Tag Archives: volunteers

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Spay/Neuter, Volunteer

Why am I here? What did I do?

Posted on by Angel Hartline
20
Oct

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

Yesterday, I had a home. I had you. Today I am in a kennel in a place where there are so many other dogs. I can see dogs in the kennels across from me, but I can hear so many more. I can smell their fear and anxiety. I am afraid, too.

Why did you leave me here?

I thought we were going for a ride in the car—one of my very favorite things to do. Then we pulled in to this place, and I thought, “Oh, oh, the vet,” but I’m a brave boy, so I figured we’d see the man in the white coat, get a shot, and we’d get back in the car and go home.

But then you left me here, and you didn’t even look at me when the nice lady took me away.

Have I been bad? Is it because I barked too much when you left me outside chained to the tree? I was lonely and wanted to be with you. I just needed a little attention, that’s all.

Is it because I knocked over the garbage can? I was hungry, and there were some good smells in the can. I couldn’t help myself.

Is it because I chewed up your boot? I was bored and it smelled like you. If you had taken me for a walk or given me a chew toy, I don’t think the arm of your chair would have been so appealing.

Is it because my fur is matted and I have these ugly itchy sores on my body from fleabites? All I just needed was a bath and a flea collar.

Is it because I had that accident on the floor? I didn’t know what I did wrong because you never took the time to teach me where to go. I was terrified when you forced my face into my own mess.

Is it because I jumped on you? I was excited to see you, and I was afraid you’d go away before I got a chance to show you how much I like you.

Is it because I’m not affectionate enough? I want to be, but I’m scared when you yell at me or hit me and I don’t know why.

I wanted to be a good family member. I want to please you, but I didn’t know how. Maybe I could have learned if you had taken me to an obedience class or to one of those free lessons at the shelter.

Please don’t leave me here. I want to come home.

*****
About 2500 animals a year are surrendered to the Aiken County Animal Shelter by their owners for problems that, in most cases, could have been resolved with a little time, attention and some outside assistance.

If you are considering surrendering your pet, call the FOTAS hotline first. We may be able to help you and your pet avoid the trauma of separation.

And wouldn’t that be better for everyone?

Their lives are in our hands.

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Adoption, Dogs, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Uncategorized, Volunteer

Miles to go before we sleep

Posted on by Angel Hartline
20
Oct

By Joanna D. Samson, V.P. of FOTAS

On Sunday morning, Sept. 2 the sun broke through the clouds, adding heat to an already steamy morning. I arrived at the Aiken County Animal Shelter to help walk dogs, and I was delighted to see so many volunteers at work. There were dogs on leashes, dogs in the play yards, and dogs lying in the grass, soaking up the sun while their handlers chat. A young couple laughs while they take out their fifth dog. Enduring friendships are forged when folks come together for a common purpose.

I leashed up Jed and Geovana. These two young littermates were picked up as strays, painfully thin, hungry, thirsty, hot and frightened. Little Jed had an embedded collar around his neck that had to be surgically removed by Dr. Levy, the Shelter’s veterinarian. The two are recovering nicely. Geovana is shy, a little distrustful of humans, but who can blame her? Jed, on the other hand, is all play with a devilish twinkle in his eye.

I stopped at the bench behind the paddocks. With a little coaxing, Geovana crawled into my lap for a belly rub, while Jed wrestled with a pine cone on the ground.

The Shelter is a cheerful place. There are grassy play yards, dotted with cheerful umbrellas to provide shade for animals and people. The kennels are spacious and clean, allowing the dogs to either bask in the morning sun or retreat into the cool climate-controlled interior.

Thanks to the thoughtful and creative management of Bobby Arthurs and the oversight of Paige Bayne, the Shelter is once again open for adoptions on Saturday; volunteers are permitted to walk the dogs on Sundays; new programs, like the play groups for dogs, have been implemented to promote the quality of life, and thus the adoptability, of the dogs. On-site activities draw more people to the Shelter every week. There is a heightened, almost seamless, sense of shared mission and cooperation between staff and volunteers.

Adoptions are up.

Transfers are up, thanks to the tireless and exhausting efforts of FOTAS.

Yet despite all of our proactive efforts to care for these animals and to support the spay/neuter of community cats and pets for citizens in need (no one dedicates more resources to spay/neuter than FOTAS and the County combined), intake at the Shelter remains alarmingly, shockingly high.

And it will remain that way as long as people continue to do things like drop off 3 mommas and 18 puppies in one tub (yes, that happened!) The owner couldn’t be bothered to spay his dogs, and then couldn’t be bothered to take care of those 18 little lives born because of his irresponsible carelessness.

