Many of us grew up watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. It was a gentle, comforting show that taught children about kindness, compassion, and the importance of helping others.
One of Fred Rogers’ most memorable quotes has stayed with generations of people:
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers—so many caring people in this world.”
At the Aiken County Animal Shelter, we are fortunate to be surrounded by helpers every single day.
We are incredibly grateful to the volunteers, donors, foster families, rescue partners, and staff members who give so generously of their time, talents, and resources.
Many people don’t realize just how much our volunteers do. They socialize cats, clean kennels, and transport cats between the shelter and the Petsmart Adoption Center on Whiskey Road.
Others walk dogs, bathe them, or take them on Doggy Day Out adventures that provide a much-needed break from shelter life. Foster families open their homes to dogs, puppies, cats, and kittens that need extra care while they wait for permanent homes.
Some volunteers greet visitors, assist with clerical work, or even write thank-you notes to the generous people who support our mission.
We also see kindness from members of our community every day. Someone may stop by with a bag of dog food, cat litter, or blankets. Others donate a crate, collar, or pet supplies after losing a beloved companion, hoping those items will help another pet.
Of course, none of this would be possible without our dedicated shelter staff. They clean kennels, feed and medicate animals, assist with playgroups, comfort frightened pets, and work tirelessly behind the scenes to give every animal the best possible chance at a new life.
We truly are blessed with an amazing team of helpers.
Last Saturday, Friends of the Animal Shelter hosted our annual Volunteer Ice Cream Social as a small token of appreciation for our volunteers, supporters, and shelter staff. Flanigan’s Ice Cream Truck helped make the afternoon extra special, giving us a chance to celebrate the people who keep the Aiken County Animal Shelter running with compassion, dedication, and love.
As if that wasn’t enough to celebrate, this week the Aiken County Animal Shelter received another No-Kill Award from Best Friends Animal Society for maintaining a save rate of over 90 percent.
In announcing the award, Best Friends CEO Julie Castle wrote:
“The award represents so much more than a number. It represents a culture of caring and compassion. It represents dedicated staff, committed volunteers, and motivated supporters. It represents innovative, thoughtful programming. And it represents extraordinary leadership, both within your organization and within our broader animal welfare movement.”
That award doesn’t belong to one person. It belongs to every volunteer who walks a dog, every foster who opens their home, every donor who drops off a bag of food, every adopter who says “yes,” and every staff member who shows up each day determined to save lives.
So, just as Mister Rogers encouraged us to do, look for the helpers.
At the Aiken County Animal Shelter, we are grateful to say we find them every day.
Their Lives Are In Our Hands
by Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator