Sunday, October 24, 2010

Rescuing a Shelter Dog is Just the Beginning

 From The Aiken Standard
Submitted Article

A couple of young women came to the county shelter looking for a dog.

They already had a young Lab at home. They wanted a companion for him.

They chose a beautiful male Staffordshire Bull Terrier, took him home, but brought him back the next day because he attacked their Lab at feeding time.
A young family has just lost an older dog, and their little boy doesn't like the younger dog they already had because it licked him in the face. They thought of adopting a sweet female boxer-mix because the little boy liked her.

Another young couple wanted a dog. They had an apartment, and each other, and now they wanted a dog. "A big dog," he said, in his young, manly sort of way, "To protect her when I'm not there." They picked a large Akita-Lab cross and brought him back a few weeks later because he was tearing up their apartment while they were at work.

Then there was the retired couple who were out shopping on a Saturday and went PetSmart, where rescue groups bring their dogs hoping the right match will wander through.

There was a beagle, and they always loved beagles, or the idea of beagles, or the memory of a beagle from a long ago childhood. Beagles are so cute, so eager, they thought. The couple took the beagle home, turned her out in the back yard, and she jumped the fence. She, too, was returned to the shelter.

The joy of seeing a new family choose a rescue dog is predicated on hope that it is the right match; that the individual or family are choosing the right dog, for the right reason; that they will devote the additional time and attention that rescued dogs require to become the reliable partners or family members that everyone wants.

Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS) has worked hard to recruit volunteers who work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter staff to help people who are looking to adopt choose the right dog for the right reason.

Six of every seven days, the dogs go out for walks, play in the exercise yard, learn how to interact with other dogs and their human companions. When people show interest in adopting, there is always someone who can offer background information, observations or recommendations. That's a start.

The rest of the story is written in the new home.

Saving a dog and teaching it how to be a stable, happy pet can be one of life's most rewarding experiences; maybe because, when done right, it teaches us about patience, our priorities, commitment and even about devotion.

Whether we adopt a puppy or an adult, it falls to us to teach the dog how to fit in, what is expected, what behavior is encouraged and what is forbidden.

All too often we know what we want from the dog, but have given little thought to how the dog can count on us.

So stay tuned. FOTAS will introduce various resources to help our four-legged friends succeed in their new homes.

FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road. For more information, e-mail info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org. 

Saturday, October 16, 2010

There Are Ways to Help a Neighbor With Pets

From The Aiken Standard
Submitted Article

Last week, the Friends of the Animal Shelter received the following call:

"Hello? Is this FOTAS?" inquired a male voice with a country drawl.

"Yes?" was the tentative response. 
"I called the county, and the county told me to call you. Can you help me?"

It was the part about the Aiken County Animal Shelter telling him to call us that left the door open.

FOTAS supports the Aiken County Animal Shelter, and it is still discovering what that can mean. The caller had a dog named "Chance." The dog had been rescued by a friend of the caller who could no longer keep him. The caller, "Roger," agreed to keep Chance, in spite of the fact that Roger was unemployed, disabled, had no reliable income and was living with his girlfriend who had an infant and a toddler.

Chance, a Rottweiler mix, was a problem for Roger and his little family because he kept busting loose and running away. Roger would run Chance down and bring him back, but he didn't have the means to effectively secure the dog. The yard was not fenced; plus, Roger had this health issue that made running after a dog for a mile or more painful and potentially debilitating.

"We don't endorse tying dogs," was the FOTAS position.

But that's not what Roger had in mind. He swore that he walked the dog. He'd even built Chance a dog house.

"I can't keep him in the house. He is too rough for the kids. I have to lock him in the bedroom," Roger said. Pleading crept into his voice.

"Let me see what I can do," was the FOTAS volunteer's response. A call was made, and a couple of FOTAS volunteers agreed to go out to see what could be done to help Roger keep Chance.

Roger and Chance greeted the volunteers where the dirt drive met the road.

The large, shiny, black and tan dog's tail spoke of his enthusiasm for the visit. The little chain connected to his wide nylon collar could only be temporary. The old mobile home was at some distance from neighbors.

It was Chance's doghouse that told the real story. Built of particle board, with a good roof and "Chance" painted over the door, it was in better shape than the trailer that housed the family.