Instead, he dumped the cost and the heartbreak of that on the rest of us.

Here are the cold, hard facts: until every citizen does the right thing and fixes their pet, some adoptable pets will be at risk for euthanasia. That stinks.

Geovana licks my hand. Jed pounces on my shoe. “You two will be just fine,” I say, giving them both a hug. “I promise.”

It’s a promise I know we can keep for now.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

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Adoption, Bully Dogs, Cats, Dogs, Foster, FOTAS, Volunteer

Want a longer, happier life? Adopt a shelter animal in need

Posted on by Angel Hartline
05
Sep

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

If you needed another reason to go to the Aiken County Animal Shelter and adopt a homeless pet in need, here’s a big one: having a dog or cat at your home can help you live a longer, happier life.

Research shows that living with pets helps lower blood pressure and reduces anxiety. Pets also boost our immune systems, which helps ward off disease. In 1987, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) stated that “pet ownership is a variable in public health outcomes that, like food and exercise, cannot be ignored.”

“Life is hard and having a pet softens the edges of it,” said Sue Ellen Benson, a Windsor resident and FOTAS volunteer, who recently adopted a sweet, seven-year-old Cocker Spaniel named Bonnie. “Pets make life easier because when you are focusing your attention on them, whatever problems you might be dealing with fade into the background.”

In the last three decades, the advantages pets can provide have become even clearer. Dogs, which have long been used to aid the blind, are now used to help people who have mobility and balance impairments. Also, since dogs can be so sensitive to human emotional needs, they are often used as “therapy pets” to help individuals suffering from PTSD and other anxiety-related conditions. These canines can provide a constant calming effect and the emotional support needed by people coping with such issues. FOTAS has helped select such dogs for veterans returning from overseas as well as for children coping with severe autism.

Cats also provide health benefits to their owners. Owning any pet is good for your heart but cats in particular lower your stress level. Petting a cat has a positive, calming effect as does hearing them purr. In fact, a University of Minnesota study found that over a 10-year period, cat owners were 30 percent less likely to die of a heart attack or stroke than non-cat owners

“We totally believe in the health benefits of pets,” said Kristin Chandler, who adopted two kittens, Olive and Tolliver, from the County Shelter this summer. She and her partner, Faith, are FOTAS Volunteers and also have three dogs living with them in their North Augusta home. “From exercise to stress relief, we wouldn’t know what to do without our animals,” Kristin added. “They know a lot more and pick up on more things than we give them credit for.”
If you are looking for a pet to make your life better, now is a great time to adopt from the shelter. The shelter is full and needs people to give these wonderful animals forever homes. There is a wide selection of dogs, cats, puppies and kittens to choose from and some of the animals are on special this month. FOTAS and the shelter are participating in Best Friends Animal Society’s national adoption promotion, “Welcome Home Your New MVP”, so cats and kittens can be adopted for just $15 and all Bully mix dogs are available for half price ($35). 

To see the animals available for adoption, please visit the shelter. You can also go to fotasaiken.org to see photos and short profiles of adoptable dogs and cats online.
Their lives are in our hands…

 

Sue Ellen Benson with her adopted dog Bonnie august 2016
FOTAS Volunteer Sue Ellen Benson says adopting Bonnie from the shelter changed her life for the better.
Kristin with Tolliver for FOTAS column
Kristin Chandler says she wouldn’t know what to do without her adopted animals, including Tolliver, a cuddle-loving kitten.
Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Spay/Neuter, Volunteer

A heartbreaking week results in many amazing animals up for adoption

Posted on by Angel Hartline
29
Aug

By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator
This has been a very heartbreaking week. In just six days, the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS) received 150 homeless dogs and cats. Many of these animals were brought in by Animal Control Officers, who pick up the stray, neglected, abused or abandoned animals wandering our streets. Some were brought in sick or old by their owners while still others were pets whose families had to relocate or could not afford to keep them anymore.

When we look at the numbers, sometimes we can forget about the individuals. But these animals are so full of love, they deserve to have their stories told. By no fault of their own, they have been cast out and left in the care of our shelter staff and FOTAS volunteers.

Here are just a couple of the stories from last week’s new arrivals:

Meet Poseidon, a lovely two-year-old Shepherd mix that was surrendered by his owner. He had an embedded collar that was removed and is now healing. He was also neutered when he arrived and will be ready for adoption soon. We are so happy that he is now getting the care that he needs.

