a difference in the numbers.

Moreover, the county allocates $30,000 for low cost spay/neuter vouchers, and FOTAS supplements that program as well. FOTAS has also raised approximately $20,000 for spay/neuter services through its Woofstock festival and the SPCA’s twilight walk.

In the past 18 months, FOTAS paid the SPCA – Albrecht Center approximately $20,000 to spay and neuter 292 citizen-owned cats and dogs and 238 community cats in its state-of-the-art clinic.

Is it enough? Of course not—it’s never enough. But here’s the thing.

Someone has to be responsible for the 4800 unwanted animals that end up at the county shelter each year, and that someone is the county, with the help of FOTAS.

The county shelter does not have the luxury of refusing to accept an animal because it doesn’t have enough room. Paid for with taxpayer dollars, it has a legal obligation to accept all comers. Quite frankly, it feels like sweeping back the ocean with a broom.

Although the County and FOTAS are making great strides in saving more animals and reducing the euthanasia rate, until rampant overpopulation is checked and the appalling intake numbers come down, our goal of never having to euthanize another adoptable animal is out of reach.

How can you help?

Volunteer at the shelter.

Foster dogs and puppies until they can be weaned and rehomed.

Make a tax-free donation to the cause at www.Fotasaiken.Org.

Most of all: adopt one of the deserving animals in the adoption wing. For every animal you adopt, you save two lives—the pet you adopted and the pet that can be moved to the adoption floor from intake.

Plus, if you adopt before July 28, adoption fees have been reduced by half —$35 for dogs and $17 for cats—so come on over.

PETS OF THE WEEK:

Gina American Bulldog—female, 2 yrs old, 38 lbs. Only $35 

Clark Catahoula Leopoard Dog—male, 2 yrs old, 45 lbs. Only $35

Events, News

Joyous Smiles, Giggles, and Coos

Posted on by Angel Hartline
09
Jun

By Ellie Joos, FOTAS Volunteer

Bright eyes and lots of smiles were the order of the day at the new Aiken County Animal Shelter one recent Saturday. Eight young children from Helping Hands of Aiken were visiting.  Sharon Reeves and I, both FOTAS volunteers, had the pleasure of hosting this wonderful group. There is nothing like a rolly polly puppy or a sweet and fluffy kitten to delight a child.

Our young visitors, ages 6 through 12, toured the new dog adoption wing and the “cat house”.  My group sat on the floor of the cat building playing with several of the fluffy kittens, taking turns holding and cuddling with them. The children all agreed, Tiffany was their favorite, though really they liked them all. Next we moved on to the dog adoption building and even the most timid child wanted to feed treats to the dogs in their kennels. One curious young boy wondered how the dogs ended up in the shelter. I explained that many were found wandering the streets and that the FOTAS volunteers here love them, care for them, and play with them. Not knowing what the particular situation is for each of these children, Sharon and I knew we needed to be gentle in our approach.

The children were terrific listeners and as part of the introduction to the dogs, I told the m that we needed to clean our hands in between touching each dog. They were so good and reminded me of this often as we moved from one dog pod to the other!

Next it was puppy time, and the children sat on a bench as I took a bundle of fur from her kennel to spend quality kid time. One by one, each child held the puppy, while cooing and cuddling. We picked out a sweet dog that needed a little walk. In this case, we selected one of my favorites, Sky, a boxer mix that has one brown eye and one blue eye.  We took her out on her leash and she enjoyed showing them how she sits patiently waiting for her treats.

My group then joined Sharon’s group in the conference room for what else but animal crackers and apple juice. I’m sure the children would have liked if one or two of the animals could have joined us for this snack. A number of children wanted to know if they could help volunteer too.  I had brought a book from home, Go Dog, Go, and one little girl volunteered to read it to the others while they enjoyed their goodies.

As the children left the shelter to return to their residence, I couldn’t help but feeling how great it was to have this new clean, welcoming County Animal Shelter for events like this, to see how a furry animal can make a difference in a child’s day.

Now that the new shelter is up and running, we are planning other events that will expand our visibility and mission of FOTAS. Our next event will be a Doggie Alumni Social on June 28th, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Did you adopt a dog from the shelter? Join us for a few hours of socializing, playing, treats and a commemorative photo. To RSVP, check out our web site www.FOTASAiken.org  for all of the details or call 803-514-4313.

