Ellen came to Aiken from California and, needing a temporary
place to stay rented a house from one of the founders and CEO of FOTAS. During her six months in residence, Ellen
learned of the needs at the Aiken County Shelter and decided to volunteer.
Ellen’s horses were boarded with Lanni, so Ellen recruited
Lanni to help. The two women learned
that Tuesdays and Thursdays were under-staffed with volunteers willing to walk and
work with dogs that otherwise would stay in their crowded cages another day.
The women chose Thursday mornings to go out to the shelter
and walk dogs, play with dogs, exercise dogs, and help the dogs become more
adoptable in a forever home. Soon
another friend, Judy, joined them and the trio made Thursdays their faithful
commitment.
The women arrive at the shelter and begin with the dogs in
the inner pens. These cages are half the
size of the ones on the outer wall and have no access to the outside. The inside cages often have two or three dogs
packed together all desperate to get out and get some exercise. The Thursday trio tries to make sure all the
dogs are walked, but at the very least the ones in the interior cages.
When they finish, the three women go out to lunch. This was their Thursday ritual until March,
when Ellen, Lanni, and Judy attended the groundbreaking ceremony and saw the brochure for FOTAS’ fundraising campaign for the new
county shelter.
The three women had something new to talk about at their
next lunch. They lived in a horse
community. Most of the residents either
have dogs and cats or, at the very least, are animal lovers at heart. Why not approach the Homeowners Association
and see if they would be willing to circulate a plea for donations?
Ellen drafted a letter and submitted it to the HOA for Three
Runs Plantation, who not only agreed to have it go out, but edited it and
circulated it to their entire membership.
Quickly, a number of checks came in, but not as many as
Ellen had hoped. They waited six weeks,
and sent out a reminder. To date, twenty-two
households have participated and raised a total of $1,325.
“There were checks from people who don’t even live here,”
said Ellen, “From Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Greenville.”
The Three Runs Plantation community will be honored with a
tribute plaque on the wall of the new shelter because of three residents who
never miss a Thursday volunteering.
This is an example of the magic that will not only see the
new Aiken County Animal Shelter become a reality, but that will inspire and
invigorate the community involvement necessary to realize the vision to never
ever have to euthanize an adoptable pet.
Ellen is hooked. A
couple of weeks ago she helped transfer a dozen dogs to Chesterfield, South
Carolina and the connection to their forever homes.
Perhaps you can help, too.
If not you, who?
Retired
organizational problem-solver and radical educator, Joya is an Artist, Servant
Leader, and co-founder of FOTAS, Inc.
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”
July 29nd thru August 4th,
2013
Brought in: 54
dogs and 60 cats!!
Adopted: 6
dogs and 4 cats
Put down: 49
dogs and 60 cats!
Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!”
 |
JOHNNY – Lab/terrier. Young adult.
25 lbs. This guy is loving
fun! Yours for only $70
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| GROVER – tabby kitten. A sweetheart that needs your lap. Only $35 |
*All adoption fees include: Spay/Neuter, heartworm
test, all shots, worming, and microchip.
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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.