Lisa is One in a Million and We Have Her at Our County Shelter

“First, you need to know how hard it is to find a vet tech who will work in an animal shelter,” was Sandy Larsen’s response to the question about Lisa’s first three months at the Aiken County Shelter.  Sandy has been a shelter vet tech for 30 years.

Sandy was frank about the reason; it’s all the animals that they have to euthanized.  Then of course they have to work most weekends, and the nature of that work has a component of unremitting chaos.

Lisa Temples started her job as the other veterinary technician with the County Shelter the beginning of August.  

Lisa represents another example of the magic at work among those who have taken on the challenge of creating an Aiken County Animal Services Department that represents the pride and responsibility we take in our community.  In addition to an adequate shelter facility, that means people who are willing and able to do one of the most emotionally stressful jobs any animal-lover could imagine.

Lisa has been around animals her whole life.  Her grandfather raised beagles and her family had emus, and other exotic critters. She and her husband have two dogs.

In her interview, Lisa was asked about her attitude towards euthanasia, a responsibility that came with the position.  She had been working at a nursing facility while getting her vet tech certification, so she was no stranger to death, but now she was going to be its agent.

She couldn’t like it, but she could do it, was her response. 

Lisa was also willing to drive the 20 miles to work from Leesville every day.  She’d ruffled feathers at a previous job for being early, so it is no surprise that she will be in the parking lot at 7:45 ready to begin work at 8:00.

Lisa is not all that interested in talking about herself, but she has a wonderful way with the public.  People who get her on the phone can sense that they have someone on the other end of the line who is prepared to help.  Just last week her boss, Bobby Arthurs, got a letter of commendation and appreciation for just such service. 

Jan, the dispatcher notices that Lisa is always busy.  When she finishes one task, she immediately looks for something else to do, even if it was something from which one of her co-workers was pulled away.

Sandy says that for the first time in her working memory she feels like she can go away on vacation, because Lisa is there.  That is after being in the job for three months, in a county facility that is too small to serve even the most basic of its functions effectively.

 

Lisa Temples is everything we need and more than we deserve under current working conditions.  With her contribution to an esprit de corps among the staff, which is miraculous in that environment, one can only imagine how it will be in an adequate facility. 

FOTAS invites you to join the team.

FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER to help the abandoned animals from Aiken and Edgefield Counties in SC, 411 Wire Road.  For more information, contact “info@fotasaiken.org” or visit FOTAS on line at www.fotasaiken.org.

Aiken County Animal Shelter:  “By the Numbers”

For October 17th thru 23rd   

Dogs taken in: 79

Cats taken in: 38                        

Dogs adopted: 11

Cats adopted: 0

Dogs euthanized: 54

Cats euthanized: 42

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week”

BRAVO

 3 yrs old charming gentleman.   

Only $35 includes shots & microchip.

 

DUTCHESS 

Bassett 1yr, 40 lbs. 

Sweet and gentle.

 

Top 10 Spay/Neuter Myths

Reprint from the ARFF Website (Animal Rights Foundation of Florida)

Top 10 Spay/Neuter Myths
 
10. Spaying/neutering my dog or cat will change her/his personality.
Spaying or neutering your animal will make him/her less frustrated and more tranquil. Two changes for the better! 

9. Spaying/neutering my animal will make her/him fat and lazy.
Too much food and not enough exercise will cause weight gain, spaying/neutering will not!

8. A female dog should have at least one litter for health reasons.
There is just no scientific evidence to back this claim. Instead, the research shows that spaying your dog/cat greatly reduces the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer and uterine infection, which are common occurrences in unspayed females.

7. I couldn’t look my animal in the eye if I had her/him spayed/neutered.
Your animal will be able to look you in the eyes for a lot longer if she/he is spayed/neutered. Spayed/neutered animals on average live longer!

6. It’s not natural.
Maybe. But, the bigger concern has to be the hundreds of thousands of animals being killed at shelters because there simply are not enough homes for all of them. Think birth control v. killing unwanted puppies and kittens.

5. My dog/cat is so cute and unique; there should be more of her/him.
Animal shelters are full of cute and unique dogs and cats, most with only a few days left to live. If you think you can help find homes for animals, PLEASE, volunteer with your local shelter and help find homes for those who are already here.

4. I want the children to witness the miracle of birth.
There are many excellent videos on the subject that won’t result in adding yet another litter to the existing population of homeless dogs and cats in our community.

3. We will find homes for all the puppies/kittens.
Do you really know where your animal’s offspring are? And the offspring’s offspring are? The current companion animal overpopulation crises demands that we halt the breeding of dogs and cats until we can find homes for those who are already here.