About Helping Hands:  Helping Hands is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization with the mission of enriching the quality of life and well-being of children, youth and families in need through a continuum of residential and community-based services in order to improve their health, independent living skills, educational outcomes, and/or resilience.

FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 333 Wire Road.  For more information, contact “info@angelhartlinedesigns.com” or visit FOTAS on line at www.fotasaiken.org.

 

AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER:  “BY THE NUMBERS”

FOUR MONTH COMPARISON 2013 – 2014

                           JAN. 2014 – APR. 2014        JAN. 2013 – APR. 2013

Received                      1088 dogs & cats                  1352 dogs & cats

Adopted/Transferred     572 dogs & cats                     528 dogs & cats

Euthanized                    616 dogs & cats                     834 dogs & cats

 

AIKEN COUNTY SHELTER “PETS OF THE WEEK!” 

**All adoption fees include:  spay/neuter, heartworm test, all shots, worming, and microchip.

LOKI – ROTTWEILER MIX, MALE, 1 YR OLD, 37 LBS.  ONLY $70

DORA – DOMESTIC MEDIUM HAIR — FEMALE KITTEN   ONLY $35

Adoption, Cats, News

What Would the Fox Say?

Posted on by Angel Hartline
09
Jun

by Edie Hubler, FOTAS Director

Okay, okay, this is a column that’s supposed to be about dogs and cats, not foxes. But I had to get your attention, didn’t I. So my article’s title is really “What would the cat say?”

Have you ever thought about why people like cats? Well, I asked one of our current feline residents of the C.A.T.S. (Cats at the Shelter) House at the Aiken County Animal Shelter to give me some reasons. Her name is Trixie, a female tabby, currently looking for her FURever home, but she agreed to be interviewed and is glad to share her thoughts with you:

Cats are cute, cuddly and affectionate (and I am too.) Agnes Bye, Ellie Joos and Carleen Overman, three FOTAS volunteers, visit me and my other cat friends here at the Shelter a lot. They think we are “the cat’s meow.”

Speaking of meow, that’s how we talk. Plus we purr and we chir. We learned to do these things when we snuggled up against our mamas while nursing, during kittenhood. We think of our human adopters as substitute parents. So we’ll purr, chir and meow to them too.

We are great hunters, and sometimes we will bring you a gift of our prey (or a really good cat toy). We like to be praised, just like our humans do.

We also know that sometimes our humans need to be taken care of, so we give them love and treat them like our kittens.

We love to take naps, and someone famous (the writer here told me it was William Lyon Phelps) once said “A cat pours his body on the floor like water. It is restful just to see him.” Yep, and that brings me to the fact that owning a cat often reduces the human owners’ stress level, improves mood, reduces loneliness. Humans tell us it’s very relaxing to sit quietly with a cat, petting and listening to us purr.

We don’t need to be entertained as we are inquisitive — we are quite capable of entertaining ourselves. All we need is a simple piece of string, a feather, an empty box, a cotton ball, an open washing machine, a flushing toilet, squirrels that I can see from the window — we are very curious and much fun to watch.

Many famous people are/were cat lovers—like Marlon Brando, Robert E. Lee, Marie Antoinette, Vanna White, John Lennon, Mark Twain, Cee Lo Green, George W. Bush, Katy Perry, Abe Lincoln and Martha Stewart.

We are meticulous and keep ourselves clean. I could go on and on, but I need to turn this space back to the writer.

Thank you Trixie for selling us on the joys of cat ownership. She didn’t tell you also that by adopting a cat, you would be saving a life. That should make you feel good too!

Here is an offer you can’t refuse — this week (June 15 – June 21) you can adopt a cat from the Aiken County Animal Shelter (333 Wire Road) for just $9 (that is a great discount from our usual $35 fee) — the promotion is called 9 Lives for $9 and we are participating along with many other shelters across the United States. The promotion is supported by the national animal welfare organization Best Friends Animal Society and the Best Friends’ No More Homeless Pets Network, of which FOTAS is a member. $9 covers shots and spay/neuter.

And don’t forget, today is Father’s Day — it’s never too late to honor your dad with another special gift.

And to you—stay cool/be cool, adopt a cat (or two.)

For more information, email info@angelhartlinedesigns.com or visit www.fotasaiken.org

FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 333 Wire Road.  For more information, contact “info@angelhartlinedesigns.com” or visit FOTAS on line at www.fotasaiken.org.

AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER: “BY THE NUMBERS”

Correction to statistics in last week’s edition:

First Four months of 2014 (January – April):
Received 1088 animals (733 dogs and 355 cats)
Adopted/Transferred 572 animals (521 dogs and 51 cats)
Euthanized 616 animals (308 dogs and 308 cats)

AIKEN COUNTY SHELTER “PETS OF THE WEEK”
**All adoption fees include:  spay/neuter, heartworm test, all shots, worming, and microchip.

GEORGIA — American bulldog, female, 3 yrs old, 37 lbs. Only $70

OREO — Domestic short hair—male—9.5 lbs. Only $9

News, Training

Forgotten Dogs and Troubled Veterans

Posted on by Angel Hartline
09
Jun

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTASDirector

It is late afternoon at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Jerry Lyda, a man with curly graying hair and twinkling blue eyes, stands in front of a rangy, muscular boxer crossed with Lord-knows-what-else named Olivia. He is holding up a piece of hot dog in his closed hand.

Jerry knows something about dogs—he has trained them all his life.

Olivia focuses intently on Jerry (or maybe on the hot dog—I can’t tell.) She prances at his feet.

I hold my breath. Olivia is the Michael Jordon of dogs – capable of jumping to astonishing heights from a standstill. I fear she will spring up on those powerful haunches and snatch the hot dog and a finger or two with it.

“Olivia, sit,” says Jerry in a calm, but firm, tone. She cocks her head, thinks about it, resumes prancing.

Undaunted, he holds the treat a bit higher, takes a step closer and repeats the command.

“Olivia,” he says, sit.”

She cocks her head again; the wheels are turning. Slowly, she begins to lower her rear end to the ground. Is this what you want? her look says.

It is. Jerry showers her with praise (“Good girl, Olivia, good girl!) and rewards her with the coveted bit of hot dog.

He turns to me with a big smile and says, “I LIKE this dog.”

I was delighted. Jerry is a Vietnam veteran and the founder of Veterans K9 Solutions in Augusta, a nonprofit organization that matches shelter dogs with veterans suffering from PTSD.

“Each year,” says Jerry, “300,000-400,000 veterans are diagnosed with PTSD. The military estimates that 22 veterans commit suicide every day – 22!”

He shakes his head. “Our love for dogs and gratitude towards those who served makes our goal simple – give back to those in need by saving two lives at once: a traumatized veteran and a homeless dog.”

I had contacted Jerry about Luci, a young boxer cross who had been surrendered to the shelter by a distraught serviceman being deployed overseas. He cried when he handed Luci over. He was heartbroken; we all were.

So Luci held a special place in our hearts. She was affectionate and quiet, and the idea of placing her as a service dog seemed so right given how and why she had come to the shelter.

Jerry agreed to check her out.

Olivia was a different story. Strong and athletic with boundless energy, I fretted over her fate. Who could possibly be capable of harnessing all that force and spirit?

As it turned out, longtime FOTAS volunteer Ellie Joos was; she saw promise in Olivia. Ellie began basic obedience work with her under the guidance of Nancy Webster, a local trainer.

Olivia surprised me: I was stunned by the difference in her behavior after just 2 weeks of training. She was softer, more relaxed. I asked Jerry to take a look at Olivia, too.

In the end, Jerry accepted both Luci and Olivia into the Veterans K9 Solutions program – an outcome that makes us all, but particularly me and Ellie, ecstatic and proud. Luci has already been placed with her veteran (love at first sight, says Jerry), and Olivia continues her training with Jerry until her veteran has completed the necessary paperwork.

Can there be a more important or noble purpose for a dog?

As for Jerry Lyda, I am humbled by his dedication and vision. The man radiates kindness—it hovers around him like morning mist over a mountain pond.

No wonder dogs love him.

For more information about Veterans K9 Solutions, go to www.veteransk9solutions.org.

News

Where the Money Goes

Posted on by Angel Hartline
09
Jun

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

On a sunny day in April, FOTAS volunteers Dottie Grant, Colleen Timmerman and FOTAS board member, Charlie Timmerman, set out on a mission of kindness, practicality and community service: collect 12 dogs of various sizes and breeds from a disabled man in the County and transport them to the SPCA surgical center to be spayed and neutered.

They loaded 12 crates into Charlie’s horse van and headed out.

“We didn’t know what to expect,” says Colleen. “Would the dogs be friendly? Would we be able to catch them? Would they be crazed and anxious once they were crated? So we came prepared with sedatives, muzzles and gloves.”

