What Does Fall Steeplechase Tell Us About Aiken?

The volunteers who set up the site that evening fended off pessimism about the next day’s weather: a front was bringing clouds, rain, and muscular chilly winds.  That the sun visited, and the wind only teased, felt like a special blessing on Aiken’s Fall Steeplechase.

FOTAS was honored to be among the many  nonprofits at the event who serve the Aiken Community.  We pulled out all stops to make our presence entertaining and informative for all who stopped by.

The stars of our attraction were the six dogs available for adoption: Luke, Zoe, Zena , Alf, Boots and Roxie.  Volunteers were assisted by Serteens to showcase the examples of the great dogs available at our County Shelter.  As each dog delighted another family, played with a child, or wooed a young couple, we prayed that it might find its forever home.  Those dogs were super ambassadors for way too many adoptable dogs and cats left behind.

Tiny tots passing by found a line-up of stick ponies hitched on the rail waiting for an opportunity for a romp or a race.  Bigger kids showed their skill at the bean bag toss loaned and supervised by Larry who awarded tiny gold and silver trophy cups to the contestants.

Under the tent we offered Halloween candy, FOTAS T-shirts, hats, and our special new bumper stickers that proclaim, “My Dog Digs Aiken.”  Halloween is over, but we still have shirts, hats and bumper stickers.  The shirts will be reduced through the holidays.  Contact us for more info.

Steeplechase is one of Aiken’s signature events for fall and spring.  Fall Steeplechase, though smaller than the Spring, offers all the splendor and excitement of horses and horse races, carriage parades, big hats, tailgate parties and a grand celebration of a community that loves and appreciates its animals.  The 2011 event was no exception.

If you missed it, we have been blessed with another exceptional volunteer who went home and put together a couple of upbeat videos that tell it all.  The videos are on our website under “News and Events” and on YouTube, “Aiken Fall Steeplechase.”  Thank you, Linda! (View Video Here)

But we need to go beyond the day to see the true significance of this event for our cause and our community.  For instance, in the week since Steeplechase one individual brought in 19 dogs, all of them sick with parvo, a deadly virus.  On another day the same week, another 24 dogs were surrendered by citizens.

Over 20 years ago our shelter was built to hold 100 dogs for up to five days.  If 43 dogs are surrendered in two days it pushes a doubly overcrowded facility to euthanize in one week almost as many dogs as it was originally intended to hold.  And forget keeping them healthy.  

As Steeplechase reflects our relationship with our animals, so does the Aiken County Animal Shelter.  It begs the question, who are we going to be? 

Join us.  More than sun and gentle winds will bless your work. 

Aiken County Animal Shelter:  “By the Numbers”

For October 24th thru 31st     

Dogs taken in: 77

Cats taken in: 36

Dogs adopted: 10

Cats adopted: 1

Dogs euthanized: 87

Cats euthanized: 52

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week” 

 

EARL – Young adult yellow tabby.   

Purrfect companion who doesn’t need to be walked!

ZENA – 2 yrs. Shepherd-Chow mix. 

A pleasure to leash walk and a heart of gold.