Nike and Brian are two feline brothers who were also surrendered by their owner. They are chubby, healthy little boys that were in a loving home but their owner could no longer afford to keep them. These handsome Tuxedo cats are bewildered and wondering why they are in a kennel. I hope that someone will read this and know how important it is to adopt them and keep them together.

Each of these wonderful animals knows what it means to be a pet. They once had homes but now are orphans. There are hundreds more at the shelter just like them and each animal has their own story of pain and trauma. As a community, it is our job to help them.

Despite being removed from their homes and left in a kennel surrounded by unfamiliar smells, noises and faces, these animals still wag their tails when we visit them or purr when we pet them. They appreciate any attention they are given and will make amazing pets!

As a community, we need to diminish the number of homeless animals in our area. FOTAS and Aiken County provide spay and neuter vouchers to families that cannot afford to fix their pets. Take advantage of this service! Also, please do not purchase a dog from a breeder or a kitten off of Craigslist. This only adds to the problem. We have every type of puppy, dog, kitten and cat pass through our shelter. I guarantee we can find the right friend for you.

For more information about how you can help or adopt a shelter animal, please visit the FOTAS website, www.fotasaiken.org, or call the Aiken County Animal Shelter, (803) 642-1537.

Their lives are in our hands …

fotas column Poseidon the dog with Traci Deaderick August 28

Poseidon, a Shepherd mix surrendered by his owner, is held by ACAS Adoption Coordinator Traci Deaderick.

 

fotas column Brian the cat august 28 2016
fotas column Nike the cat august 28

Nike and Brian came to the shelter because their owner could no longer afford to keep them.

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Fundraisers, Volunteer

Aiken Family finds enrichment from fostering Shelter animals

Posted on by Angel Hartline
19
Aug

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications
When Wendy Dietzel read on the FOTAS Facebook page that the Aiken County Animal Shelter was at full capacity and needed volunteers to foster dogs and cats, she called a family meeting.
She, her husband, John, and two daughters, 13-year-old Ella and 8-year-old Audrey, discussed the shelter’s critical need for foster families and the new responsibilities it would mean for each of them.
“We decided we could at least help the animals by giving them a temporary home,” Wendy said. That was three months ago. Since then, the family has fostered four puppies.

Their first foster pup was Katie, a 3-month-old Pit Bull mix with a reddish coat. They took care of the shy canine and helped socialize her for adoption. After two weeks, she was ready for the adoption floor and was quickly selected and brought home by a young couple.
The family’s second foster animal was Fin, a very young and skinny Retriever mix, who was with them for three weeks – enough time for him to fill out and learn some manners. After spending quality time with the Dietzels, Fin also was swiftly adopted.
Wendy was pleasantly surprised how eager Audrey and Ella were to help with feeding, socializing and even cleaning up after the puppies.
“We knew fostering would mean extra work but we didn’t know how much we’d enjoy it!” Wendy said. “Sometimes the toughest part is letting them go. But what makes it easier is knowing that they are going to a permanent home and we will soon get a new shelter puppy to care for, teach and love.”
By taking a foster dog or cat into their home, foster volunteers save two lives: the life of the foster animal and the life of the animal that takes his/her place in the shelter. Foster homes also provide homeless animals with a less stressful, more peaceful environment than a shelter. As wonderful as the County shelter is, it can be noisy and animals have to compete for one-on-one time with volunteers and staff members. This is why dogs healing from an injury or skin condition, such as Demodectic mange, are sent to foster homes. They usually recover more quickly in a cozier, quieter setting.
Since they began fostering, the County Shelter has become a big part of the Dietzel family’s life. Audrey even had her birthday party there so she could show the facility to her friends. The party included making dog treats, a scavenger hunt and playing with the homeless puppies and kittens. Audrey also asked her guests to donate to FOTAS instead of bringing her presents.
“It’s been a great family experience volunteering and fostering,” Wendy said. “If you have the time and you love animals, I would say, give it a try. Not only do you get the enjoyment of spending time with these wonderful animals, but it also saves lives.”
If you are interested in becoming a FOTAS foster family, please visit the FOTAS website, www.fotasaiken.org, or call the Aiken County Animal Shelter, (803) 642-1537.
Their lives are in our hands…

ella dietzel with pup augustaudrey with pup aug 2016

Ella Dietzel snuggles foster pup, Hugo, on her first day of 8th grade, while her little sister, Audrey, poses with Kipper for her back-to-school photo.