Their fears were unfounded. All 12 dogs were friendly and easy to catch. They went quietly into their crates and settled down for the journey to the clinic.

By the way, it is not an accident these dogs are well mannered and friendly—the man has loved and cared and doted over them for years. Permanently disabled in a car accident in his early 20’s, the dogs are an important part of his life, giving his days purpose and joy.

He just didn’t have the resources to spay and neuter them.

That’s when FOTAS got involved. FOTAS agreed to organize the pickup and delivery of his dogs to the clinic to be spayed and neutered, fund the cost of the surgery, and take them home.

FOTAS is an all-volunteer organization funded entirely by the generosity of private donors. Virtually every dime of the money raised by FOTAS through its website, annual solicitations and special events go directly to support the County shelter, supplement the County’s low cost spay/neuter voucher program, and fund its spay/neuter programs, Lenny’s Brigade and FOTAS Fix-a-Pet.

In the past 16 months, FOTAS organized the pickup, delivery and return of 342 dogs and cats and paid for their surgeries.

That is in addition to funding shelter needs to supplement the County’s resources for the thousands of animals consigned to the County’s care annually – items such as fencing and sod for the exercise yards, an irrigation system to maintain the sod, crates for dogs in foster and for transport, a new nozzle for the wash tub, a hot water heater for the cat house, climbing stations for the cat colony, immune booster supplements, flea and tick sprays and shampoos, toys, identification bands, treats, collars, leases, supplemental vet care and medications, to name a few.

“It is an overwhelming amount of work to care for and attempt to find homes for the thousands of animals (4800 last year) consigned to the County shelter and to wage war on the County’s overpopulation of animals,” says Jennifer Miller, the President of FOTAS. “It’s like sweeping back the ocean with a broom. It would not be possible without the financial support from the community and the volunteers—they are the ones that make it all happen.”

So, back to the story of the 12 dogs – the next day, after all 12 dogs had been surgically fixed, Dottie, Colleen and Charlie loaded the dogs back up in the horse van and took them home. The man was waiting in the yard.

“When we opened the crates,” says Colleen, “the dogs rushed to the man and danced around him, tails wagging. They were so excited to be home. As we pulled out, the man was all smiles, hugging his dogs and laughing.”

Her voice cracks.

“It was really a good day.”

Adoption, News

Back in Black: the Beauty of a Black Pet

Posted on by Angel Hartline
09
Jun

by Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

Black is the chicest of colors. Coco Chanel once said, “A woman needs just three things; a black dress, a black sweater, and on her arm, a man she loves.” Gianni Versace said, “Black is the quintessence of simplicity and elegance.”

The black robes of a judge symbolize morality and justice.

The black robes of priests and pastors symbolize a connection with God.

In the 1960’s, a new generation of young people challenged conventional ways of thinking, and black became the color of individuality and intellectual rebellion.

Black is an artistic color. “Black is a force,” said impressionist painter Henri Matisse, who said he always chose black when he didn’t know what color to lay down on the canvas.

So if black symbolizes elegance, simplicity, justice, spirituality and art, then how come black dogs and cats take 4 times longer to be adopted from a shelter than their lighter counterparts?

The rescue world calls it “Black Dog Syndrome,” a well-known, but little understood, phenomenon. Black dogs and cats are often passed over by potential adopters for a variety of relatively vague reasons, like indistinct facial features and “generic” body types – issues compounded by poor lighting in many shelters – and size: large black dogs are even harder to adopt out.

Here’s an even more perplexing fact: a large majority of the black dogs at shelters who do not get adopted are Labrador retriever crosses, yet year after year, Labs top the list of the most popular breeds in the country. They are friendly, playful and promiscuous in their love of humans. They are goofy, good-tempered animals – an excellent choice for families with children.

Here’s another fact: the traditional black Lab is far and away the most popular and prevalent color of the breed – possessing sleek, muscular bodies that shine like polished ebony.

So why do black lab mixed breeds endowed with the same admirable and lovable qualities have so much trouble finding forever homes?

It makes no sense. Take a tour of any animal shelter, including the Aiken County shelter, and you will often find medium to medium-large sized Lab crosses with bubbly, affectionate personalities, just waiting for a family to love, entertain and protect.

Black dogs and cats are victims of an irrational prejudice and a genetic formula that determines color. Despite negative portrayals in literature and ancient folklore (think black cats and witches or the black hounds of hell), there is not a shred of evidence that black dogs are more aggressive or untrustworthy than their lighter colored brethren. Ninety-nine percent of the time, aggression is a function of abuse and poor training – not a function of color.

