Tag Archives: shy and scared pets

2021, animal abuse, Dogs, FOTAS, kennel stress, neglected pets, News

Unloved, Neglected Pets Kole and Spice Just Need a Chance

Posted on by Bob Gordon
12
Jan

So many of the pets that arrive at the Aiken County Animal Shelter are family ready. One of our foster families contacted me the other day, saying that they couldn’t figure out how a dog so housebroken and good with other pets could possibly arrive at the shelter as a stray. This always boggles our minds, too. Such well-mannered pets and no one is looking for them.

Kole has a white chest and freckled feet.

Then we get the pets who have been severely neglected, abused and unloved. Unfortunately, these animals can’t tell us their stories. We have to try and put the pieces together and sometimes their backgrounds remain a mystery.

In this category, we have two dogs on our adoption floor who need homes — but they need to be the “right” homes.

Kole is a handsome, black dog with freckled feet. When he arrived as a stray, he was despondent and shut down. Shelter Manager Bobby Arthurs took Kole on as his project. He saw something in Kole and started bringing him hot dogs every day. Well, that was the key! Kole is food motivated but not big on being touched. He is easy to walk and will stay by your side, bumping you with his nose to get a treat. He lets us give him little pats but does not like to be hugged or petted.

Handsome Spice is a playful and sweet dog.

Kole came in around the same time as a very shy, white and tan dog named Spice. For days, Spice hid in the corner, shaking until the kennel staff made progress with him. This poor boy would try to climb the walls to escape our touch. Slowly he learned to go for walks but still hit the ground and flattened out when we tried to pet him. He is doing much better, but it will take time for him to feel completely safe.

Kole (left) and Spice are dealing with a history of neglect and need canine mentors.

Kole and Spice have become buddies and trust each other. Shelter staff take them into the play yard every day and the two comfort each other, walk around together, sniff together. We think these dogs need homes with other dogs who can mentor them and show them how to be “pets”.

Kole and Spice deserve a chance for a happy life in a good home. Yes, they have some issues. But with their past, who wouldn’t? Please share their stories and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. If you are interested in adopting one of these dogs in need, please call the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 803.642.1537 (option # 5) or email info@fotasaiken.org and make an appointment to visit them.

Their lives are in our hands.

– By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator

2020, adopter feedback, Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, kittens, News

County Shelter Pets in Need Find Fantastic Forever Homes

Posted on by Bob Gordon
07
Oct

When you adopt a homeless pet from the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) and walk out the door with your new furry companion, staff members don’t just file your paperwork, wave good-bye and wish you good luck. They make sure you and your pet are happy and doing well.
Here are emails received from recent adopters we followed up with (some have been edited for space):

Gator is a hit in his new home.

Bonded kittens adapting well to new home
Boots and Tux are doing very well. We are so glad we adopted both of them and feel it would have been a big mistake to separate them. We recommend your shelter to everyone we talk to because we have had such a positive experience. Keep up the great work!

Ruth Leazer

Gator is enjoying his new life
Gator loves his new fur brothers and sister. He also loves Joey, our 9-year-old. He sleeps and plays with him. Gator is healthy as an ox and enjoying life. We can’t thank you enough! He is a big part of our lives!

Angela Miles

Binx relaxes on his new human sister’s shoulder.

Binx beats his fear, then makes himself at home
Binx was very scared the first few days and didn’t want to come from the bathroom. But now he has made himself at home. He’s gentle with all three of my kids and lets them hold him as much as they want. He sleeps with my 6-year-old every night. His favorite place in the house is the window seat where he watches the squirrels until he falls asleep. He’s the best cat ever. We love him so much!

Lisa Robinson

Everybody loves Ringo
Hello! Ringo is doing great! Loves all her new siblings and they love her! Her new name is Willow. Thanks for checking in!

Mikky Glidden

Ringo (left) with his feline family member.

Boz is a big mush who loves belly rubs
Boz is doing fabulously! He was frozen in place when we first got him, but now he struts around confidently. He loves playing with tennis balls and is big mush who falls over for belly rubs. He jumps up on the bed and wakes me up with kisses every morning. He really has been a joy! We are working on obedience and he now knows how to heal, sit, and lay down on command.

Courtenay Khoury

Boz (left) and his new best friend and canine brother.

Kimber is the perfect family addition
It took a little while for Kimber to trust the dogs, but they play quite a bit now. Our pittie, Riley, absolutely adores her. She has also bonded well with our other cat, Stella. They are inseparable! Kimber is a very affectionate love bug who loves to play and watch TV but most of all, cuddle. She’s the perfect addition to our little family!

Carrie Betterly

Kimber in her forever home with Pitty mix Riley.

— By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

2019, Adoption, Cats, FOTAS, making care-giving arrangements for pets, News, Proper Pet Care

Dying Man Surrenders his House Tabbies to the Shelter …Now They Wait

Posted on by Bob Gordon
17
Jun

Her father could no longer care for his cats after falling seriously ill, so she brought them to the Aiken County Animal Shelter to be rehomed. The cats, most of them Tabbies and about 5 years old, arrived scared and confused in their new environment. They missed their cozy Windsor home and pined for their cat daddy who had to leave them to enter hospice care.

Addie and Brienne sometimes hide under the fleece blanket in the shelter’s cat facility.

“People would dump kittens and other pets on his property all the time, and he’d take them in, feed and care for them, get them healthy and often get attached to them,” said Lisa Lee of her father, David Lee. “These cats are all sweet and have been indoor cats since he rescued them.”

The cats arrived at the shelter on May 20, and since then four have been adopted. As of Friday, three – Cersi, Ellaria and Theon – were waiting to be adopted at the Aiken PetSmart Store and seven were available for adoption at the County Shelter. The seven at 333 Wire Road are Addie, Bronn, Rickon, Kasey, Brienne, Stannis and Melisandre.

David A. Lee passed away on May 31. He was 71. But Lisa said he was relieved his cats were safe and hoped they would find good homes. He took special care of these felines. All of them are healthy and some are even delightfully plump – plus they have shiny coats and clipped claws.

“He did love them, and they kept him busy and happy,” Lisa said. “Unfortunately, he couldn’t find new homes for them before it was too late.”

Though scared, the cats show no aggression and allow visitors to pet them. They need extra TLC but also space and time to adjust to their new surroundings. They are a great choice for patient, kind people with a quiet household, who want to make a difference for a pair of cats. Ideally, we’d like to adopt out these bonded cats in pairs but they are available separately.

Lee’s house cats are very close and the shelter staff would love to adopt them out in pairs. However, they can be adopted separately into a loving home.

David Lee’s story is a reminder that all of us as pet owners need to make arrangements for our animals. Select family and friends that you trust and ask them to be your pets’ caregivers in case something happens to you. None of us know when our time’s up and there’s no time like the present to ensure our furry family members are in good homes after we’re gone.

Their lives are in our hands.

–By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

BY THE NUMBERS
In the first two weeks of June, the ACAS received nearly 300 strays and surrendered pets. The shelter facility is currently at full capacity.