2. My dog/cat doesn’t run loose, so she/he doesn’t need to be fixed.
Murphy’s Law says otherwise— anything that can go wrong will. Please don’t let your dog or cat be a possible number in the companion animal overpopulation equation. Be certain. Spay/neuter.

1. Just one litter won’t hurt.
An unaltered female dog, her mate, and all of their puppies and their puppies puppies, if none are ever spayed or neutered, add up to 16 dogs in 1 year; 128 in 2 years; 512 in 3 years; 2,048 in 4 years; 12,288 in 5 years; and 67,000 in 6 years (similar numbers apply to cats.)

(information from SpayUSA.).

Dog Up for Adoption at Shelter Wins Aiken's Buck-a-Like Contest

From The Aiken Standard
By HALEY HUGHES - Staff writer

Border collie mix Bandit is the winner of the Buck-a-Like contest, which was promoted by the month-long Aiken Wild Read program.

The contest sought a dog who most resembles Buck, the protagonist in Jack London's "Call of the Wild," a domesticated canine who is stolen from his owner and trained as a sled dog. Buck, a St. Bernard/Scots shepherd mix, learns to draw on the primitive instincts of his ancestors to become the dominant dog in the sledding pack. At the end of the book, Buck answers the "call of the wild" by joining a wolf pack.

Bandit was nominated by veterinarian Sybil Davis, who owns Aiken Pet Fitness & Rehabilitation, after she read about the contest.

"Bandit, like Buck, is part herding dog and possibly St. Bernard. He is thick boned, strong, with a wide head and an alert, intelligent expression. He, too, has come on hard times. He is a fun dog who is maintaining his love and trust for people," Davis wrote.

Bandit was picked up as a stray and, as of Friday, was available for adoption at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. He is neutered, vaccinated and micro-chipped.

"He is high-energy, very intelligent," said Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS) Vice President Mary Lou Welch. "He is very representative of all the beautiful dogs out there FOTAS supports."
The winning $50 cash prize was donated to FOTAS, which promotes successful adoptions and spay/neuter, coordinates fundraising and raises awareness for the homeless animals at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

Bandit's new owners will receive a copy of "Call of the Wild."

"Bandit opens the door for a lot of other animals," said Bobby Arthurs, chief enforcement officer with Aiken County Animal Control.

The Aiken Woman's Club and the Aiken County Public Library partnered with several community leaders and organizations in Aiken Wild Read. Based on the National Endowment for the Arts nationwide program, The Big Read, this month has been full of activities, events, public readings and the Buck-a-Like contest.

Bandit's adoption fee is $35. He walks well on a leash and should be only pet in the household, Arthurs said.

For more information on Bandit, call 642-1537 or visit the shelter at 411 Wire Road. 

With FOTAS, All-Volunteer Means Business

Oh, FOTAS, how far we have come!  In June of 2009 a few of us held a benefit breakfast for the Aiken County Animal Shelter.  We stood in parking lots, sold tickets and made out-of-town friends buy them for bookmarks.  We raised over $2,700, our symbolic beginning. 

Two years later FOTAS, now a 501c3 public charity, committed to raise $100,000 to partner with Aiken County on a badly needed shelter expansion project, a momentous undertaking for all concerned.  The first phase of the comprehensive needs assessment study has been completed and is now under County Council review.   

Concurrent with working on the shelter expansion project, we have ongoing program commitments. Shelter  volunteers see that the dogs get out of their cages at least once a day, six days a week.  The dogs learn that someone cares, to walk on a leash and play well with others.   And our kitties need attention every day, especially afternoons.  Our volunteers also work with local vets and council representatives in the very important work of funding and promoting spay and neuter programs.

In two years FOTAS volunteers saved hundreds of county dogs through our transfer program with northern no-kill shelters.  Each occasion for a transfer requires many volunteer hours finding shelters, assuring dogs are selected, approved, spayed/neutered, fostered, and shipped healthy.

FOTAS’ foster homes offer most abandoned litters of puppies and kittens their only chance to survive the unavoidable contamination and afflictions of shelter life.  We are blessed with too few of these angels-of-mercy and pray for more all the time. 

The money FOTAS raises makes everything else possible.  Every fundraiser is conceived and implemented by volunteers including our signature Woofstock Festival.  Our equestrians hold hunter-paces; our golfers do golf tournaments.  Also, through their good works numerous civic organizations generously make FOTAS their beneficiary on behalf of the Aiken County Shelter. 

