There are Many Ways and Many Reasons to Participate

Let’s start with some really fabulous news: April 2012, FOTAS volunteers, County Shelter staff and rescue partners working together saved 132 dogs and cats through adoptions and transfers to no-kill shelters.  The bad news is that the euthanasia rate was still 86% for the month.

FOTAS, as the non-profit animal advocacy and fund-raising arm for Aiken County Animal Services, is working nonstop to involve the entire county in a three-pronged approach to addressing this problem:  community awareness of animal issues; providing an adequate, healthy, humane county shelter; and, animal population control through spay/neuter.

Rescuing 132 animals in a single month is a signature achievement, but when nearly 400 animals are coming through the door, it can feel like Sisyphus pushing that proverbial rock up the hill only to have it roll back and his struggle to repeat.  Sisyphus was condemned to this futility for eternity; FOTAS believes there are realistic remedies for our pets, that is, if enough of us care.

Shortly, we will officially launch a capital campaign to raise the approximate half-million dollars still needed to build our new county shelter.  We are going to pull out all the stops over the next year or two to make this happen, because this is our best last chance to do this right. 

FOTAS foresees the opportunity for everyone throughout the county to have a stake in this venture, and to leave a lasting legacy far into the future: just who we are, and what we stand for, when it comes to responsibility and compassion for our animals.  As we seek to enroll Aiken County citizens in making a contribution, FOTAS endeavors will be hard to miss.

On Saturday, May 26^th, we march in the Memorial Day Parade.  Herbie Brown, our community designed, magnificently renovated ’79 Airstream Landyacht, recently converted into a climate- controlled Animal Rescue Waggin’, will be making his Aiken debut.  Herbie will be the centerpiece of FOTAS’ demonstration of appreciation for our fallen veterans, accompanied by seven special adoptable dogs from our county shelter with their volunteer handlers. 

Three weeks later, on June 16^th, Herbie will be the “Kitten Caboose,” full of adoptable kittens at FOTAS’ first “Breakfast at FATZ for the County Shelter Cats.”  Tickets are already on sale through our volunteer network, at the Aiken County Shelter, Bone-i-Fide Bakery and Aiken Saddlery.  We even have commemorative no-show “bookmarks” for our fans who can’t make it to FATZ’ yummy breakfast.

The breakfast is dedicated to our cats, because on November 10^th the second annual Woofstock Festival will feature the dogs in a community celebration full of surprises, and bigger and better than ever.  Stay tuned.

In between events, we will be present in other meaningful ways: adoption days, our annual meeting, and Steeplechase in the fall.  It all brings us closer to our vision: Aiken County Animal Shelter never has to euthanize an adoptable pet. 

We are counting on your support.  Volunteer.  Walk dogs.  Raise money.  Foster puppies, kittens, or transfer candidates (short term).  Promote spay/neuter.  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 the month of April 2012  

Dogs taken in: 243

Cats taken in: 141

Dogs adopted: 70

Cats adopted: 31

Dogs euthanized: 204

Cats euthanized: 125

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week”

DOOLITTLE – 2 yrs. This boy is a beauty and 

so affectionate for only $35!

WIGGLES – 5 year old boxer mix, another  loving dog longing for a home