FOTAS is a network member of the Best Friends Animal Society, which is dedicated to rehoming shelter animals all over the country, and Best Friends has designated the month of May as national “Back in Black” month.

In honor of this national promotion, the Aiken County Animal Shelter has reduced adoption fees for black dogs to $33 and for black cats to $13 through May 31. This fee covers spaying and neutering, all necessary vaccinations and microchipping.

Two black Shelter puppies, Brooke and Logan, were recently adopted by this young woman and her mother. Why don’t you come on over to the Aiken County Animal Shelter like they did and take home your next best friend. By the end of the day, you will be snuggled up on the couch watching American Idol with a happy black bundle of pure love.

AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER: “BY THE NUMBERS”

May 5, 2014 – May 10, 2014
25 dogs and 10 cats  SAVED

Year to Date:
351 terrific pets  SAVED

Events, News, Woofstock

It Was a Perfect Day to Howl

Posted on by Angel Hartline
09
Jun

Or crow, or yip, or bark, or meow … any communication was just fine.  FOTAS sponsored its third Woofstock event last week… the day was perfect and so was the crowd.

At 10:30 am on Saturday, May 3, we turned the new Aiken County Animal Shelter into a festival of which to be proud. Many hands went into making this another memorable event, so allow me, as the Chairwoman, to howl about it.

Heather Wiseman was my co-chair, and special she is. She rounded up her friends and sent them out on the streets soliciting business sponsorships. The Aiken business community was generous with their support, and we can’t thank them enough.

Carole Stamm is a true friend — I twisted her arm, so she couldn’t say no. She headed up the Ride to Woofstock for Spay/Neuter fundraiser, which was part of the overall Woofstock umbrella. I’m proud to say that with Carole’s leadership, we raised 70% of our goal.

Ellie Joos, a devoted Shelter volunteer dog walker, was the Publicity chair and she did a fabulous job. In addition, Bob Gordon, another Shelter volunteer, coordinated publicity with the media.

The Woofstock music was fabulous. For the 3rd time, Scott Ferguson and his 4 Cats in the Dog House played live music during the afternoon. Jason Shaffer of JRS Entertainment created the play list together with his dad, Bob, who DJ’d the morning music.

Palmetto Dog Club Agility Demonstration

Kudos to Brad Williams, a strong FOTAS and Shelter supporter, who was the “sound man,” and despite a late night at the Lobster Race on Friday evening — he had arrived at the Shelter bright and early. Because of his technical expertise, the Palmetto Dog Club had sound for the agility and obedience demonstrations, as did our emcee and announcer, Mike Gibbons.

And speaking of the dog contests, our student judges (Hope Dyches, Reagan Houck, and Reece McCarthy), adult judges (December Clark of Barkmart, Nancy Webster of Dog Days Workshop, Sybil Davis DVM, and County Council Members Ronnie Young, LaWana McKenzie, Kathy Rawls, Andrew Siders, and Scott Singer), and Dog Contest facilitator Dottie Gantt took their jobs very seriously — tough to select the 1st and 2nd place winners, but they did a stupendous job.

A long line of exhibitors presented their wares to the festive crowd. Thanks to Aiken Balloons, Aiken Dry Goods, Aiken Pet Fitness & Rehab, Barkmart, Equine Rescue of Aiken, Hair of the Dog, Herbal Solutions, Hollow Creek Animal Hospital, Lap of Love, Sweet Ambrosia Farm, Veterinary Services of Aiken and Wyatt’s Bed & Biscuit. Our food vendors were also a hit — Bruster’s Ice Cream of North Augusta and Coach T’s Diner.

And last, but most importantly, the many FOTAS volunteers who help us at the shelter, as well as at special events came through again: Pam Blades Eckelbarger, photographer; Sue Erwin, EMT; Valorie Vance and Susan Hamlin’s South Aiken High School SERTEENS; Donna Eisenhart’s Silver Bluff High School National Honor Society members; LCDR Tony Negron’s South Aiken High School NJROTCcadets. Their assistance was invaluable.

And on behalf of all the dogs and cats who were adopted that day into FURever homes — woof woof, meow meow – (that’s “thank you” in animal speak, by the way). A bunch of their furry friends are waiting at the shelter for someone like you to come and take them home, so hurry on down.