Roger had located the doghouse next to a clothesline strung between two pipes. The poles were anchored in cement, "For Chance," said Roger. Chance, a beautiful, happy, healthy dog had a home, not perfect, but good.

All it took to help this family keep their dog was a recycled cable and a $16 tie-out from PetSmart. Roger had the tools and skills to install the cable. And he agreed to neuter Chance, with help from the Spay/Neuter voucher program.

Maybe Roger will get to teach the little ones how to appreciate a really good dog.

FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road. For more information, e-mail info@fotasaiken.org or visit FOTAS online at www.fotasaiken.org.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Area Veterinarians Offer Free Spay, Neuter Services

Submitted article 



The City of Aiken's numbers are equivalent proportionate to population. Nearly 90 percent of the county animals and roughly 60 percent of the city dogs and cats are euthanized (based on 2009 figures).

The problem is animal overpopulation; the solution is spaying and neutering our pets.
With these unhappy statistics in mind, last spring eight of our nine Aiken County veterinary clinics came together to offer county residents a gift.

Joining with Aiken County Animal Control's Voucher Program and the Aiken SPCA's low-cost spay/neuter services, the county vets formed "Stomp Out Strays - S.O.S."

Almost without exception, each animal clinic pledged to honor a given number of applications from county residents for free spay/neuter services for dogs and/or cats, most for the period of one year, from March 1 through February 2011.

So, here we are, more than six months into the program, and how has it fared?

Like any new effort, the results are mixed.

The good news is that the demand is there. The number of the orange vouchers issued now exceeds 1,700. Much like the popular voucher program run by the county, more people need the service than can be accommodated.

Many clinics reported being booked through the end of the year, and in some cases right through the life of the program. The response truly belies the notion that people in the county don't care about spaying or neutering their pets. That's a significant upside.

But the S.O.S. initiative was not without its problems.

Intended to help those who meet "predetermined qualifications," some of the offices were dismayed by the number of people who came with vouchers in fancy cars or from fancy addresses. Other concerns were with the people who qualified for the service, who made the appointment and didn't bother to show up or call to cancel. One of the vets took her day off to provide the service for free and was stood up.

Yet, every vet we spoke to reported there were many more heartwarming stories of people who really needed their help and who were truly grateful. The vets reflected how rewarding it can be to do something to confront the huge tragedy of animal overpopulation and the many problems that accompany it: accidents, human-animal altercations, the damage caused by packs and the dangers of disease.

All seem to evaluate their experiment as a "worthy effort," even as they all will be relieved to see it end.

FOTAS honors the effort these professionals are making. On behalf of the entire Aiken community, we offer a resounding "Thank you!"

With each attempt made to confront this ugly blight on our image as an animal-friendly community, we learned something. We learned what works and what doesn't; we learned what is true and not so true about who we are; and, hopefully, we ultimately choose a better way and try again. Offer your suggestions through our website.

FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road. For more information, e-mail info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Animal Fosters Give Shelter Pets a Fighting Chance

Submitted article FOTAS foster volunteers give their time freely

What kind of person can bring a litter of puppies, often with the nursing momma, into their home and then six to 12 weeks later surrender them back to the shelter?

The Aiken County Animal Shelter depends on these people to save the lucky few out of hundreds of puppies that come through its door in any given year. Obligated to take every unwanted dog and cat in Aiken County, no matter the condition, the shelter cannot assure a healthy environment for unvaccinated pups. If any are to have a chance, they need to be fostered. And that's what FOTAS volunteers Pam, Birgit and Marcia do; they foster puppies and, amazingly, they do it over and over again.

Pam saw an ad in the paper seven years ago: "Mollie's Militia needs your help now."
"Hey, I'd like to do this," was her response. And so it began with two puppies. Then three, and at one point she had 30 dogs she was fostering, 10 of which were pups. She's fostered and placed over 600 dogs.

She'd go out every single Saturday, sometimes with signs that read, "Our time is up. Please save us." Pam's voice fills with passion as she describes her "Carolina Ditch Dogs," like they are a rare breed. She's had to replace her carpet from making sure her pups are house-trained. Her dedication is breathtaking.

"It's mutt city for me," she declares with pride.

Birgit, too, got started with Mollie's Militia almost 11 years ago when she adopted a puppy. Then she got a little fence, and told herself, "Hey, I can do this."

