Thank You, Todd Glover, FOTAS Members and Aiken County Council

This week, in the midst of a season where we strive to remember Peace, Joy, Generosity and Hope for a better tomorrow, FOTAS would like to acknowledge and appreciate our Aiken County Council and one of its exemplary public servants, Todd Glover.

Without Todd Glover there would be no FOTAS;  without FOTAS there would be no community-wide, concerted effort to address the dismal conditions at our county shelter; and without the first class public-private partnership that has emerged between Friends of the Animal Shelter, Inc. and Aiken County Government the miracle of Tuesday night’s decision would never have happened, but it did.

Three years ago Todd Glover saw the opportunity for a nonprofit organization to address the need for animal advocacy in the County Animal Services Department.  He also knew where those interested could find a model for just such a venture.  Three members of the Aiken County Animal Control Advisory Committee (AC3) stepped up to the challenge and FOTAS was born.  Todd Glover continued to work closely with FOTAS building a strong bridge between the County and the community around animal advocacy.

This month Todd is going to leave Aiken County Government for the position of City Manager of North Augusta, a well-deserved career advancement, and one lucky town.

Last June, FOTAS and Aiken County entered into a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the initial phase and funding for our new shelter.  FOTAS would provide $100k for the architectural and engineering plans if the county would make $1m available in 2012. 

The last half of this year has been full of research, reports, proposals, rebuttals, rejections, and a boatload of frustration for all of us invested in the outcome.  But a wise man once said, “If it was easy, we’d already have done it.”

In any community venture there are always stakeholders, and rarely are their interests totally compatible; “never” may be more accurate.  The new Aiken County Animal Shelter building program is certainly no exception.

Space does not allow us to acknowledge all of the people who pulled off our latest miracle, especially in the last few weeks when it seemed like we not only were going to lose Todd Glover, but that we had hit another impasse with County Council and the additional funding we knew was imperative, but a special nod should go out to Council Chairman, Ronnie Young, Councilwoman Kathy Rawls, Councilman, Charles Barton who know their county, and to Ernie Wolf form the AC3 and FOTAS who is never at a loss for a better idea. 

On Tuesday night, the Aiken county Council gave Todd Glover the perfect going-away gift as they unanimously approved an additional $500,000 to be added to the million already committed for a new county animal shelter.  The additional money puts Aiken County well

within reach of a shelter adequate to our needs and in which we can all take pride. 

Now, for an even Merrier Christmas, why not bring home one of our very special half-price pets?  They’re waiting.

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”

For Dec. 5th thru 11th    

Dogs taken in: 105

Cats taken in: 40

Dogs adopted: 17

Cats adopted: 8

Dogs euthanized: 66

Cats euthanized: 28

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week” 

STING 

 3yrs. He is such a good boy and would love a forever home for Christmas.  

 ½ PRICE!

ELF 

 Beautiful green-eyed boy offers a big fluffy cuddle.   

Half price thru the holidays.