FOTAS Introduces a Trailer Named ‘Herbie Brown‘

Herbie Brown’s story began three years ago this month with the first transfer of Aiken County Shelter dogs to a no-kill shelter in New England.  Since then, Mark Choper and the drivers for Fairway Horse Transport have helped FOTAS save literally hundreds of dogs who probably would have joined our County Shelter’s heart-breaking euthaniasia statistics.

Neither words of praise nor appreciation can do justice to how Mark’s business has blessed our homeless animals at the County Shelter through rescue and huge food donations.  The only down side to his service to our cause is that the transfers are necessarily tied to transporting horses, making coordination with our partners a nightmare.

That’s where the FOTAS magic stepped in.

A couple of volunteers dreamed of a feasible way to travel with their too-many dogs.  The dream involved an old Airstream trailer, light enough to be easily pulled by an SUV, and reliable for providing HVAC for the family pack at any destination.  For years the project languished as a fantasy.

Then the complications of coordination and scheduling for the growing transfer program pushed a transfer vehicle to the front of the FOTAS wish list, and FOTAS miracles began to happen.

“Weren’t you looking for an Airstream?” the email read.  The ’69, already gutted, was on Craig’s List in Georgia for $3,500.  While trying to make that deal work, a ’78 Airstream Land Yacht appeared in Lexington, SC for $3,000, and this deal almost made itself.

“My uncle loved this trailer. It’s been everywhere,” the seller said, “He eventually lived in it until a few months before he died.” Then he added, “And he liked to help people.”  And so, for $3,050, Herb Brown’s nephew repacked the bearings, replaced the power converter, delivered the RV to the County Shelter, and threw in a $300 stabilizer hitch. 

Herbie Brown, the future FOTAS transport trailer, was no sooner parked next to C.A.T.S. (the cat colony at the shelter) then FOTAS received a magnificently generous grant from a private donor specifically for our transfer program.  The grant will fund the acquisition and refitting of our vehicles and pay enough of our transport expenses to firmly establish the program.  And we have added two more rescue partners.

If that isn’t pure magic, what is?

Unfortunately, without aggressive spay/ neuter, micro-chipping and heartworm prevention, there are never going to be enough Mark Chopers or Herbie Browns, beyond our adoptions, to assure that no adoptable dog has to die.  There are not enough miracles or magic for that. 

Under current intake numbers, a reasonable projection says that the FOTAS transfer program may increase a dog’s chances of surviving by about 13%, not good odds.  Put another way, we can transfer about 3 of the 22 who will be put down. 

2012 could be a landmark year for our shelter.  We need volunteers to prepare dogs for future transports and new homes, and for events and fundraisers.  Believe in miracles.  Make a difference.  Join us!

 
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 Jan. 9th thru 15th 2012

Received: 59 dogs and 26 cats

Adoptions: 6 dogs and 2 cats

Euthanized: 29 dogs and 17 cats

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of theWeek” 

POOKIE – Staffordshire terrier mix, 1 yr. 

Soft as a bunny and sweet as a kitten! 

Loves to run.

$70 includes shots, neuter, microchip.

GRIS – 4yrs. Male.

Neutered, declawed, and affectionate.

A purrfect companion for $20.