From The Aiken Standard
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.
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.
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Your comments and input are always welcome. We appreciate any suggestions or thoughts that will help FOTAS with their goal to help the Aiken County Animal Shelter become a happy, healthy place that never has to euthanize an adoptable pet.