FOTAS Seeks Help for a Family in Sudden Need

Some faiths assure us that God will not place a burden upon us greater than we can bear.  If true, there is a young woman (she turned 27 this week) whose huge heart caused God to call upon her for help. 

FOTAS found out about Taisha, and her new family of five children and one dog, last Monday because the dog, a Jack Russell she named BJ, had been seriously injured in the road. 

Two months ago, Taisha didn’t have any children, or a dog.  The last dog she rescued found its way to a new home, allegedly by a child who stole him.  When Taisha finally found her dog, he was in good care, and she didn’t have the heart to separate him from his new family. Oh, that big heart!

A friend asked Taisha to rescue BJ. She and her dad had just moved to a 3-acre property.  BJ was neglected and abused.  There was talk of dumping him.  BJ arrived at Taisha’s home, starved and scared of everyone, hiding in her closet.

A couple of weeks later, the five children arrived.  The fifteen-year-old, we’ll call Tanya, called Taisha because she and her three half-brothers ages 6, 8, and 9, and little half-sister, 5, had been evicted.  The mother, an addict, was gone, incapable of caring for them, and Tanya was terrified that the siblings would all be separated. 

Taisha and her dad took the five children in.  Beds were donated; clothes and school supplies acquired, with help from Christ Central and Taisha’s church.

Then Taisha’s dad crushed his finger at work and was put on temporary disability, allowing him to be home nights during their transition. 

Tanya had never liked dogs, but the uprooted adolescent, and the little abused dog bonded.  BJ loved the children and learned to play, chasing a foam football that he had yet to learn to bring back. He was a new dog.

The accident occurred because BJ followed Tanya to the school bus.  When she boarded, BJ chased the bus and was hit by a bread truck. Taisha came home from the store to find her neighbor with BJ wrapped in his jacket.

Taisha drives a scooter and doesn’t have a car.  She didn’t have the money to pay for “services-when-rendered” at the vet clinics she called.  Ultimately, she was referred to Aiken County Animal Control. 

Chief Bobby Arthurs could have had the injured animal picked up for disposal.  Instead, he called FOTAS.  FOTAS agreed to loan Taisha a crate and the estimated $1,000-1,500 for BJ’s surgery.  Taisha followed the officer with BJ to the animal clinic on her scooter.  She will repay FOTAS in biweekly installments. 

“Things just keep falling into place,” she says.  This is a young woman worth investing in, we say, part of a responsible, animal-loving county.

BJ After Surgery

BJ came home on Thursday morning. 

To help lighten Taisha’s burden, you can send a check to PO Box 2207, Aiken, 29802, or donate to BJ’s Fund on our Website.

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”

August 13^th thru 26^th

Received: 137 dogs and 87 cats

Adopted: 13 dogs and 8 cats

Put down: 89 dogs and 83 cats

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week” are HALF PRICE*!

WESLEY – Terrier mix 2.5 yrs. 51 lbs. 

He’s a little bit gimpy, but sweet as he can be.  Only  $35!

PRECIOUS  – Adult female tabby with big blue eyes.   

What else could you call her?  $35.

 

*All adoption fees include: Spay/Neuter, heartworm test, all shots, worming, and microchip and are half price thru 9/8/12!