Tag Archives: veterans

FOTAS Provides Complimentary Adoptions to Veterans Year-Round

This Wednesday, November 11th is Veterans Day. Held on the anniversary of the end of World War I, it is an important holiday that honors U.S. veterans and thanks them for serving our country. FOTAS supports our armed forces and recognizes the benefits that veterans and active military personnel can experience from the company of […]

Memorial Day: A Time to Reflect with an Adopted Pet at your Side

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director Bonding closely with a pet can be a powerful and healing experience. It is with this in mind that each month, FOTAS proudly sponsors the adoption fees for five active military and veterans. Paying for these Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) adoptions is our small way of thanking the […]

County Shelter dog Kira was ‘something special and rare’

Maybe the most amazing thing about Kira was how ordinary she seemed at first. A stray Shepherd/Boxer mix brought into the Aiken County Animal Shelter in 2012, she was vulnerable and helpless like so many others coming through the door. Joseph and Brandie Henry, both U.S. Navy veterans diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), saw […]

Every day is Veterans Day at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications This Friday, November 11, is Veterans Day, a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served in our military. For a 24-hour period, Americans stand united in honor of our veterans and the good work and sacrifices they have made for our country. But […]

County Shelter animals give comfort and aid to U.S. Veterans

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Communications Director “There is a special bond that dogs and humans share,” says William Collins, a local U.S. veteran who served overseas.  “A dog can make a huge difference in a person’s life.” The dog that changed William’s life is a four-year-old, shepherd mix named Buddy that he adopted from the Aiken […]

The Redemptive Power of Spontaneous Love

By Joanna Dunn Samson, Vice President On the morning of New Year’s Eve, Matt Cummins called his wife Meghan at work to tell her he was going to the Aiken County Animal Shelter to check out the dogs. He didn’t intend to adopt a dog from the shelter—after all, they were waiting for a purebred […]