 

Adoption, Bully Dogs, Dogs, Foster, FOTAS, Heartworms, Uncategorized, Volunteer

Lost, mud-covered pup leads family to love Bully mix breeds

Posted on by Angel Hartline
09
Aug

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications

Five years ago, Lauren Kilbreth was heading home after a job interview when she passed some little kids running from a mud-covered puppy. Lauren wasn’t in the best part of town, it was cold and pouring rain, and she was dressed in one of her best business suits – but she felt compelled to turn the car around and head back to investigate.

“He looked lost and I was worried he might get hit by a passing vehicle, so I decided I would get out of my car and call him to me, and if he ignored me or became aggressive, I’d just continue on my way,” Lauren says.

But when she clapped her hands once, knelt down and called out to the pup, he came running into her arms. Lauren took him home, gave him a bath and she and her husband, Ryan, became smitten with the brown Pit Bull mix pup with a white chest. Not only was he a loyal love bug to the couple but he also got along well with their two older Greyhounds, Grace and Baxter, and Stella, their Westie. The Kilbreths named their new, furry family member, Rock.

Rock grew to weigh 60 pounds and became the alpha dog. When Lauren and Ryan had their first baby, Easton James, Rock showed extraordinary interest, always watching over the child and needing to look over Lauren’s shoulder when she changed the baby’s diaper. Rock nurtured their second baby, Deacon Reid, the same way.

Friends who visited the Kilbreths were initially a bit wary of Rock. They weren’t sure how they felt about Bully mix dogs because of the negative way they are portrayed in the media. But most came to love Rock. Some even got Bully mix dogs of their own.

All was great at the Kilbreth home until last year, when their two oldest dogs, Grace and Stella, were diagnosed with cancer and rapidly succumbed to the disease. Baxter handled their deaths well but Rock became depressed and withdrawn. Lauren, now a volunteer at the Aiken County Animal Shelter (ACAS), decided it was time to find a new playmate for Rock. She took him to the Shelter to meet her favorite prospects and he picked a lovely, one-year-old Bully mix named Evie May, who quickly made Rock a happy dog again. Then, just three months ago, the Kilbreths adopted another young Bully mix beauty from the shelter. At 75 pounds, Ava Rae became the biggest dog in the Kilbreth home and has fit in beautifully with the other canine family members. She is heartworm positive but the slow-kill treatment for her condition, paid for by FOTAS, is nearly complete.

The ACAS currently has a number of Bully mix canines available, including seven dogs and four puppies. Carson, Cy, Conor, Chip, Delta, Connor and Tavis are the adults and the two-month-old pups are Claressa, Jeremy, Klay and Shadrack.

“Take a chance on these dogs,” Lauren says. “They are extremely loyal and have a lot of love to give. Never judge a book by its cover. Go to the shelter and see for yourself how sweet they can be.”

Their lives are in our hands…

KilbrethFamily1

KilbrethFamily4

KilbrethFamily3

Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS

An incredible summer day at the County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
29
Jul

By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President

They started lining up at the Aiken County Animal Shelter at 10:30 last Saturday. By the time the shelter opened its doors for adoptions at 11:30, the line snaked around the building.

What compelled so many good citizens to stand in line patiently in the brutal heat? The Shelter was participating, along with 700 other shelters, in the annual Clear the Shelters Day, a nationwide pet adoption initiative to connect animals in need with loving homes.

In the days leading up to Saturday, Traci Deaderick, the Shelter’s Adoption Coordinator, organized the staff and the paperwork on every animal to streamline the adoption process. Ellie Joos, the FOTAS On-Site Events Chair, established a systematic process to make certain that every potential adopter had a dedicated volunteer to escort them through each stage of the adoption process. FOTAS volunteers also exercised, bathed and groomed the dogs so that their true adorable selves could be on display. Nothing was left to chance.

“It was a remarkable team effort,” said Jennifer Miller, FOTAS President. “The Shelter has never been faced with processing so many animals in such a short time frame. All hands were on deck, including Bobby Arthurs, the Shelter Manager, and Dr. Lisa Levy, the Shelter veterinarian, who spent her day off at the Shelter answering questions about the animals and moving cats and kittens from the intake wing to the Adoption Floor.”

And it worked. By the time the dust settled and the Shelter doors closed at 4:30, every kennel on the Adoption Floor was empty—46 dogs and 69 cats were on their way to a new family and a better life.

