Sunday, October 27, 2013

A Second Chance for Terrance


A Second Chance for Terrance
by Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Board of Directors
as seen the "Aiken Standard", 10-27-13


“I came to Toni and Gary’s house in a cage in the back of a pick-up truck.  I left their house in the back seat of a BMW.  I couldn’t believe my good fortune.” 
Forever grateful, Punkin (nee Terrance)

Remember Terrance? The handsome little strawberry blonde pit bull mix that ended up in the Aiken County Animal Shelter?  Who so impressed the staff with his sweet willingness, they had FOTAS move him to experienced foster parents, Toni and Gary Urben, so he could be nursed back to health in a loving, healthy environment?

When we wrote about Terrance a couple of weeks ago, he had made excellent progress at Toni and Gary’s.  He put on some weight.  His coat turned soft and shiny.  He integrated seamlessly into the Urben household with their other 3 dogs.

Because Terrance was so special, Toni and Gary went on a mission to find him a forever home.  They sent emails and photos of Terrance to everyone they knew. They made phone calls. They asked their friends to make phone calls.

Dottie and John Paul of Beech Island were among the folks who expressed interest in meeting Terrance.  Long time dog lovers, they had recently lost two of their four dogs.  They were heartsick from the loss, but Zelda, their Boston terrier, was particularly sad and lonely without her pals.

Dottie and Paul drove to the Urben’s house to meet Terrance on a Monday afternoon.  After spending just an hour with him, they too fell in love with this sweet young dog. When they left, Terrance went with them, curled up in the backseat of their BMW.

If Dottie and Paul were at all nervous about how Terrance and Zelda would get along, their fears quickly dissipated.  Zelda and Terrance were fast friends, as you can see from their photo.  The Paul’s renamed him Punkin, gave him his own bed, and began the process of getting to know him.

It didn’t take long.  “He’s so smart,” says Dottie, “he figured out the pet door right away.  He was completely house trained almost immediately.  When Paul says ‘Bed time!’ he shakes himself off his cushion and goes immediately into his crate.”

Punkin takes naps curled up next to Paul.  He and Zelda share her toys and play all day.  Even their Jack Russell gives him a go every morning.  

If you ask Punkin, he would surely say “Listen up, folks: I have arrived and I am staying.”  

Yes you are, Punkin.  You are finally home.

Not every story ends this well, and the difference is often the thoughtful care of foster parents like Toni and Gary, who are willing to share a bit of food, some peace and quiet, a few days of patience, a box stall, and a corner of their garage.

You can make a difference in the lives of these unfortunate animals.  Please consider becoming a foster family.  Call FOTAS at 803-514-4313 to learn how.




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”

Oct. 14 - Oct. 19, 2013

15 dogs and 1 cat adopted

Year to Date:  

592 terrific pets adopted

THANK YOU AIKEN COUNTY COMMUNITY!

Aiken County Shelter “Pet of the Week!”
**All adoption fees include:  spay/neuter, heartworm test, all shots, worming, and microchip.


BELL ----    Chihuahua mix.  Female, 2 yrs old, 15 lbs        Only $70.



LEO ----    Domestic short hair kitten.  11 wks old   2 lbs      Only $35.






Sunday, October 20, 2013


Fall in Love at Steeplechase
by Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Board of Directors
Reprint from the October 20, 2013 "Aiken Standard"




On Saturday, the 22nd Fall Steeplechase will be run at Ford Conger Field.  If I had to choose an event that is “quintessential” Aiken, I might just pick the Aiken Steeplechase Races, which combine the traditional Aiken love of all things equine coupled with robust community participation.  Once again, FOTAS is delighted to be one of the non-profit organizations selected to participate in the festivities.  