She got some more puppies to foster and kept another one. Then she was fostering everything: abuse cases, mental cases, hard-to-place cases and mothers with litters; not all of them would make it. Eventually, she ended up with eight dogs of her own and was feeling a little burned out; that is, until she heard about FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter's volunteer program.

Birgit and Pam, friends and partners in the dog rescue business for years, claim a long held soft spot in their hearts for the Aiken County Animal Shelter; but not Marcia.

One bad experience and Marcia spent 11 years telling people to stay away from the county shelter. Then she, too, heard about the need for help, accompanied by the promise, "If you foster the puppies, as long as they are healthy, we won't put them down."

Marcia took two 6-week-old pups for six weeks; then a mother and two puppies; then an escape artist mom with seven puppies.

"They have a chance in life because I got them ready," said Marcia, who now calls it "tithing her time."

"It's almost like an addiction," whispers Birgit like a prayer, "because it just makes you feel so good."

And Pam's husband warned her, "If you adopt one, you have to quit." So she gives them up, each of the pups she has lovingly raised, because it is like a calling, and she can't quit.

FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road. For more information, e-mail info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.


Sunday, September 19, 2010

Young Volunteers Help Pets Find Forever Homes Online

From The Aiken Standard 
Submitted article

It all began in July of 2009, when Seth, then 10, was perusing the Help Wanted section of the Classifieds.

"I want to do this," he declares unequivocally. The Aiken County Animal Shelter was looking for volunteers.

"I'd seen the ads," mom, Susan admits, "But I knew enough to stay away. You know you want to take them all home." But Seth really wanted to volunteer, and his older brother, Alex, wanted to volunteer. So one day they went to the Aiken County Animal Shelter where they walked dogs, played with dogs and discovered that whoever had been trying to help the county shelter keep a presence on Petfinder.com was no longer there.Petfinder is a national website. "The virtual home of 348,867 adoptable pets from 13,557 adoption groups," declares its homepage.

The Aiken County Animal Shelter is one of those groups. To use the service, organizations have to have photos and profiles for each of the adoptable animals it wants to list. That's where Susan and her boys entered the picture.

"My husband had just bought me a digital camera, and I love playing on the computer," Susan explained as if it were meant to be.

In the beginning, they were at the shelter just about every day. "It kind of became an obsession," she recalls. "Seth would beeline it for the cats, and Alex would help me with the dogs. We try to get three good shots: one standing, one sitting and one of their face." She tries to give each homeless animal the best possible chance on virtual display.

To access Petfinder on the Internet and the dog or cat options at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, visit www.petfinder.com and fill in the information about city, state and shelter; or visit www.fotasaiken.org and click on "adopt me" to view county pets hoping for a forever home. More than likely, the helping hands in the photos of the animals are either those of Alex or Seth.

Seth is the cat man. On the three or four days a week he and his mom are at the shelter, you can find him in C.A.T.S., the new cat shelter. "Seth loves the cat house," Susan said. Since he's been volunteering, he's already brought home one kitten, Zoe, a cat whose head he swears changes shape depending on her mood. "Sometimes it's round, and sometimes it's kinda pointy," he said, like he is describing something quite special.

Alex, now a junior at Aiken High, runs cross-country, so no surprise that his pick from the shelter was a high-energy chocolate Lab named Coco who just might one day be a running buddy. Alex's schedule this year limits him to Saturdays at the shelter. And he is there every Saturday, helping his photographer mom get just the right shot for each lucky dog or cat whose profile, composed with loving care, will be posted on Petfinder.com.

FOTAS Volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road. For more information, e-mail info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

Sandy Larsen Gives the Last Kiss

From The Aiken Standard

My whole life I have loved all animals.

I never had any fear of them.

I remember when I was 5, my dad and I got out of the car on Park Avenue as an older black lady came down the street with two red chows on leashes.

I ran up to the dogs and threw my arms around them, and they licked me in the face. The lady was horrified, thinking her dogs wouldn't tolerate children, or strangers.

But those dogs were OK with me.

I have always had my own dogs and cats, and I've worked with animals for 28 years.

There is no such thing as an ugly dog or cat. Every animal is unique and, just like people; it's their personality that makes them beautiful.

Before I worked at my first shelter, I thought like everyone else about a kill shelter.

I couldn't imagine putting a perfectly healthy animal to death.

In a week, I changed my whole opinion.