Like Gideon, a lovable sweetheart of a boy who had the unfortunate distinction of being the longest term resident of the Shelter—adopted by a kindhearted older couple. Or Laila, a beautiful brindle whose puppies had been born and weaned in foster care—adopted by a new FOTAS volunteer. Or, Coal, a confident blue gray tabby and a volunteer favorite. Or Cleo, a talkative, people-oriented orange tabby who’s maybe a tiny bit chubby. The list goes on and on.

That day couldn’t have come at a better time. The Shelter is packed to capacity during the summer months. In June, a heartbreaking 532 animals were turned in to the Shelter. Now all of those animals in intake can move to the Adoption Floor for their second chance—we can’t let them down. The work goes on and on.

Saturday’s success was exceptional on so many levels, and not only because of the huge number of animals saved in 5 short hours. The way County staff and FOTAS volunteers came together in an exceptional show of cooperation and grace under pressure was exceptional. This is how an effective private/public partnership works.

Finally, the response of you, the Aiken community, was nothing short of breathtaking. We asked for your help on behalf of these homeless animals, and you showed up in spades—amazing, compassionate people who wanted nothing more than to make a difference and be a part of this historic day.

We are profoundly touched. Thank you and God Bless.

Their lives are in our hands.

 

Patricia Rameau of Aiken adopts Robin, a hound puppy, on Clear the Shelters day.
Patricia Rameau of Aiken adopts Robin, a hound puppy, on Clear the Shelters day.
Adoption, Cats, Dogs, FOTAS, Spay/Neuter, Volunteer

Fix-A-Pet Program provides assistance for spay/neutering surgery

Posted on by Angel Hartline
29
Jul

By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications
While it is impossible to determine exactly how many orphaned dogs and cats live in the United States, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) estimates that for cats alone the number is upwards of 70 million. That figure is staggering but the ASPCA stat that is a true jaw-dropper is this one: only 10 percent of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered, while 83 percent of pet dogs and 91 percent of pet cats are spayed or neutered.
This means a vast majority of pet owners are acting responsibly by getting their pets fixed. But a small percentage of people who do not get their animals spayed or neutered are the source of our cat and dog overpopulation crisis.
FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter are well aware of this troubling trend, and that is why they are working together to make spay/neutering pets as easy as possible for local residents. Aiken County has a voucher program to assist its citizens who are in need of financial help to spay/neuter their pets and community cats. It also has a Trap/Neuter/Release (TNR) program in which feral cats are fixed and then returned to local cat colonies. 

FOTAS supplements both of these limited County initiatives with its “Fix-A-Pet” program. In fact, since launching Fix-A-Pet in 2013, FOTAS has organized and, through donations, paid for the spay/neuter surgeries of more than 1,800 community cats and pets owned by citizens in need of financial assistance.
Now you may be thinking, “How can such a small minority of irresponsible pet owners create such a huge overpopulation problem?” If we take a look at some more stats, the answer to that question becomes crystal clear.  According to the ASPCA, a fertile cat produces one to two litters of kittens a year; the average number of kittens is four to six per litter. A fertile dog produces about one litter per year and the average amount of puppies in a litter is four to six. In other words, the cute little critters can make a lot of babies in a very short time.

Cats are especially impressive breeding machines. They can become sexually mature at four months old. Since the average gestation period for a cat is about two months, a kitten could deliver a litter when she is as young as six months old. Kittens having kittens! This is why it is not uncommon for people to start caring for a small group of cats living on their property and soon witness the manageable group explode into a cat colony of 20 or more felines.
It is heartbreaking when cats and dogs are abandoned by their owners and left to fend for themselves. The animal’s world is shattered. But when the dog or cat is not fixed, the result is a cycle of heartbreak as multiple unwanted, orphan animals are born.
Please help spread the word to spay/neuter your pet. Until everyone in our community fixes their pets, the County Animal Shelter and other local shelters will continue taking in thousands of homeless animals every year.
For more information about the FOTAS Fix-a-Pet Program, please go to www.fotasaiken.org or call the Fix-A-Pet Hotline, (803) 514-4313.

Their lives are in our hands…

Adoption, Cats, FOTAS, Volunteer

A Little Kitty Love Goes a Long Way at the County Animal Shelter

Posted on by Angel Hartline
29
Jul

By Carolyn McCurdy, FOTAS Volunteer

I was feeling a little indulgent, a little selfish, but there I was driving to the shelter to volunteer, aka to get some kitty love, while my family packed the car for vacation. I told them I would only go for an hour. As I was driving I thought, “It’s not enough time. What good will it really do? I should be back helping my family pack.” But when I got there, Damario came to greet me with his tail high in the air. Good Damario! I had been telling him if he wanted to get adopted he was going to have to look more relaxed and learn to put that tail up. I instantly stopped feeling guilty. This was proof I was making a difference.