The FOTAS booth located in the Playful Playground behind the merchants tents promises to be a happening place.  The kids can race stick horses and try their hand at the beanbag toss while you chat with the FOTAS volunteers dedicated to making the world a better place for the County’s homeless animals.  Get to know one of the rescue dogs spending a glorious day out with an enthusiastic Serteen volunteer.  Play with 5 month-old Heather, a shepherd cross, or toss a ball with 7 year-old Lucy, a beagle mix, or 6 year-old Sophie, a doxie cross, or even 5 year-old Alva, a little brindle terrier.  Pay a little attention to Heather, Rosco, Priscilla or Cody – they will melt with joy.  This could be your day to adopt the next love of your life.


What makes adopting a pet such a thoroughly satisfying experience?  The answer is obvious from the pet’s point of view:  they are saved from a life of neglect with an uncertain outcome.  But what about us?  What do we get from the experience other than the good feeling that naturally flows from performing a kind act?  As a repeat adopter who currently lives with two rescue dogs from Aiken County, I can speak to that.

My husband and I adopted our first dog, a white husky mix named Ricky, the month we moved in together 20 some odd years ago.  We knew the decision to take Ricky home would change our then footloose and fancy-free life, but we had no idea how profound those changes would be. 

We bickered over training efforts and sleeping arrangements (Ricky won on both accounts).  We created a routine for Ricky that grounded us in our new home.  We packed him in the car and ventured out on long hikes in new places.  When he was sick, we developed ingenious tactics to trick him into taking his medicine.  In time, our love for Ricky transformed us into a family.

Then came Maggie Mae, then Mack, Miss Maggie and Jack – all of whom have shaped our lives in miraculous ways.  My tough, take-no-prisoners husband meticulously dices chicken and scrambles eggs for their special Sunday breakfast.  Jack and Maggie follow him around like a wake – moving behind him in perfect formation.  He naps with Jack curled up in his arm.  We gave those dogs a safe place, and in return, we made a safe place for ourselves.

So if you are going to Steeplechase this weekend, stop by and see us.  It might just be your day to fall in love.

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”

Oct. 7 - Oct. 12, 2013
7 dogs and 6 cats adopted


Year to Date:  

589 terrific pets adopted
THANK YOU AIKEN COUNTY COMMUNITY!

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!”
**All adoption fees include:  spay/neuter, heartworm test, all shots, worming, and microchip.

SI ----    Male Lab.  10 months old ,  45 lbs!  Only $70




LITTLE BIT ----    Male Calico.  10 years old ,  10 lbs !  Only $35




Sunday, October 13, 2013


Terrance .. A Love Story
by Edythe "Edie" Hubler,  FOTAS Board of Directors


Ever wonder what your pet is thinking?  What they might say if they could answer you?  For those of us who have pets, we wonder about this daily.  Oh, if only they could talk!

Terrance came to the County Shelter bone-thin and sickly.  He is a pit bull mix, a breed with such a bad rap their adoptability is often limited.  But Terrance was loving and willing, so the staff wanted to give him a chance.  He needed to be taken out of the Shelter and nursed back to health.  Toni and Gary Urben, two of FOTAS’ most experienced and dedicated foster parents for Shelter dogs, agreed to help.

Dog foster parents are approved local animal lovers who provide love, care and attention for a homeless animal in their home on a temporary basis or until the dog is adopted.

Terrance flourished under their care.  If Terrance had a thumb, he probably would have written this letter of gratitude:

“Dear FOTAS,

You would be so proud of me - I have NOT put a single PAW wrong.  My new humans are kind, so I love them up and eat everything they give me.  I even roll over and let them rub my tummy!  They think that’s cute, and to tell you the truth, I like the rub down.  Even though they tease me and call me " Pumpkin Head, " I slobber them with lots of wet kisses.  They give me yummy marrowbones. I don’t even make a fuss when they take them away to move me into my crate.

My days are fabulous!  I lounge around and watch the horses.  I lay in front of a fan, which I like, and I get sprayed with Skin so Soft, which I do not like, but I act like I do.  I go for walks in the woods with the humans and their dogs and try to be exceptionally sociable.  They are now letting me off the leash.