I was blown away by the number of unwanted animals there were in Aiken County.

Small wonder so many had to be euthanized.

Citizens criticize the shelters for destroying animals, but the shelters are not to blame; it is the people who do not spay or neuter their pets.

Some call us, who work at the shelter, cold-hearted killers.

We are not; we are the ones who have to do the dirty work.

I never get out of bed on the mornings the truck comes and say, "Oh boy, today is the day we get to euthanize!"

I wake up on those mornings sick to my stomach and pray to make it through it. We see these babies every day, and become attached to so many.

They wag their tails at you. They even kiss you as you are taking their lives.

¬ My mother still can't believe that I am at a shelter euthanizing animals.

So many people say they can't imagine how we do what we do.

The truth is that to euthanize animals, you have to be full of compassion and love them.

I am the last person that animal is going to see.

Even if the animal is fighting the leash, I take the leash off, talk softly and¬ give it lots of love.

There is no way to save them all when we are taking in 400 to 600 animals a month. ¬

¬ So, you can imagine how the opportunity to take our adoptable dogs on Channel 12 Monday mornings thrilled me.

Lynnsey Gardner and Tim Strong have been so supportive.

In over a year and a half, I have never missed a Monday.

I also take our animals on¬ Channel 6 with Mary Morrison and Anne Sawyer the first Wednesday of every month.

And right here, we feature a couple of very special young dogs, full brothers, who are exceptionally well-mannered and will bring great joy and companionship to any home.

Come on out. Find love at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road. For more information, e-mail info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Shelter Chief Looks to Make a Difference, Too

Submitted article


The most telling image of Bobby Arthurs, the chief enforcement officer at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, is of this big man in his gray uniform with a Chihuahua puppy cupped in his hands, held six feet in the air, up to his smiling face.

He's partial to Chihuahuas, a fact that might surprise some people in a man his size.

Arthurs has been a public servant his entire working life, beginning as a maintenance man for the South Carolina Department of Parks and Recreation in 1990.

A couple of years later, he was a park ranger at Aiken State Natural Area.
"I loved working there," he said, "The good part is you are always working with the public, but it was a different interaction, renting canoes and making campsite reservations."

In the fall of 2001, with a new commission as a constable, he came to the county as an animal control officer.

"I felt like I could do it, like I could make a difference in what the job entails ... helping animals."

At first, he felt like he had jumped the fence in his dealings with the public, and now he had to be the bad guy.

"But I soon learned I am not the bad guy; my job is to enforce the rules," he said.

Arthurs was asked in his interview how he felt about euthanizing animals.

"I said I could do it," he recalled, "And I felt like I gave an honest answer, too. But after I got here - and I was only witnessing it - it knocked the air out of me like someone kicked me in the gut."

He'd made a terrible mistake was his first thought, but then he went to training and learned.

"What kind of life can we give them here?" he said. "But, it's really hard to see the amount of animals coming through the door. This shelter was built to be maxed out at 100 dogs. That was 1990. Now, it's 2010, and sometimes we're holding 150 to 200 dogs and 40 to 50 cats. The overflow area - that's what we call it, overflow - is busting at the seams."

As chief the last three years, Arthurs has worked hard to make improvements.

The "Overflow Area" now sits atop a sealed cement slab that drains and can be disinfected to contain the spread of disease. A shed roof for shade was added last fall, and big fans move the air. Even so, he said, "These animals will be held for five days, and then we have to make a decision."

In late spring, when the shelter is overrun with newborn puppies and his vet tech's heart is breaking, the shelter puts out an appeal for foster homes.

"I want to foster," he said, "But I don't know if we'll get to do that again right now, because the last three we fostered, we adopted two."

FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road. For more information, e-mail info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

A Problem-Solver and a Cat Named Murphy Brown

Submitted article



Don't call Ernie Wolf a perfectionist.

"Perfectionists go nuts," he said, "I strive to have excellence. I'm a problem-solver."

The problem was the limited space for the cats that came into the Aiken County Animal Shelter was reduced by the gift of an industrial washer and dryer.

Such a huge blessing is hard to complain about, but tell that to the cats who had to live in cages until their time was up, or they miraculously got adopted.

The ultimate solution was C.A.T.S. - Cats at the Shelter, a place for the adoptable cats and kittens funded by FOTAS.

