Community Decides Animal Control or Animal Advocacy

by JOYA DISTEFANO

The County Shelter’s Half-Price Special continues until September 14th.  

Here’s what $35 will do for those who take advantage:

Come before 11 any M, W, F or Sat and a FOTAS volunteer will assist you in choosing the right animal for your lifestyle. 

The pet you select will have all shots, rabies vaccine, be spayed or neutered, and have a micro-chip.

You will leave with love and the knowledge that you have saved a precious life. (Remember, dogs are pack animals; two are better than one.)

If you go to the shelter for your new dog, one of the things you may notice is that there are a number of dogs that look like they are part “Pitt.”  One reason for this is that our transfer partners will typically not take them.  The other reason is that they are victims of the latest breed prejudice fad in our country.

Consider what one Pitt Bull Advocacy group put out in response to Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL):  “In a recent study of 122 dog breeds, by the American Temperament Society (ATTS), Pit Bulls achieved a high passing rate of 83.9, compared to the 77% score of the general dog population.

Although BSL currently often indirectly refers to Pit Bulls and Pit Bull mixes, the targeted breed appears to change every decade. In the ’70s it was the Dobermans;  in the ’80s, the German Shepherds. It’s been the Pit Bulls for the last couple of decades, which only adds to the huge number of Pit Bulls that end up in shelters.”

Take last week’s “Patsy,” as an example.  She is a volunteer favorite.  She is smart, affectionate, great with other dogs, even puppies!  But she is still there, solely because of her breed.

Here are basic facts for Aiken County Animal Control FY2013 (excluding Aiken and North Augusta): 4,794 animals were received by the county shelter and 1,800 were saved, through adoption (798), transfer (783), or returned to owner (219).  The monthly average is 400 with 67 adoptions, 65 transfers, and 18 returned to owners.  More than two of every three animals do not leave the County Shelter alive.

Numerous efforts are underway since FOTAS was founded four years ago.  Together with the tiny, dedicated County Shelter staff, FOTAS volunteers help make the best matches possible between adoptable pets and their prospective owners.  The Foster Care Program saves most of the savable puppies. The transfer program decreases length- of-stay and saves some otherwise doomed candidates. 

The County Animal Control Officers work directly with the community trying to keep impoundment the last resort wherever possible.  They disseminate spay/neuter information; identify and refer hardship cases that just need a little temporary help to be responsible pet owners.

The local veterinarians and the SPCA Albrecht Center offer reduced fees, pro-bono services, and low-cost essential services like vaccines, heartworm tests and spay/neuter surgeries. 

Government’s responsibility is animal control; a community’s responsibility is animal advocacy, especially our community. Adopt from our shelter; spay/neuter; promote animal well-being, donate time or money, please.

A retired organizational problem-solver and radical educator, Joya Jiménez DiStefano is an artist, Servant Leader, and co-founder of FOTAS, Inc.

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 26^th thru 31^th 2013

Received:       37 dogs and 44 cats

Adopted:        8 dogs and 4 cats

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!” HALF PRICE thru 9/14!

ROSE -  Baby. Silver with blue eyes. Adorable. All of her for only $35.       

HEIDI  – 1.5 yrs. 40 lbs.  One blue eye and a real dog-lover’s doll! ONLY $35!

*All adoption fees include: Spay/Neuter, heartworm test, all shots, worming, and microchip.