Rocking, Rolling and Riding at Woofstock!

Rocking, Rolling and Riding at Woofstock!

By Joanna Dunn Samson

as seen in the "Aiken Standard", April 20, 2014 issue

Where can you load up your kids, dress up your dog, paint your face and rock to the tunes of Jason the DJ and the live music of the fabulous 4 Cats in the Doghouse?

You can do that at the Woofstock Dogs, Cats and Music festival to be held on Saturday, May 3^rd on the grounds of the brand spanking new Aiken County Animal Shelter.

And where can you take your family to marvel at the obedience and the agility of the canine species at the Obedience and Agility Demonstration performed by the Palmetto Dog Club? 

Woofstock, that’s where.

Where can you show off your bordering-on border collie’s best tricks, your sort-of shih tzu’s gorgeous hairdo, your doubtful dachshund’s adorable smooching behavior, or your howling hound’s talking ability?

Uh huh - that would be Woofstock.

But wait!  There’s more!

Where in the world can you adopt the sweetest, most grateful, beautiful black dog for $33 or black cat for $13?  Or get a rabies vaccination for only $5 and an annual Heartworm test for only $15? 

Yep, you got it: Woofstock.

This will be third year FOTAS has organized The Woofstock Dogs, Cats and Music Festival, only this year, FOTAS has moved the festival to the new Aiken County Animal Shelter at 333 Wire Road.  It is an amazing place to take the whole family and your beloved canine friends for a carefree day of music, mindless fun and a few yucks. 

Although the festival starts at 10:30 at the shelter, the festivities actually start earlier with the Ride to Woofstock - a benefit motorcycle ride that starts at the Aiken County Public Works parking lot on May Royal Drive across from the Shelter at 9:30, proceeds to the Wagener town square and ends back at the Shelter.  

Two years ago, over 50 motorcyclists joined the procession for the 50 mile round trip in one long, rumbling, magnificent line.  It was a spectacle to behold, and this year’s ride promises to be even more impressive.  For more information on how to participate in the Ride to Woofstock, either with a real bike or a “pretend/virtual” bike team, call the FOTAS hotline: 803-514-4313.

And here’s the thing: not only will you and your family be having a grand time on a beautiful spring day (fingers crossed on the weather), you will be benefitting the County’s thousands of homeless and abandoned animals.  

Proceeds from the Woofstock Festival will be used by FOTAS to assist the County in its dauntless task of taking care of those animals.  Proceeds from the Ride to Woofstock will be used to prevent more unwanted animals from being brought into this world – that money will support the FOTAS Fix-a-Pet Program and Lenny’s Brigade.

I’m excited.  On Saturday, May 3^rd, I plan to gussy-up my terrier Jack (if he can take some time off from the important work of excavating my garden in search of moles) and my dutiful Maggie (if she feels she can temporarily abandon her duties of guarding the property from the blasted neighborhood cat), pack them into the truck along with my husband, and head on over to the Shelter for the day.

Aside from the pure fun of it all, I plan to take advantage of the $5 rabies shots and $15 Heartworm tests that will be available during the festival.  I intend to use the hefty chunk of change I will save by availing myself of these services to buy more flowers for my garden and a bottle of wine for my neighbors, who are, no doubt, a little weary of Maggie’s endless pursuit of the blasted cat.

See you at the Festival.  While you are there, take a tour of the new community animal shelter.  It’s awesome.

FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 333 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”

Apr. 7, 2014 - Apr. 12, 2014

7 dogs and 0 cats adopted

Year to Date:  

215 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.

OLIVIA   Boxer, female, 2 yrs old, 40 lbs.  Only $70 

HEATHER  Domestic short hair -- Female -- 8 weeks old, 8 lbs  Only $35