Tag Archives: volunteers

Fostering saves lives, helps homeless pets get adopted

When you put a leash on Little Bit, he wouldn’t move. The 28-pound, tan Terrier mix just shook and gazed up at you with a forlorn look on his face. The poor dog was overwhelmed with being on the Aiken County Animal Shelter’s adoption floor and just wanted to curl up in his kennel and […]

Pioneer volunteer Procter: ‘Nothing beats the joy of seeing animals adopted’

We have countless wonderful volunteers who serve important roles at the shelter. Some greet people in our lobby, some help with events, some foster, others walk dogs or help with PetSmart cats.That being said, I would love to tell you about our Sandra. Sandra Procter was there to help train me eight years ago, when […]

Ernie Wolf: FOTAS Volunteer Makes Houses for a Good Cause

It has been my honor to be one of the founders and President of FOTAS since 2009. Before FOTAS was founded, I saw a stray animal problem in Aiken County and didn’t know what to do about it. I began to advocate for the homeless animals in the county and was joined by an unexpected […]

FOTAS and 11 Years of Progress at the Aiken County Animal Shelter

On July 29, 2009, the South Carolina Secretary of State officially approved FOTAS as a charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to the care of the homeless, abandoned, and abused animals consigned to the County Shelter, kicking off the beginning of an extraordinary public/private partnership with the county and a new, comprehensive approach to caring for homeless […]

A New Year’s Resolution to Satisfy the Soul

When Joanne Goble’s husband of fifty plus years died, she knew she had to get out of the house and stop feeling sorry for herself. That “something,” she decided, should satisfy her lifelong love of dogs. She called the Aiken County Animal Shelter and signed up for a volunteer orientation class. That was in early […]

It’s a Party! FOTAS Celebrates Ten Years of Saving Lives

On Saturday, November 2nd, FOTAS will host a party at the Aiken County Animal Shelter to celebrate its tenth anniversary partnering with the county and the shelter to save lives. 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 […]

Volunteers Teach Homeless Pets about Love and Acceptance

This week, I had two people tell me they can’t volunteer because the idea of witnessing the injured, neglected and abused animals who need homes would be too much for them to handle. I told them we take a more positive approach and embrace the opportunity to greet these pets in need. Because on the […]

FOTAS and Shelter Animals Lost an Angel

“Every sunrise is an invitation for us to arise and brighten someone’s day.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich, Smile Anyway Every so often in life, we are privileged to know someone whose kindness knows no limits and whose patience is bottomless. Someone whose humanity is so deep, they dedicate their life to helping the lost, the […]

FOTAS Owes its Success to Aiken Community

When the 2019 Aiken’s Choice winners were announced for the Best of Aiken Contest (hosted by the Aiken Standard), FOTAS was voted the winner of the Best Nonprofit Organization and FOTAS’s annual Woofstock Doggie Derby Day was voted as the Best Pet-Friendly Event. We couldn’t be more touched and pleased, not only because of the […]