We appreciate all the people throughout the county who find our displays or read this newspaper* and send a donation to FOTAS’ P.O. Box 2207, Aiken, 29802.  Now you can even make one-time or monthly donations on our website.

 Being an all volunteer organization, every dollar is spent directly on shelter needs.  Since that first breakfast FOTAS has provided the county shelter with: numerous supplies; shelter and flooring for the overflow pens, a large-dog play area, a unique adoptable cat and kitten facility, post-surgery and cat-intake stainless cage banks, and the committed $100k for the needs analysis and shelter expansion design.  

FOTAS volunteers have also: designed and run our website,  database,  blogs,  broadcast emails, brochures and accounting system.  Volunteers secured our 501c3 status, report to the state and IRS, do the banking and issue honorariums and thank-yous.  And the leadership that keeps it all running is all-volunteer.

FOTAS is a membership organization.  If you care about our county shelter and its animals we hope you will join us.  Make any kind of meaningful contribution and you’re in.

  *The Aiken Standard posts these BLOG post articles each week.

FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 411 Wire Road.  For more information, contact “info@fotasaiken.org” or visit FOTAS on line at www.fotasaiken.org.

Aiken County Animal Shelter:  “By the Numbers”

For October 10th thru 16th     

Dogs taken in: 56

Cats taken in: 40

Total: 96 

Dogs adopted: 15

Cats adopted: 1

 Total: 16

Dogs euthanized: 33

Cats euthanized: 41

Total: 74

Effective Projects Begin with the End in Mind

When you read or hear about “The Shelter,” think, “Aiken County Animal Shelter.”  It is located right next door to the Aiken SPCA on Wire Road.  There is a big beautiful sign at the entrance, donated by a FOTAS member, which belies the fact that the facility tucked out of sight at the end of the gravel driveway is a public embarrassment.

These 5000 square feet on a concrete slab are the sole accommodations for 5,400 unwanted animals in a year, and the employees who work for Aiken County Animal Services must accept them all.

Three years ago more than 95% were euthanized.  As of June 30, 2011, our euthanasia rate was down to 72%.  That’s less than 3,900.  We have accomplished this much progress due to the monumental efforts of a stellar public-private partnership between our FOTAS volunteers, members and Aiken County government.

The heartbreaking reality is that without an adequate facility this may be the best we can do.
 

Of course, extensive affordable spay/neuter is essential to solve this problem.  Numerous ongoing, public and private, educational and subsidy programs are trying to address it from that end.  But, in the mean time, what about the present and foreseeable reality?

Our community shelter was built to house 100 animals more than 20 year ago.  In those same 20 years, Jackson County Oregon, FOTAS’ partnership model, has virtually eliminated the need to euthanize an adoptable pet.  In those same 20 years, shelter management and shelter medicine has made a giant leap forward, because communities realize that their essence is reflected in how they treat their animals.

These innocents, who add so much to so many lives; who are so dependent on us for their well-being, have committed no crime.  They die not because they have failed us, but because we have failed them. 

Studies show that if provided with an adequate shelter environment, community involvement, awareness, and adoptions go up, and intake goes down.

What is a satisfactory shelter environment?  One with adequate space, waste management and healthy air to accommodate requisite length of stay for population demands; one that does not cause the citizens who pay for it to recoil in horror and disgust.  Our shelter is none of the above.  

For a nominal fee this summer, FOTAS retained a nationally recognized shelter expert to do a professional needs-assessment.  Recognizing that funds are severely limited, he evaluated options and made recommendations to County Council.  His report is currently under consideration.

While county government seeks the most efficient and effective ways to fulfill its animal control obligations to the public, FOTAS is stewarding our animal advocacy initiatives. 

It is a good and solid partnership.  While we envision a desirable future for our animals, all our feet are firmly planted in reality.  We are all Aiken County and “The Shelter” is our community shelter.  What we deserve is a healthy, humane, happy environment that one day will never have to euthanize an adoptable pet.  You can help this dream come true.

FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 411 Wire Road.  For more information, contact “info@fotasaiken.org” or visit FOTAS on line at www.fotasaiken.org.

Aiken County Animal Shelter:  “By the Numbers”

For October 3rd thru 9th   

Dogs taken in:  55

Cats taken in:  43

Dogs adopted:  12

Cats adopted:    0

Dogs euthanized:  60

Cats euthanized:   28

LETTER: More needs to be done at shelter

From The Aiken Standard
Submitted Letter to the Editor
By CAROLYN KLOTZBAUGH

Aiken County has a severe problem with the number of surrendered and stray animals who end up at the county shelter. Last year, the Aiken County took in 5,400 unwanted animals they it is required by law to care for and house. Most of the animals were adoptable, most were euthanized.

There is no single answer to this overwhelming problem. It needs to be a multi-pronged approach that tackles the problem on many levels.

The County must quickly start the new shelter project. Today, healthy, adoptable animals brought in to the shelter get sick because of disease ridden air, overcrowding and improper waste management. Not every animal can be saved, but the shelter must deal with an enormous number every day who need to be accounted for and humanely treated. The critical issue is providing adequate and humane housing.

An adequate shelter also must provide a positive environment for people who want to come and adopt. The smell, the noise and the overall depressing, overcrowded conditions keep most people away.

Everyone recognizes that spay and neuter is the long-term answer to the overpopulation population. State and county-wide programs must both educate and encourage people to take responsibility for their pets. The County budgets $30,000 a year to provide affordable spay and neuter services, but this cannot meet the demand. Think of the possibilities if concerned citizens would engage with the private sector to raise money for spay and neuter.

Temporary Foster Homes Needed for 5-10 days!!!

BULLETIN:  

DESPERATELY need short term foster homes for county shelter dogs who have been adopted but awaiting transport up north.  If anyone can help us  out, please contact us at info@fotasaiken.org or call the shelter directly 803-642-1537 Ask for Annette or leave her a message. Food and care provided. 5 - 10 days max. 

The need above is in connection with a special rescue operation with one northern group.  The person doing the fostering is overwhelmed with dogs waiting for the transport.

 Aiken County and Edgefield County also have many puppies at the Aiken County Shelter right now, that need to be in foster  homes until they are old enough to go on the adoption floor. 

We are not looking for a long term commitment!

If interested, please come to the shelter, fill out a foster form and then ask for a home inspection. We have other opportunities to do transfers to some northern no kill shelters. The dogs going on the transfer need to be fostered for a short term before they leave as well. 

FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road, Aiken SC to help the abandoned animals from Aiken and Edgefield Counties in SC. For more information, e-mail info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.

County Animal Shelter Expansion Update

First quarter of FY’12, our goal to provide a safe, humane and healthy environment for the Aiken County Shelter animals has been greatly advanced. The first phase, to do a professional needs assessment, is complete and is under review by County Council.

Jeff Keast, an architect with Animal Arts who specialize in animal shelter design, was hired by FOTAS to do an initial site analysis. Jeff looked at the current County Shelter, the old SPCA shelter, which is now offered for sale due to their building a new shelter in a new location, and other possibilities.

For each site he performed a physical site analysis, looking at general building condition as well as specific shelter-related conditions. He then did a cost projection to bring each site up to a minimum standard.

 The analysis took into consideration factors such as: standards for drainage, ability to be cleaned, ventilation/air quality, and sound control. Jeff computed minimum size requirements for a county shelter based on the current intake numbers, length-of-stay, and the euthanasia rate. Of major concern was the enormous number of animals the County is required to take in for which they must provide housing. Providing adequate size and quality of housing is the core issue.  

 Currently, healthy adoptable animals brought in become sick. Feces and urine are washed repeatedly by all the cages in open trenches.  All of the animals breathe the same air over and over as airborne viruses are moved throughout the facility by large fans. There is no HVAC, not even windows.

From his assessment, Jeff presented his findings in executive session to County Council on September 20th. His report offers comparisons and summary recommendations as to which site appears to be the most effective and cost efficient for our new shelter expansion/renovation. County Council is now studying his findings and working to make the best recommendation for the shelter expansion project within a limited budget.

 We want to emphasize how critically important this site and needs analysis is as a first step. It is our unique opportunity and responsibility to be sure the new shelter is done right. Funding is severely limited, so it behooves us to work smartly and responsibly to build our new shelter. We are not advocating extravagance. We do, however, insist that a new shelter meet basic standards of responsible care for the stray and surrendered animals of Aiken County. Studies show that shelters built to properly serve the community promote responsible pet ownership, spay/neuter, less intake and minimal euthanasia.

We want a shelter where our citizens will want to visit, volunteer, and adopt animals, a Community Shelter in which we can all be involved and take pride.

We will continue to provide you, our FOTAS community, with updates on the progress of the Shelter

Expansion. We need your continued input and support.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Friends of the Animal Shelter

FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road, Aiken SC to help the abandoned animals from Aiken and Edgefield Counties in SC. For more information, e-mail info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.