I feel much better, and I look great now that I am bathed and a bit fatter.

Thanks for believing in me, 
Terrance”

So where’s the love story?   For Terrance, it’s his love for Toni and Gary.  For Toni and Gary, it’s the joy of saving another adoptable dog.  Toni says, “I cannot tell you how rewarding that first tail wag is, especially for those that come with their tails between their legs. When they lick you or just wiggle with joy over the simplest acts of kindness, it is way above the reward of giving them a short period of care.”  

Make your own love story.  Call FOTAS and become a foster parent.  The joy you give will only be exceeded by the love you receive.

Toni Urben, foster mom, and Terrance


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”

Sept. 30 - Oct. 5, 2013

5 dogs and 4 cats adopted

Year to Date:  

576 terrific pets adopted

THANK YOU AIKEN COUNTY COMMUNITY!


Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!”
**All adoption fees include:  spay/neuter, heartworm test, all shots, worming, and microchip.

ARKANSAS -- American Bull Dog, male, 1.5 yrs old, 62 lbs. -- $70


TIGER -- tabby kitten, 13 wks old -- $35







Sunday, October 6, 2013


A Public Tribute for the Pets You Love
By Edythe Hubler & Joanna Dunn Samson,
FOTAS Board of Directors


French poet, journalist, and novelist Anatole France said:

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of
one’s soul remains unawakened.”
Those of us who cherish our pets know exactly what he meant.  They dance and spin with joy every time we walk through the door.  They curl up in our lap and purrrr in total bliss. They keep us warm at night and console us when we’re sad.  They make us laugh.  Our pets don’t ask for much in exchange – food, a warm place to sleep, someone to throw the ball – maybe a joy ride in the car every so often.  It is a symbiotic relationship steeped in trust, love and commitment.

Each year, the Aiken County Animal Shelter takes in thousands of unwanted animals into an outdated, overcrowded,grossly inadequate shelter with improper unhealthy conditions – a statistic that haunts any animal lover.  Now, thanks to the unique and highly successful public/private partnership between the County and FOTAS, a new community shelter is expected to open in January, with a facility designed to give proper care, meeting basic shelter standard codes, and giving more adoptable pets a second chance.

For it’s part, FOTAS has agreed to provide the cage banks, kennels and runs, and equipment needs for the shelter, and you can help.  The new Aiken County Shelter presents numerous naming opportunities to honor your love of animals and your commitment to their welfare. 

The Cedar Creek Ladies Club is sponsoring a Memorial Bench.  The Three Runs community has combined resources to sponsor a Tribute Plaque.  Three local couples are sponsoring an outdoor courtyard.  Two kind women donated the proceeds from the sale of their Labrador puppies to purchase a kennel/run in honor of the proud canine parents.  Other individual donors have sponsored the surgical clinic, the adoption room, the reception area, bathing and grooming stations, to name a few.  Community organizations like the Aiken Newcomers’ Club is sponsoring a tribute plaque.  The enthusiasm and creativity of FOTAS donors is nothing short of breathtaking.

On November 1, FOTAS will order the signs, pavers and tribute plaques to be installed in time for the Grand Opening – all of which honor the love and generosity of FOTAS donors and supporters. This is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate your commitment and compassion to the cause.  Join forces with your co-workers or your fellow parishioners to sponsor much needed cat cages or a special kennel/run for vulnerable puppies or sick dogs.  Buy a sidewalk paver as a holiday gift for your child to memorialize or honor a favorite pet. Explore all of the possibilities at www.FOTASAiken.org or contact FOTAS at 803.514.4313. 

Aiken is and always has been a City and County that cares deeply for its animals.  Every adoption, every act of kindness, every gift of time, every donation, no matter how small, underscores the unique and special character of the Aiken community.  Please, contact FOTAS today.  Find out how you can make a difference in the lives of all those unwanted animals.

