The Christmas
season, rife with stress, can cause many of us to recoil, especially in
October when the first signs of its impending madness appear. But then
we clear our Thanksgiving hurdles, and ultimately succumb to the
spirit.
Swept up in the beauty
and magic of the season, its colors, lights and sounds, we can’t resist
its mood, the joy, hope and kindness, or its flagrant generosity. The
Christmas season is buoyed by giving, especially to those who truly
need. And after the children, the poor and disadvantaged, where is the
need greater than among our homeless pets?
Friends
of animals have much to celebrate this year, and even more to
anticipate for 2013. With the help of volunteers and supporters, FOTAS
and Aiken County are well on their way to begin construction on a new
shelter. The project design was funded by FOTAS, and the County should
break ground by early February.
2013
will be “The Year of the Shelter,” and the project is so meaningful, so
carefully considered, and so terribly necessary that we hope it will
inspire profound generosity in everyone who cares.
With
tight budgets and competing priorities, FOTAS is partnering with Aiken
County to get this project just right, and still help our current
inadequate, underfunded shelter meet the needs of the animals and
demands of the public.
FOTAS is
helping raise funds for essential furnishings: equipment, cage-banks,
kennels, and unanticipated “extras” the new shelter will need. If you
prefer, give to FOTAS SNAP and support our spay/neuter efforts.
There are many ways you can give in the spirit of the season. Here are a few suggestions:
Adopt a dog or cat.
They are half price until New Year’s Eve.
Take
a shelter pet home for Christmas as a fostered guest.
Let them
experience some holiday peace and joy, and be a reminder of the true
meaning of Christmas.
Donate $$$
and deduct the entire amount of your gift.
FOTAS is a 501(c)(3) public
charity.
You can use PayPal and give monthly.
Donate Stock, and save on taxes!
Talk to your broker about transferring some shares to FOTAS.
Donate
as a holiday gift.
We will send a lovely greeting card, with our
architect’s rendering of the new shelter, in your name to those you
designate ($10 minimum per designee.
Please write names and addresses
clearly).
Donate food to the
shelter.
They especially need small bites kibble, puppy and kitten
food. They also welcome treats, durable toys, collars and leashes.
Give
your time.
FOTAS is always looking for volunteers to do many things,
especially work with the shelter dogs and cats, foster short and longer
term, or help with community-based spay/neuter projects. If you love
animals, your time is a gift that keeps giving.
Let
us come together this Christmas Season and celebrate our many
blessings, each other, and our new County Shelter as it hopes to
represent who we truly are in our devotion to God’s creatures.
Merry Christmas to all!
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”
December 3rd thru 9th
Received: 44 dogs and 21 cats
Adopted: 18 dogs and 2 cats
Euthanized: 23 dogs and 21 cats
Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!”
All adoptions ½ price for the rest of the year!
MUFFIN – This lovely, playful kitten wants a home for Christmas. Only $35.
LESLIE – 1 yr, a golden-eyed girl and so soft! Cuddle her for the holidays! Only $35
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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.