When I enter the left side of the facility, Monica is on her shelf waiting for love and as soon as I sit, I have several cats looking for attention. Purrs and ear scratches all around. On the right side, Nin is at the door waiting and there are two new faces I haven’t seen. As I sit, one lays against my leg and the other sits against my back. I see my darling Gwyneth’s forehead, with its little white star, pop out of the cubby she prefers. She is intimidated by all the other cats. It has taken days, but now she comes out to sit with me. She knows I won’t let anyone pick on her.

I move and sit next to handsome Coal. He is such a love bug. Isabella makes her rounds and Nin and ZuZu come by to check on me. It is hard to move on, but I have to save time for the cats outside. That is where my dear, sweet Tiger is. He is a personal favorite. I sit and again I am soon surrounded. Beautiful Nevada lays along my leg. She is missing her kittens that have just been weaned, but at least she has Lora. Lora is younger and lets Nevada tend to her.

The hour passes quickly and I have to get back home. I say my special goodbye to Tiger. I hope he is not there when I return. I know he has a home out there. How could such a great cat not? I tell him I will miss him. The cats watch me go, and I feel a sad knowing many will still be there when I come back. But the earlier guilt is gone, and has been replaced with a feeling of satisfaction. The hour was well spent giving the cats attention and helping them relax.

On the way out of town, I tell my family about the cats and their stories. My son asks to see pictures of the new ones. He knows I will have some on my phone. He asks about Tiger, one of his favorites, too.

All of the animals at the shelter have stories. Come volunteer and become part of their story, or adopt and give their story a happy ending. Then again, you could do both. That is what I did.

Their lives are in our hands.

Adoption, Cats, Donate, Foster, FOTAS, Volunteer

Kittens are just $10 at Aiken County Animal Shelter through July 16

Posted on by Angel Hartline
02
Jul
By Bob Gordon, FOTAS Director of Communications They just keep coming. Stray mama cats with their babies, litters of kittens surrendered by people who cannot afford the additional felines and even some lone kittens found along the side of a road, in the woods, or callously left on private property. The influx of purring babies is steady and relentless. There are 27 spayed/neutered kittens ready to be adopted in the shelter lobby and many more on deck over at intake, eager to get their chance to be seen on the adoption floor. To address this flood of kittens, FOTAS and the County Shelter just launched a $10 Kitten Special that will continue through July 16. The shelter is also extending its $10 June adoption special for black cats and tuxedo (black with white) through this date. The adoption fee for felines (normally $35) includes spay/neuter surgery, all vaccines and a microchip. These tiny, furry purr monsters desperately need homes and FOTAS is hoping the $10 adoption special will encourage people to adopt them. We are also bringing kittens to the Aiken PetSmart store on Saturdays. Yesterday morning, the shelter’s veterinarian, Dr. Lisa Levy, took kittens to the store and in subsequent weeks, FOTAS volunteers will rotate to display and adopt kittens on Saturday mornings. All the feline toddlers are happy, friendly and family ready so people can select the ones they want and take them straight home from PetSmart! Of course, the ONLY way to curb the current parade of homeless kittens is for EVERYONE to spay/neuter their cats. If you have feral cats that need to be neutered, FOTAS has a Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) program. The County also provides traps and can do a limited amount of spay/neuter surgeries for feral and community cats. If you need financial assistance with spay/neutering your domesticated cat or dog, the County has vouchers you can apply for at the shelter and FOTAS can also help through the Fix-A-Pet Program. With that said, here are just some of the many wonderful kittens now available in the shelter lobby: Dustin – black, loves people, he will jump out of his cat condo onto your shoulder. Missy – black and gray Tabby, will kiss your cheek when you hold her, cuddler. Tara – muted Calico, love bug, she’s been here the longest of all the kittens. Granger – black, very athletic, likes to climb human beings, sweet. Delancy – male gray Tabby, white chest and paws, pretty boy. Vidal -different shades of gray, fantastic eye markings, laid back and friendly. George – an orange, easy-going boy who lives with his bestie and look-alike, Jericho. Mirella – a brown and black Tabby, the lovable runt of the litter, so pretty! For more information about the FOTAS $10 Kitten Adoption Special, please go to www.fotasaiken.org or call the Aiken County Animal Shelter, (803) 642-1537. And if you haven’t had your pet fixed, please DO IT. Their lives are in our hands…