Let’s start with our
vision: Our new Aiken County Animal Shelter will be a happy healthy
place where no adoptable pet has to go to die. Our current facility was
never intended for such a lofty mission. It was erected in 1990 for
the disposal of unwanted animals, and as recently as 2008 the euthanasia
rate for its residents was 98%.
Over
the last decade, the yearly animal intake has fluctuated between a
little less than 5,000 and 6,149 (FY05). The current shelter was
intended to house 100 animals at any given time. When over 160 animals
come through the door in a week (like last week), that old building was
obsolete about the time it opened its doors. We cannot let that happen
again.
Working
with County Shelter staff, FOTAS has growing adoption program,
supported by a few amazingly dedicated volunteers, and foster-care and
transfer programs. Together they have almost tripled the number of
animals saved, but these programs cannot save all the animals that
deserve to go on living, not even close.
The
new shelter was carefully designed for the current reality, but neither
will a building be a solution for irresponsible pet ownership and its
fallout, wanton breeding of unwanted litters.
Our
new shelter is designed to attract community involvement, but not to
incent additional dumping of throw-away pets. If it fails to inspire
collective values for responsible pet ownership, it will become a
costlier, prettier disaster than the one we already have. So what can
we do?
The
first, most obvious and easiest remedy is to have our pets spayed and
neutered. Once perceived as a costly intrusion into the laws of nature,
it is now readily available to every pet owner, regardless of income;
and, it known to be healthier for the community and the animals who
cannot, and should not, breed.
Just
this year, the SPCA Albrecht Center opened its new clinic with nearly
limitless capacity for county-wide needs. Coincident with this resource,
FOTAS began our Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP works with
areas targeted by County Animal Control to identify, enroll, subsidize,
and transport animals to the SPCA facility. SNAP includes Lenny’s
Brigade, which helps residents with “community cats,” feral cat colonies
that can easily breed out of control.
The
County Voucher Program is offered to those who qualify and want to
choose their own participating vet. Finally, CSRA Life Saver (csralifesaver.com) has two low-cost pet clinics in North Augusta and in Graniteville, next to the Bark Mart.
How
can you help, even if you do not need these services? Tell someone who
does. Let FOTAS or County Animal Services know and we will get the
information where it is needed:
Aiken County Animal Services: 642-1537 SPCA Albrecht Center: 648-6863
FOTAS SNAP: 634-0564 (temp)
Lenny’s Brigade Hot Line: 507-6315
CSRA Life Saver: 979-7268 or 215-0559
Working together on behalf of our animals we can realize the dream, a laudable measure of who we are as a communi
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”
July 15th thru 19th, 2013
Brought in: 94 dogs and 59 cats!!
Adopted: 8 dogs and 5 cats
Put down: 57 dogs and 55 cats!
Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!”
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SPARKLE – Adult tabby. Sedate
and affectionate. She is a purr-fect lady!
Only $35
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TIGER – 1.5 yrs. 51 lbs.
Brindle-Lab mix. Bright beauty. A joy of a dog. Only $38!
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*All adoption fees include: Spay/Neuter, heartworm
test, all shots, worming, and microchip.
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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.