Groundbreaking is Latest County Shelter Milestone

Two speakers, one from County Council and one representing FOTAS, invoked Gandhi’s quote about a people’s moral progress to mark the significance of the groundbreaking ceremony for the new county shelter last Sunday.

It was Gandhi’s belief that how a nation treats its animals reflects its moral progress; it was the speakers’ contention that, with our new county shelter, our Aiken County community’s moral progress has taken a great leap forward.

So last Sunday’s groundbreaking was a huge celebration of a major milestone.

In 2005, over six-thousand animals came into our county shelter and almost all of them died there.  The facility was the county government’s response to a 1990 problem: one hundred animals per month, not thinking that eventually they would have to contend with over one-hundred animals per week.

In fulfilling competing responsibilities to public welfare, no time or attention allowed animal welfare to be considered.  No provisions were made for adequate ventilation, waste management, or disease containment.  No future was considered for the animals or the facility that housed them.

Until 2009, the unclaimed animals that could not be crowded into our current shelter still lived their five days in roofless open pens in the dirt.  While the building’s air and trenches spread disease inside, the ground held the diseases outside.

It wasn’t that members of County Council weren’t aware that something needed to be done.  Kathy Rawls knew.  But the moral outrage can’t come from our elected officials; it must come from their citizens.  It was that moral outrage that gave birth to Friends of the Animal Shelter, known as FOTAS.

FOTAS began in spring of 2009 with a benefit breakfast that raised $2,700.  That summer a concrete pad was roofed over for the dogs in the overflow pens.  A year later, C.A.T.S. (Cats at the Shelter) opened as our county’s new indoor/outdoor adoptable cat colony.

As the FOTAS family grew in numbers, we championed the renewal of the county’s 1-cent sales tax, helping secure a million dollars towards an adequate county shelter. 

FOTAS paid for the county to hear from a nationally recognized shelter expert to determine the scope and best direction for the project.  In 2011, FOTAS committed $100k of private funds for the architectural and engineering plans for a new county animal shelter, then ultimately paid $125,000.

March 3^rd,  ceremonious shovels went into the ground at May Royal and Wire Road, as members of County Council lined up with FOTAS officers, our architect, Cary Perkins and our Chief, Bobby Arthurs, to celebrate the achievement.

Thanks to Assistant County Administrator, Andy Merriman, and an amazing public-private partnership, this project will be fiscally responsible and no-frills; adequate to meet both public and animal needs; and, highly attractive to community involvement. Happy, healthy animals are more adoptable.

FOTAS now needs help raising $400k to furnish the new shelter.  We will insure its future with SNAP, our targeted spay/neuter program, working with the SPCA.  Please contribute anything you can.

Be proud, Aiken County. Progress, even moral progress, is evident.  

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”

February 25^th thru March 3^rd     

Received: 44 dogs and 35 cats

Adopted: 19 dogs and 1 cats

Euthanized:  30 dogs and 17 cats

EVA – 2 yrs. Soft, silky, smart and yours for $70

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!”

 

ALBERT – 18 mos. Lab mix.  Bust into spring with this running buddy!  Only $70 

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

County Council and FOTAS Celebrate with a Big Check and a Unanimous Decision

On Tuesday evening, with the County Council meeting about to begin, half a dozen FOTAS volunteers passed around a small piece of pale blue paper before handing it, ceremoniously, to Assistant County Administrator, Andy Merriman.  It was the largest check FOTAS had ever written and probably the largest check most of them had ever seen.  

January 15^th 2013 marked a huge milestone for the FOTAS/County partnership.  And the presentation of a $125,000 check to Council that night, in front of a packed chamber audience, was only one symbol of the accomplishments to date. 

FOTAS Officers, Joya DeStefano, MaryLou Welch, Jeniffer Miller with Council Members Kathy Rawls and Ronnie Young present a check for $125,000 to the Aiken County Council.

 In the summer of 2011, following the renewal of the one-cent sales tax that assured at least one million dollars for a new public animal shelter, FOTAS entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Aiken County to pay “up to $100,000”  towards the architectural and engineering (A&E) plans for a new County Shelter.

As the needs assessments unfolded, it became clear that both figures were going to fall short of the funds needed for each purpose.  By the end of the year, County Council began closing the gap with another half-million dollar allocation.  In return, FOTAS ramped up its outreach, and the Aiken County community helped FOTAS triple the previous year’s revenue.

Last year, the perfect architectural firm was hired and the initial images of “The Dream” began to emerge: a simple, practical, appealing design that would support our community’s commitments to the public and our animals.

The building is designed to take present fiscal realities into consideration without undermining the potential for future improvements.  A&E for such proactive thinking cost a little more, and FOTAS elected to cover the difference.

The mood in the room on Tuesday took all of the good will into account.  Chairman Young expressed heartfelt appreciation of FOTAS hard work and achievements.

Councilman Singer reflected back over ten years to dysfunctional committees and Council’s frustration at being unable to effectively address an obvious need.  He commended the previous Assistant County Administator, Todd Glover, for helping FOTAS to emerge as the animal advocacy partner to Animal Services that the Animal Control Advisory Committee was never intended to be.

Lawana McKensie remarked that while FOTAS is saving tax-payer dollars, they are helping look out for God’s creatures.  She credited FOTAS with, “The wrong numbers…going down, and the right numbers… going up,” and encouraged everyone to adopt a shelter pet.

Council’s newest member, Andrew Siders, commended FOTAS volunteers’ passionate commitment and reminded listeners that they are all members of our Aiken County community.

The incredible progress of the celebrated partnership was then further honored with a unanimous decision by County Council to hire the contractor for our New Aiken County Animal Shelter.  We anticipate groundbreaking next month.

When Councilwoman Rawls notified FOTAS of the Council’s action, she said, “After the meeting several people from the audience came to me and said what a great thing you are doing for the county.  (Usually people come up to me after a meeting to complain.)”

What a grand and Blessed adventure!  

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”

Week of Jan. 7-13: “Puppy Season” and a hoarder busted with sick cats!     

Received:  66 dogs and 78 cats!       

Adopted:  11 dogs and 2 cats

Put down:  27 dogs and 59 cats! 

Aiken County Shelter: "Pets of the Week!"

SPUDS – 8 mos. and 30lbs. He is a favorite of the volunteers.  Take him home for $70.

OREO – Adult male.  What a face with big green eyes!  Purr-fect companion for $35

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