We owe its design and execution to an unlikely pair: a not-so-recently retired, talented engineer and his recently deceased, ancient cat that he called "Murphy Brown."

In 1988, Ernie retired from Kimberly Clark as an engineering manager who'd begun with the company 40 years earlier "pulling a hand truck loaded with rolls."

He finished his career before turning 60, one of only two non-degreed engineers, with 19 engineers working for him. About that time, a friend retrieved a pregnant cat from a dumpster and gave Ernie and his wife one of the kittens.

For more than two decades, Murphy Brown was a devoted companion. As Ernie's wife battled cancer, Murphy visited and lifted her spirits with playful pats on her chest.

After his wife passed, Ernie had Murphy's company on his worktable as he repaired and built things. Never allowed on the furniture, she spent nights on Ernie's lap as he watched TV.

Murphy Brown died this spring as C.A.T.S. got under way, just in time to provide Ernie with added inspiration.

To develop his design, Ernie visited cat colonies as far away as Camden and Lexington. He appreciated the efforts he saw.

"They made the mistakes I was bound not to make," he said.

One of the colonies was battling problems with ventilation. Another had access issues.

"We can do better than this," he vowed and set to work.

Ernie began with a customized 12-foot-by-30-foot JEMCO building and added windows for natural light, including one over the sink in the center aisle that separates the female cats and kittens on the right from the males on the left. He had cat flaps inserted in the rear walls for access to the screened in concrete patios out back with an exterior patio door for humans.

A sidewalk wraps around to the front, and there is tile flooring, good ventilation and climate control for winter and summer.

There were materials to acquire: trades people to coordinate for framing, plumbing, electrical, handicap access, and landscaping and permit and inspection hurdles to clear.

Ernie oversaw every single detail in a project not devoid of frustrations. He finished C.A.T.S. under budget and dedicated it to his cat, Murphy Brown.

He calls himself a problem-solver, which he is, but when you visit C.A.T.S. at the county shelter, "perfect" is a word that may come to mind, at least until you remember that the cats all still need a home.

FOTAS works with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road. For more information, e-mail info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.


Thursday, August 12, 2010

A Good Day for Shelter Dogs, Cats


Thursday was a big day for animals at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

The ribbon was cut on the new cat shelter, a free-standing building housing two cat colonies, and more than 20 dogs were loaded onto a horse trailer bound for a no-kill shelter in Massachusetts.

Members of Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS) beamed with excitement as they gathered the small crowd in front of the cat shelter to thank those who made it possible whether through donations of time, money or materials. The cat shelter was paid for by donations and money raised by FOTAS and was equipped by the same means.

Wolf Construction built the structure, which is dedicated in memory to owner Ernie Wolf's cat, Murphy Brown.

John Wade Plumbing Inc. donated the plumbing.

No longer are the cats confined to wire cages. The colonies allow the cats to roam in open, air-conditioned rooms complete with climbing trees, toys, window sill rests, benches and cat beds. One colony keeps the adult cats while the other keeps the kittens. Both colonies have a pet door leading out onto a covered, open-air porch space, which exposes them to sunshine and fresh air.

Visitors have room to sit on the benches or down on the floor and play with and pet the cats.

"We now have a safe, healthy, proper environment for our cats," said FOTAS President Jennifer Miller.

Animal Control Chief Enforcement Officer Bobby Arthurs said the cats weren't sure what to do when first introduced into the colonies in June but soon grew comfortable in their new surroundings.

"It is working out really well for them," he said. "We do get a lot of compliments on it."

Volunteer Terry McGrath announced the day's first cat adoption just minutes before the ribbon cutting. A family with three young girls took home Chester, a gray and white kitten. She estimates that 80 percent of people who visit the cat shelter adopt at least one cat.

The dogs had their day, as well.

A total of 26 dogs left the shelter Thursday for the no-kill Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, Mass. They were helped onto a horse trailer equipped with a video feed, hay for them to bed down in and buckets of water to keep them hydrated during the 1,000-mile trip.

Transportation was provided at no cost by Fairway Horse Transport out of New Hampshire.

Arthurs said each load transferred up north means more space opens up here and more animals have the chance to be adopted.

Members of FOTAS, who helped load the trailer, believe each dog will be adopted out within a month. They credit the region's aggressive spay and neuter campaigns with keeping pet numbers manageable and demand for shelter dogs high.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

FOTAS Celebrates One Year Helping the County Shelter

From The Aiken Standard

Submitted Article

Happy Birthday, FOTAS!

Barely a year ago, three women decided to move beyond animal control policy to animal advocacy and formed a new nonprofit. They committed to help Aiken County transform conditions at the county Animal Shelter through a public charity. On July 29, 2009, Friends of the Animal Shelter Inc., (FOTAS) was founded. Its primary mission: To reduce the number of companion animals dying at the county shelter.

The problems were huge. Five- or six-thousand unwanted, neglected, and abused cats and dogs were coming through each year. Most were housed in cages and overflow pens for five days, put down, bagged and dumped in the landfill. Many in the Aiken community were unaware that the county shelter and the Aiken SPCA were not the same place.

Others thought that "the County" dogs went to be "put down," not a place to adopt a pet.

After 20 years, a decaying Public Works facility was grossly inadequate for the population it served and wrong for Aiken's identity as an "Animal friendly community." Additionally, it was difficult for citizens who cared to find a way to help.

It's been a busy year.

FOTAS' volunteer program is about to celebrate its first birthday, and the dogs are getting out of their cages more days at least for a little while.

FOTAS continues to transfer a few lucky dogs to a no-kill shelter in Massachusetts.

On Halloween, the FOTAS mascots handed out thousands of treats for dogs and humans while promoting spay/neuter.

The equine community held three events to raise awareness and money in October, January and April.

In November, FOTAS expanded the previous county shelter open house and held a vendor-supported pet fair to encourage visits and boost adoptions.

The shelter's holding pens now have concrete floors and a shade roof. The big dogs up for adoption have a big yard to run in with a modest picnic shelter for their handlers.

Since the second one, FOTAS' benefit breakfast at Applebee's is practically a tradition. Until June, when numbers shot up, County shelter adoptions were up, and the kill-rate was finally dipping below 90 percent. Soon, our biggest and our proudest accomplishment so far will be announced to the public. We don't want to spoil the surprise. . . it was a good year.

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be measured by the way in which its animals are treated," Mahatma Gandhi once said.

In Aiken, we tell our visitors that "character comes first," and offer them a list of its attributes. And here we are, FOTAS and the Aiken County Animal Shelter, celebrating our first year and hoping that one day the way we treat all our animals will reflect who we truly want to be as a community.

Spay or neuter your pets, and rescued animals need patience, loving guidance and are well worth the time.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Animal Shelter Group Requests Additional Funds





A presentation by Aiken County's Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS) detailed some "vital needs" at the shelter to County Council's Development Committee.

FOTAS members gave a PowerPoint presentation to the committee Tuesday and to a standing-room-only audience that highlighted the shelter's role in the community and what steps the nonprofit group thinks need to be made to improve conditions at the shelter, lessen the number of animals euthanized and help reduce the number of stray animals roaming the county.

FOTAS member Joya DiStefano said that in June 1990 - when the shelter was built - animal control officers were dispatched to 200 calls, and 100 animals ended up at the shelter. In June 2009, officers were dispatched to 588 calls, and 665 animals ended up at the shelter. The shelter has not significantly expanded over the course of that time period despite the increase in numbers.



DiStefano said it surprises her that a community like Aiken that is so friendly to horses and hounds doesn't take much notice of the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

"I don't think that's who we are. It is amazing for us to be willing to tolerate the status quo at the shelter," she said. "Nine out of 10 animals are euthanized."

Pictures showed cats living in cages, dogs peering from behind the fencing of their cages, chipping paint and fly strips hanging from ceilings.

"We hear that people want to volunteer, but they don't want to go to the shelter because it breaks their hearts," DiStefano said. "We are looking for a shelter that people are attracted to."

Progress is being made, however. The shelter has instituted a volunteer and foster program. FOTAS was established. A new industrial washer and dryer units were donated, as was a commercial washtub, and the pet spay or neuter voucher program has proved to be popular among County residents.

There is still work to be done, FOTAS members said.

The group asked the committee to consider recommending that funds provided for the County's spay or neuter voucher program be increased to $60,000 from $30,000 to "incentivize responsible pet ownership." Representatives also asked for $1 million for a shelter expansion.

"People cry foul because it's their tax money, but think of it as an investment," DiStefano said.