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”

Sept. 23 - Sept. 28, 2013
5 dogs and 4 cats -- total 9 pets adopted

Jan. 1 - Sept. 28, 2013, year to date

576 terrific pets adopted
THANK YOU AIKEN COUNTY COMMUNITY!


Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!”

**All adoption fees include:  spay/neuter, heartworm test, all shots, worming, and microchip.


MICKEY ----    Chocolate Lab mix, 2 yrs old, 39 lbs.   Special cool fella & waiting for you!   Only $70.




DALE ----    Domestic short hair tabby.  4 months old.
Purrrr,  pick me please!  Only $35.


Thursday, October 3, 2013


On A Mission

Article Submitted by Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Board of Directors
Printed in the Sept. 29, 2013 edition of the "Aiken Standard"

On any given Saturday, Caroline, Denise, Sandra, Becky, Hope, and maybe six Serteens walk, play and socialize with the dogs and cats at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.  At any given time, Heather, Girl, Debbie, Toni, Sylvia and Marsha are fostering puppies in a healthy environment until they are ready to be adopted.  At any given community event, whether the upcoming St. Mary’s Chocolate Festival or an adoption day at Pet Smart, FOTAS volunteers help with the arrangements to select, transport and display Aiken County animals available for adoption.  On specially designated days, FOTAS volunteers work from dawn to dusk to help County residents take advantage of the growing Spay, Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP).

What do all of these activities have in common?  Aside from the fact that they are all accomplished by volunteers passionately committed to caring for the County’s abandoned and neglected animals, each of these programs have been designed to increase the number of adoptable animals, thus increasing the number of adoptions and, as in the case of SNAP, reducing the number of animals bred accidentally or indiscriminately - all so that one day, the annual intake of unwanted cats and dogs at the County Shelter will not be in the thousands.

This month, FOTAS was awarded a $10,000 Lifesaving Grant by the Best Friends Animal Society and PetSmart Charities to support FOTAS’ lifesaving work for homeless pets.  This grant funding will allow FOTAS and the County to place more of the Aiken County Shelter animals in forever homes.  In particular, the funding will offset the cost of transporting 120 animals to established rescue partners in other regions of the Country, making room for 120 more adoptable animals at the shelter.  That’s a total of 240 additional animals that can be saved this year.  

All of these events - the Best Friends Lifesaving Grant, partnering with sister rescue agencies, the continuing recruitment and training of new volunteers and foster parents, the increasing number of County residents taking advantage of the SNAP program, active participation in community events, and of course, the opening of the new County Animal Shelter at the end of the year – speak to the success of FOTAS and the County’s efforts and commitment to educate the public and promote animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.  Perhaps the ultimate goal of FOTAS and the County to eliminate euthanasia of all of the adoptable animals at the County Animal Shelter is within reach.

On October 5th, St. Mary’s is holding its 25th Annual Chocolate Festival, and FOTAS is thrilled to participate again in this exciting, unapologetically fattening, community event.  Stop by the FOTAS table and meet some of the adorable foster puppies and their loving foster parents.  Now really . . . what could possibly be more fun than a double fudge cupcake with buttercream icing on a lovely fall day in Aiken surrounded by cute puppies and laughing children?   If the truth be told, not much.

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”

Sept. 16 - Sept. 21, 2013

9 dogs and 8 cats -- total 17 pets adopted

Jan. 1 - Sept. 21, 2013, year to date

584 terrific pets adopted 

THANK YOU AIKEN COUNTY COMMUNITY!


Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!”

**All adoption fees include:  spay/neuter, heartworm test, all shots, worming, and microchip.



THISTLE -  2 yrs. Female spayed, gray tabby.  A special loving girl!  Only $35




PUPPIES, PUPPIES & MORE PUPPIES -  will be available for adoption at FOTAS table during the Chocolate Festival.
Only $70.