From The Aiken Standard
Submitted Article
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be measured by the way in which its animals are treated." - Gandhi
And greatness in a person can be measured by their commitment to go to the Aiken County Animal Shelter to walk, comfort, socialize and ultimately rescue our adoptable dogs and cats.
It is very hot (no HVAC) and noisy (no isolation from sound or airborne viruses). The few pens for adoptable dogs (17 total) are packed with as many as can be humanely confined, as are the holding pens, and the overflow pens outside.
And greatness in a person can be measured by their commitment to go to the Aiken County Animal Shelter to walk, comfort, socialize and ultimately rescue our adoptable dogs and cats.
It is very hot (no HVAC) and noisy (no isolation from sound or airborne viruses). The few pens for adoptable dogs (17 total) are packed with as many as can be humanely confined, as are the holding pens, and the overflow pens outside.
Imagine you are one of our heroic volunteers and you witness the following incident:
A man comes into the shelter with a medium-sized nondescript brindle mutt whose teats are low and full. Her tail is wagging, but she is nervous and looking for reassurance with big, brown, soulful eyes. In a separate crate he has six of her tiny fluffy puppies.
"We don't have room," Chief Arthurs explains.
The man is unmoved. This was her fourth litter; he has kept the two pups he wants and doesn't want to deal with it anymore.
A man comes into the shelter with a medium-sized nondescript brindle mutt whose teats are low and full. Her tail is wagging, but she is nervous and looking for reassurance with big, brown, soulful eyes. In a separate crate he has six of her tiny fluffy puppies.
"We don't have room," Chief Arthurs explains.
The man is unmoved. This was her fourth litter; he has kept the two pups he wants and doesn't want to deal with it anymore.
"Have you thought about getting her spayed?" you ask. "We have a voucher program you may qualify for."
The man shrugs. "She's a good mother," he said. He's informed that her fate is bleak if he leaves her. He shrugs again, "Whatever happens, happens." He is willing to wait nearly an hour for other dogs to be euthanized to make room for the unwanted pets he is determined to surrender.
The Aiken County Animal Shelter, by mandate, must accept every animal brought to its door by a resident of Aiken County, all of them. It is obligated to keep them for five days, period.
The other day one of our rescue partners came back for the littermates of a pup he had rescued. They had been euthanized for lack of space. He saw three puppies huddled together shivering. They had just been separated from their littermates who were put down for lack of space. Real people, good people, caring people have to make these decisions every day.
"Take it to the County," they say when a pet is unwanted. The county must take it.
Our current shelter was erected 20 years ago to accommodate the county's bare minimum obligation to public safety and the law. Never intended as an adoption center, today the Aiken County Shelter is a shameful blight on our community, despite a staff more caring and dedicated than we have any right to expect.
"What does that have to do with me?" you ask, as a good responsible pet owner or someone without pets. The answer is, if you live in Aiken County, this is your shelter and it represents us all.
What can you do? Volunteer your time. Promote spay/neuter as a personal mission. Become an approved foster home. Hold a fundraiser or write FOTAS a big check and help fast-track our expansion. Ask about donating stock!
The man shrugs. "She's a good mother," he said. He's informed that her fate is bleak if he leaves her. He shrugs again, "Whatever happens, happens." He is willing to wait nearly an hour for other dogs to be euthanized to make room for the unwanted pets he is determined to surrender.
The Aiken County Animal Shelter, by mandate, must accept every animal brought to its door by a resident of Aiken County, all of them. It is obligated to keep them for five days, period.
The other day one of our rescue partners came back for the littermates of a pup he had rescued. They had been euthanized for lack of space. He saw three puppies huddled together shivering. They had just been separated from their littermates who were put down for lack of space. Real people, good people, caring people have to make these decisions every day.
"Take it to the County," they say when a pet is unwanted. The county must take it.
Our current shelter was erected 20 years ago to accommodate the county's bare minimum obligation to public safety and the law. Never intended as an adoption center, today the Aiken County Shelter is a shameful blight on our community, despite a staff more caring and dedicated than we have any right to expect.
"What does that have to do with me?" you ask, as a good responsible pet owner or someone without pets. The answer is, if you live in Aiken County, this is your shelter and it represents us all.
What can you do? Volunteer your time. Promote spay/neuter as a personal mission. Become an approved foster home. Hold a fundraiser or write FOTAS a big check and help fast-track our expansion. Ask about donating stock!
FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road, Aiken SC to help the abandoned animals from Aiken and Edgefield Counties in SC. For more information, e-mail info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.
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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.