"We are looking at getting money for the shelter," Councilwoman Kathy Rawls said. "We know how bad things are. We appreciate all the things you have done to improve the situation."

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Try Out Animal Shelter Website

From The Aiken Standard
 By HALEY HUGHES - Staff writer - email:hhughes@aikenstandard.com

Friends of the Aiken County Animal Shelter (FOTAS) now has its own website, and it's up and running.

Feb. 14 was the official launch date for www.fotasaiken.org, which allows users to check on a number of things pertaining to the shelter, such as animal adoptions and fostering, volunteer opportunities, news and upcoming events.

As of Wednesday, the website's hit counter was at nearly 1,200.


Lorrie Sullivan, who created the website, got involved when a FOTAS member contacted her about donating a number of leather dog leads, which Sullivan makes by hand.

"The shelter was one of those places I tried to avoid because it's heartbreaking and I have a house full as it is," she said. "I knew if I went there, I'd bring something home."

But when Sullivan was at the shelter to drop off the leads, she realized a need.

"I decided I could do a website and clerical work from home. I am not a professional website designer, but I felt comfortable enough to say I could do it," she said.

Users visiting the website can learn more about volunteer opportunities - either by walking and socializing animals kept at the shelter, performing clerical work and participating in community outreach events - post to the message board and check out what is coming up by viewing the events calendar. For instance, the shelter is offering a "Two Fur One" adoption special in which animal lovers can adopt two pets for the price of one - typically $70 - or adopt one animal for half price.

There is also a donation page on which users can enter in their credit card information and make a charitable donation to help further the FOTAS mission of improving the quality of life for shelter animals and reducing the euthanasia rate by promoting successful pet adoptions and helping to prevent unwanted and abused cats and dogs.

"The website is growing into something that's exciting," Sullivan said.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Pups Enjoy Shelter's Larger Dog Run


Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS) was created with the mission of improving the quality of life for Aiken County's shelter animals, and its hard work is paying off.

Late last week, shelter dogs experienced a taste of freedom with the completion of a new, much larger dog run, and volunteers were greeted yesterday with two new picnic tables. A new 4,000-square-foot dog run was built conjoining with the former run.

"It is a healthier place for the animals to get out and walk with the volunteers," said Bobby Arthurs, chief enforcement officer. "There is more playing area. ... In return, it makes the animals friendlier and more adoptable."



"This was done through donations from the community and the help of Boyd Fencing," said Jennifer Miller, FOTAS board member. "An expansion by the County is much needed. There are only 13 adoptable kennels for the nearly 500 to 600 animals brought into the shelter each month. The dog run helps until the shelter can get the expansion. FOTAS is a nonprofit volunteer organization that supports the programs at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Aiken County's shelter animals, increase pet adoption and to reduce the rate of euthanasia."

The shelter has seen significant changes through the introduction of a volunteer program in August of last year. The volunteers directly increase the quality of life for the animals.

"The volunteer program is the best thing we could have done here at the shelter. The animals are in such a confined space, and the interaction with the volunteers helps," Arthurs said. "Compared to a year ago, the animals are much healthier. Getting out to play helps keep them nice and sassy and adoptable."

Before the interaction with volunteers, the animals often spent a month in confined spaces with little interaction. Arthurs has noticed a significant increase in the spirits of the animals, and this helps in the adoption process. In fact, adoptions are up since the inception of the volunteer program.

Friends Caroline Simonson and Denise Tarangelo decided in November to volunteer at the shelter and have found rewards they never anticipated.

"I gained insight into different aspects of my life," Simonson said. "I just love doing it. I come home, and my husband says my face is glowing. I see the change in the dogs, and seeing them adopted is such a joy. We put in love; some of the dogs don't even know what its like to have their tummies rubbed."

Tarangelo was never a dog person and had never had a pet until a few months ago.

"I get a lot of satisfaction from walking the dogs and especially when the dogs bond with me," Tarangelo said. "I took home a dog that bonded with me and became a first-time dog owner. Sometimes we are lucky enough to be here when they are adopted. We do need more male volunteers. Some of the dogs are too big and powerful for us to walk; but now with the new run, they can be off the leash and play. We enjoy walking on the trail, and the dogs love it because it is sandy and quiet."

"We still need more volunteers," Arthurs said.

