From The Aiken Standard
Submitted Article
It can be pretty disheartening when 50 dogs, cats, kittens and puppies
come into the Aiken County shelter in one day or 80 are euthanized on a
single Monday morning. It has been that kind of summer.
Even with the City and County Spay/Neuter Voucher Programs, the generosity of our local veterinarians' Stomp Out Strays Program (S.O.S.), the intake numbers at our community shelter hit a record high in fiscal year 2011.
Here are the numbers since FOTAS began:
Even with the City and County Spay/Neuter Voucher Programs, the generosity of our local veterinarians' Stomp Out Strays Program (S.O.S.), the intake numbers at our community shelter hit a record high in fiscal year 2011.
Here are the numbers since FOTAS began:
FY
'09 FY
'10 FY
'11
Animals received: 5,283 5,275 5,466
Animals adopted: 650 701 714
Dogs transferred: 130 102 306
Animals euthanized: 4,828 4,541 3,975
Euthanasia rate: 91.4% 86% 72.7%
Animals received: 5,283 5,275 5,466
Animals adopted: 650 701 714
Dogs transferred: 130 102 306
Animals euthanized: 4,828 4,541 3,975
Euthanasia rate: 91.4% 86% 72.7%
One can speculate about the causes for the increase in unwanted animals:
population increase, economic instabilities, with prevailing ignorance
and irresponsibility at the fringe. But there can be no doubt about why,
in the face of that discouraging statistic, the euthanasia rate is down
nearly 20 percent. We can thank our FOTAS volunteers and the shelter
staff they support.
Our current shelter is not an attractive site to visit. Even the location of the deteriorating, overcrowded, prefab metal building communicates that it was destined to be a dirty secret - a place where unwanted animals would be disposed of like trash.
Despite the dismal circumstances, for two years Caroline and Denise volunteer at the shelter every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday until all of the dogs allowed out get out.
"It was going to be one day a week for an hour," Caroline said, and Denise laughed. Now they do the volunteer orientations, match people interested in adopting with the right dog and facilitate transfers to no-kill partners up north.
The word is out that the lives of adoptable pets at the shelter are in our hands, and credit for much of the outreach on behalf of those animals belongs to Susan, a volunteer who has been with FOTAS since the beginning.
Susan visits the shelter routinely to see what new animals made it to the shelter's limited adoption areas. She takes a picture of each one and enters it and the description on Petfinder.com, a national website of adoptable animals, accessible from FOTAS' website.
Susan created the info boards on display at TrueValue, Bone-i-Fide Bakery and Stoplight Deli downtown. Her photos appear in this column and frequently help determine which dogs will be accepted for transfers. "I love to hear that someone called the shelter because they saw one of our animals on Petfinder," she said. "It keeps me going."
The euthanasia rate dropped due to the increase in adoptions and transfers; and adoptions and transfers are up because we have FOTAS volunteers and county staff who are making a difference.
Imagine what would happen if we had a shelter where people loved to come!
FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road. For more information, email info@fotasaiken.org or visit www.fotasaiken.org.
Our current shelter is not an attractive site to visit. Even the location of the deteriorating, overcrowded, prefab metal building communicates that it was destined to be a dirty secret - a place where unwanted animals would be disposed of like trash.
Despite the dismal circumstances, for two years Caroline and Denise volunteer at the shelter every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday until all of the dogs allowed out get out.
"It was going to be one day a week for an hour," Caroline said, and Denise laughed. Now they do the volunteer orientations, match people interested in adopting with the right dog and facilitate transfers to no-kill partners up north.
The word is out that the lives of adoptable pets at the shelter are in our hands, and credit for much of the outreach on behalf of those animals belongs to Susan, a volunteer who has been with FOTAS since the beginning.
Susan visits the shelter routinely to see what new animals made it to the shelter's limited adoption areas. She takes a picture of each one and enters it and the description on Petfinder.com, a national website of adoptable animals, accessible from FOTAS' website.
Susan created the info boards on display at TrueValue, Bone-i-Fide Bakery and Stoplight Deli downtown. Her photos appear in this column and frequently help determine which dogs will be accepted for transfers. "I love to hear that someone called the shelter because they saw one of our animals on Petfinder," she said. "It keeps me going."
The euthanasia rate dropped due to the increase in adoptions and transfers; and adoptions and transfers are up because we have FOTAS volunteers and county staff who are making a difference.
Imagine what would happen if we had a shelter where people loved to come!
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.