Writer Seeks Help for Animal Shelter

From The Edgefield Daily online Newspaper

Submitted Letter to the Editor under OPINION

web posted October 11, 2011
 

Dear Editor,

How many folks in Edgefield County know where they send their abandoned dogs and cats? I understand that there are many, many terrific independent Rescue Groups out there to help find homes for animals. Some newcomers, may not be aware of the aversion to spaying and neutering that exists in this area and other parts of the south. It continues to cause a huge population of abandoned dogs and cats in SC.

However, the majority of the Edgefield County dogs and cats, through contract, end up in the Aiken County Animal Shelter. The Shelter is run by a competent and caring staff and is minimally supported by Aiken and Edgefield County funds. A fairly new group, Friends of the Aiken Animal Shelter or fotas as it is known, have stepped in to try to help this overcrowded, poorly structured, old facility and its inhabitants. (www.fotasaiken.org)

Yes, the County Shelter euthanizes animals, to the tune of over 5000 a year! Do they want to--no. But they must accept every animal dropped off at their Wire Rd Aiken facility. Unlike the city of Aiken, who contracts with and supports the next door Aiken SPCA that takes in 1/4 of the animals that the County facility does, they have no choice.

The facility was built to handle 100 animals. Cages are shared by many, many animals. Those that survive and don’t get adopted quickly, shipped out to a northern shelter willing to help out or die from disease they may have caught in the overcrowded facility, are put down with kindness and caring after one week.

Please read this article and consider them when you are writing checks for donations or feel a need to volunteer your time. Keep your good hearts open and also consider helping the dogs and cats in your own backyard who need a healthy place to stay while waiting for their forever home.

Linda Vola
Beech Island, SC


Note:
FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road, Aiken SC to help the abandoned animals from Aiken and Edgefield Counties in SC. For more information, e-mail info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.

FOTAS Pancake Breakfast Nov 12 2011

Let's make a difference! Tickets will be available at Aiken Saddlery, Bone-i-Fide Bakery in Aiken and from various FOTAS volunteers!

 FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road, Aiken SC to help the abandoned animals from Aiken and Edgefield Counties in SC. For more information, e-mail info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.

Aiken County, You Made Us Proud Last Weekend

A woman arrived at the FOTAS booth at the “Wild Read” Festival.  She had just finished walking her dog and then a shelter dog, on the “Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound” trail at the County Shelter.  We had five adorable shelter puppies up for adoption, two brindles and three Ridgeback-mixes.  She fell in love with one of the male Ridgebacks and left to get her husband.

Meanwhile Betty comes by and is entranced by one of the male Ridgebacks.  She knows her daughter and son-in-law have been looking for just the right puppy.  She goes off to get her daughter. 

When they come back, the original woman and her husband look to be adopting the very puppy that was THE ONE.  But destiny had already determined the outcomes for two lucky dogs and two lucky homes. 

But that moment when it appeared that the perfect pup might have gotten away provoked a cell-phone picture of the remaining sibling to be sent to Betty’s son and daughter-in-law.

The festival ended and the pups went to foster care before the family received an enthusiastic affirmative decision on the other puppy.

FOTAS wants to celebrate and congratulate our wonderful Aiken County community for the way it came out last weekend to these two kick-off events dedicated to improving the lives of our citizens.

On Friday evening Dr. Sybil Davis hosted a reception and orientation for the initial participants in “Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound.”  The ten-week program encourages people to come out to our County Shelter and walk some marked trails with a dog. 

As the name suggests, this program promotes both human and canine health as well as community involvement with our animal shelter.  It encourages participants to either bring their own dog that might benefit from exercising with them, or pick a county shelter companion who would definitely benefit from time out of its cage learning to walk on a leash.

On Saturday the Aiken Womans Club launched a month-long celebration of reading with its “Wild Read” Opening Calls at three library branches and “Pawsitively About Dawgs Festival” at the Aiken County Public Library

 The Aiken Woman’s Club is a local volunteer community service organization and member of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, “…an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.”  They accomplish this mission by volunteering for projects in six major areas: arts, conservation, education, home life, international outreach and public issues.

Aiken’s “Wild Read” is organized around Jack London’s classic dog story The Call of the Wild, hence the kick-off theme and the opportunity to tell such a heartwarming tale.

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

Aiken County Animal Shelter:  “By the Numbers”

For September 26th thru Oct 2nd  2011

Dogs taken in: 60

Cats taken in: 70

Dogs adopted: 19!

Cats adopted: 1

Dogs euthanized: 30

Cats euthanized: 70

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week” 10/7/11

 

FRISBEE – About 9 mos, 42 lbs. A very sweet and a little shy spaniel/beagle mix gal.

LUCAS -10 weeks old and cute as a bug!

 For more photos visit http://fotasfhotos.blogspot.com