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 the old shelter and the bleak prospects for any animal unlucky enough to pass through its doors. At the time, a trip to the county shelter was a death sentence—91% of the 6,000 animals at the shelter were euthanized every year. Very few made it out alive.

The turnabout at the county shelter since 2009 is nothing short of spectacular. Since the formation of FOTAS, the euthanasia rate has dropped steadily each year, reaching a historic low of 6% in 2018, saving every adoptable animal. It’s a remarkable story of partnership, determination, commitment, and community involvement and support.

In fact, the South Carolina Secretary of State selected FOTAS as one of the ten organizations (out of thousands!) to receive the Angel Award, which recognizes the most efficient and effective charities in the state.

There are so many people to celebrate for this astonishing success:

The FOTAS volunteers, who work on bookkeeping, social media, special fundraising events, and FOTAS Fix-a-Pet; who organize and work on special fundraising and on-site events; who foster mamma dogs and cats and all their progeny, who care for animals designated for transfer; who shuffle animals to off-site adoption events; who walk the dogs, love up the cats, work with play groups, and show animals to potential adopters—the dramatic and steady increase in the Shelter’s live release rate since 2009 is directly related to their efforts to make the animals more adoptable

Paige Bayne, Director of Aiken County Code Enforcement, and the beloved Bobby Arthurs, Chief Animal Control Officer and Shelter Manager, who directly oversee and manage the Shelter operations with kind, thoughtful and dedicated attention to the welfare of the animals.

The County Shelter staff—the intake administrators, adoption coordinators, vet techs, kennel techs and custodians—who make certain that all of those animals are properly documented and cared for with compassion and efficiency.

Dr. Lisa Levy, the Shelter Vet, whose medical prowess and big heart has saved the lives of hundreds of animals, and Dr. Mike Wells, who performs spay/neuter surgery on community cats for the TNR program.

The County Council and the County Administration for being the best public partners—ever—and working with FOTAS to save every adoptable animal.

And last but not least, you, the Aiken community, who year after year have supported our efforts with enthusiasm and generosity. You have designated the Shelter as your community shelter, and we could not be prouder.

Join us at the county shelter this Saturday, November 2nd, from 10:00 to 1:00 for a joyful celebration of our shared success in making the county shelter a model of public responsibility to our animals. There will be lots of free food and activities for adults, children, and their four-legged friends. Bring your party hat, and we’ll see you there.

Their lives are in our hands.

— By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

The planning that takes place behind the scenes for this important fundraising event starts in April, when the committee gets together to divide up duties, discuss changes and propose additions to make the tournament even better than the previous year. This is followed by monthly update meetings to review our progress.

The FOTAS Golf Tournament premiered in 2014 with only four volunteers. Sandy and Ross Staiger chaired the event, bringing their ideas and direction from a similar tournament they started and ran in Wolfeboro, NH for seven years. They brought the Helicopter Ball Drop to Aiken to accompany this golf event, which has been a huge success. Selling and keeping track of 1,000 ball drop tickets is quite a task, but FOTAS volunteers and friends were more than up to the challenge.

Today, our committee has grown to 13 people. Karen Loughran, now in charge of coordinating the Helicopter Ball Drop, and Sharon Johnson, promotion coordinator, have been with the committee for five years. Corri McCorkle, Cindie Davidson, Marylou Kling and Sharon have been helping to gather the great gift certificates and gifts from the business community that we pull together for our wonderful raffle gift baskets. Six new members, Marianne Malloy, Fran Warner, Monique Gilbert, Pam Patron, Linda Samoranski, and Debbie Schroeder along with Connie Jarzmik, a member of 3 years, have been charged with speaking to the business community about the shelter’s mission, asking for their support in the form of TEE Sponsorships.

Over 100 wonderful businesses and private donors have stepped up to support this event. Our top Eagle Sponsors — Milton Ruben Toyota, Affordable Quality Marble and Granite, HESS Travel, and Lorac Design Group – are valuable supporters of the animals and this tournament. LongHorn Steakhouse is providing participating golfers with lunch for the fifth year in a row.

As we move forward to hosting our sixth golf tournament, we can honestly say we are blessed to have our loyal donors, new business partners along with the loyal and new golfers participating in this event. An additional 40 volunteers help out on the course the day of the tourney.

Our plans are to make this year’s golf tournament the best fundraising event of the year by making everyone aware of how important the work is for the animals in need that enter our shelter.

FOTAS is instrumental in saving lives and provides the Aiken community and the animals with such a vital service. The volunteers of FOTAS are able to work miracles thanks to you, our loyal advocates, who provide the financial fuel that allows us to promote proper pet care, take in medically neglected pets, provide them with the treatment and recovery they need and, most importantly, find unwanted pets the loving homes they deserve.

— By Sandy and Ross Staiger, FOTAS Golf Tournament Chairs

PETS OF THE WEEK

TIFFANY
Mixed breed, female, 3-1/2 years old, brindle/white, 45 pounds – $35

ZADIE
Domestic Shorthair, female, 1 year old, white Calico, 7.5 pounds – $10

Part of an annual national effort, the shelter’s standard adoption fees were waived on this day to encourage folks to visit the animals and give them homes, thereby “clearing the shelter” to make room for — and save the lives of — more homeless animals.

Last month, the ACAS received 533 stray animals and surrendered pets, so the timing of this event was ideal. We needed to find these animals homes and the community rallied and responded.

“I had been looking for a cat for my family for a while, and when we saw Drew, we knew it was just meant to be,” said Erica Brewer. Erica’s mom, Kathy, recently had a stroke that severely impaired her vision – so when Erica saw the blind cat, she knew he was the right choice for them. Erica’s wife, Jessica, and their two daughters, Makayla and Makenzie, held and petted Drew while the adoption process was completed.

“Drew adjusted to his new home right away,” Erica said. It’s like he’s been living there for years. Everybody loves and spoils him rotten. There’s just something about him – he’s a special cat.”

While Drew was being put in his carrier to go home on Saturday, a kitten name Juliet was selected for adoption by Samantha Maynard. Carrying her 7-month-old son, John Keith, in her arms, she said, “I saw the shelter was having this event, so we drove out here to find him a pet. Everybody has been helpful and friendly. It’s been a great experience.”

Meanwhile, three senior dogs, a senior cat and 13 heartworm positive dogs were also adopted on this day, including black Lab mix Deke, who bonded with an autistic boy looking for a support animal. Thanks to your donations to FOTAS and its “Have a Heart, Save a Heart” program, all of the heartworm positive dogs at the shelter go home with medicine to treat and cure their condition. Thank you so much for coming out and adopting these animals in need.

While the shelter continues to be overwhelmed with more strays and unwanted pets received each day, your help and participation make such a difference! If you are looking to adopt, foster or volunteer, please come to the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 333 Wire Road. Or contact FOTAS at (803) 514-4313 or info@fotasaiken.org.

Their lives are in our hands.

–By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director

BY THE NUMBERS
Nationwide, the Clear the Shelters 2019 campaign, resulted in the adoption of more than 147,000 pets from nearly 2,000 participating shelters. Since it began in 2015, the Clear the Shelters initiative has resulted in nearly 400,000 pets finding their forever homes.

PETS OF THE WEEK

PRISCILLA
Mixed breed, female, 2 years old, 36 pounds – $35

KAI
Domestic Shorthair, male, 3 months old, Tabby, 2 pounds – $10