Volunteers are needed no matter the length of time. Some volunteers visit the shelter for one hour a week while others are available on a daily basis; however, there are days no volunteers are available to interact with the animals. Any amount of time is welcomed, as are donations of money, treats, food, blankets and more.

In addition to volunteer programs, foster programs are also available. Anyone interested in adopting, fostering or volunteering should call the Aiken County Animal Shelter at 642-1537. The shelter is located at 411 Wire Road. Donations may be mailed to Friends of the Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 2207, Aiken, SC 29802.

Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@aikenstandard.com.

Monday, January 25, 2010

More shelters interested in dog transport agreements




 
More transfer agreements between the Aiken County Animal Shelter and no-kill shelters across the country are in the mix.

Early last year, the Aiken County Animal Shelter reached an agreement with the Northeast Humane Society in Salem, Mass., to transfer dogs from Aiken to Massachusetts, where they have a greater chance of being adopted. They may have otherwise been euthanized in Aiken due to space limitations and overcrowding at the shelter.

Now, more shelters up north are interested in getting involved.

A resolution passed through Aiken County Council last week that will clear the red tape from the process.

It provides that the County shelter and the other designated shelter will enter into a one-year agreement for the purpose of placing animals in qualified homes. Neither party will be charged any fees in the process. At the end of one year, the parties will either terminate the agreement or continue with it.

"We won't have to go Council every time we want to do a transfer. It is now a blanket agreement, and all we have to do is fill in the blanks," said Todd Glover, assistant County administrator.

Previously, dogs heading to Massachusetts were transported in an insulated, closed-stall trailer normally used for shipping show horses. The dogs had food and water and arrived safely each time. Staff at the Northeast Humane Society reported they were adopted quickly.

Shelters in the northern part of the United States report they see more demand for adoptable dogs and cats, said Jennifer Miller with Friends of the Aiken County Animal Shelter (FOTAS).

"The reason why northern shelters can take some of our pets is they have aggressive spay/neuter programs," Miller said.

The County Shelter has its own spay/neuter program. It is popular but vouchers go fast, and there is still a large population of stray animals roaming the County.

FOTAS was formed in 2009 to raise support and awareness for the animal shelter. The group's mission is "to improve quality of life for shelter animals, increase pet adoption and prevent unwanted and mistreated pets."

Miller said an agreement with Buddy Dog Humane Society in Sudbury, Mass., is in the works.

According to its website, Buddy Dog Humane Society "accepts homeless dogs and cats, in good health and of friendly disposition, which could, without our help, be destroyed. These animals find refuge at our shelter and can depend on becoming someone's forever friend. There is no time limit on their stay."

"Friends of the Aiken County Animal Shelter (FOTAS) has been really aggressive with this and other initiatives," Glover said. "They are very passionate about it."

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

LEYTER: County Shelter Needs Help

From The Aiken Standard

By Edgar T. Cado 

Welcome Home Piper (Sat. Jan. 2) was a heartwarming story of Mr. Wallace's adopting a dog from our SPCA who does a very fine job helping animals here in Aiken. However, I believe many in our community are confused. The Aiken County Shelter, which is the next driveway down from the SPCA, is not a no kill shelter. Only one in 10 dogs leave the shelter alive. The shelter is hopelessly inadequate built 20 years ago. There are only 13 cages in which dogs are often doubled up that are available for the people to view and those dogs frown. Others wait in back for their turn to move up only possible if ones in front have run out of time or been adopted. Time is short and the dogs keep coming.

The cats don't fare much better. They have even less room in the space of a closet.

The County Shelter needs more room. It needs more everything - blankets, food, you name it, they need it.


Spay and neuter is of course the answer, however with the huge increase in animals those that come must be kept in a humane fashion. The people at the County Shelter do a wonderful job with very little. It's a tough place to work. The shelter now has a small group of terrific volunteers. We need more.

Those may say the County Shelter is funded with tax dollars when tax dollars have never been enough. Now more than ever when people are struggling to feed their families the pets are being turned in or turned out on the street.

There is hope. A small group has created Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS), a nonprofit public charity corporation to help support the Aiken County Shelter.

The SPCA, Molly's Militia and FOTAS all need to work together. The goal is the same, ease the suffering. One last thing when animals are put to sleep, they never wake up. We are killing hundreds a month. Please help and thank you Mr. Wallace for opening a cage for one more.

Edgar T. Cado

Aiken