From The Aiken Standard
Submitted Article
When we asked Emilie why she chose to dedicate the Houndslake pool party
celebrating her ninth birthday as a benefit for the Aiken County Animal
Shelter, she said that she really likes animals, and 500 animals were
euthanized in June and they don't have a lot of money at the shelter to
buy the animals stuff they need.
It is true that the conditions at our community shelter are deplorable. The overpopulation problem peaks in summer and overwhelms the shelter's already inadequate capacity. A heartbreaking number of potentially lovely pets are euthanized week after week, while overcrowding exacerbates the shelter's inability to prevent cross contamination of airborne diseases.
It has been this way for years.
It is true that the conditions at our community shelter are deplorable. The overpopulation problem peaks in summer and overwhelms the shelter's already inadequate capacity. A heartbreaking number of potentially lovely pets are euthanized week after week, while overcrowding exacerbates the shelter's inability to prevent cross contamination of airborne diseases.
It has been this way for years.
So, it is startling that a 9-year-old knows that too many animals are
dying, cares about her community shelter and decides to do something
selfless, generous and public about it.
It was Emilie's idea to ask her friends to contribute to the welfare of the animals at the shelter in lieu of gifts. She invited her best friend, Megan, and 15 other friends from school. She provided a special box.
In addition to the contributions by Emilie's friends, a teenager happened by and added dog treats from her car to the box. Another woman donated dog food, and another from the concession stand gave money.
It was Emilie's idea to ask her friends to contribute to the welfare of the animals at the shelter in lieu of gifts. She invited her best friend, Megan, and 15 other friends from school. She provided a special box.
In addition to the contributions by Emilie's friends, a teenager happened by and added dog treats from her car to the box. Another woman donated dog food, and another from the concession stand gave money.
The impact of her initiative goes well beyond these contributions.
Emilie's friend Megan is already planning a "Giving Party," and so are a couple of the other kids who were there. The parents of 15 children were relieved of having to go shopping for someone else's child and buy something that they don't already have, probably don't want and likely don't need.
Emilie's party is not the first Giving Party for our shelter and FOTAS certainly hopes it won't be our last, but it came at a time when we all sorely needed our spirits buoyed. It also raised an unprecedented amount of donations and was in a public venue where it could directly inform and inspire others. Its message is central to FOTAS' mission.
We need everyone in Aiken County and beyond who are served by this shelter to care about it and help to make it the best shelter we possibly can. We must reduce the number of unwanted, neglected and abused animals through responsible pet ownership and affordable spay/neuter and keep those who are adoptable, safe and healthy until we can find them good forever homes.
The message from Emilie's ninth birthday party is that we can only accomplish this together. Now she and her mom are planning to come out to the shelter and play with the dogs and cats. They and all of FOTAS hope that you will find a way to help, too.
FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road. For more information, email 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.