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.
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.
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.
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