FOTAS Aiken Dog and Cat Stories

On A Mission

Article Submitted by Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Board of Directors

Printed in the Sept. 29, 2013 edition of the "Aiken Standard"

On any given Saturday, Caroline, Denise, Sandra, Becky, Hope, and maybe six Serteens walk, play and socialize with the dogs and cats at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. At any given time, Heather, Girl, Debbie, Toni, Sylvia and Marsha are fostering puppies in a healthy environment until they are ready to be adopted. At any given community event, whether the upcoming St. Mary’s Chocolate Festival or an adoption day at Pet Smart, FOTAS volunteers help with the arrangements to select, transport and display Aiken County animals available for adoption. On specially designated days, FOTAS volunteers work from dawn to dusk to help County residents take advantage of the growing Spay, Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP).

What do all of these activities have in common? Aside from the fact that they are all accomplished by volunteers passionately committed to caring for the County’s abandoned and neglected animals, each of these programs have been designed to increase the number of adoptable animals, thus increasing the number of adoptions and, as in the case of SNAP, reducing the number of animals bred accidentally or indiscriminately - all so that one day, the annual intake of unwanted cats and dogs at the County Shelter will not be in the thousands.

This month, FOTAS was awarded a $10,000 Lifesaving Grant by the Best Friends Animal Society and PetSmart Charities to support FOTAS’ lifesaving work for homeless pets. This grant funding will allow FOTAS and the County to place more of the Aiken County Shelter animals in forever homes. In particular, the funding will offset the cost of transporting 120 animals to established rescue partners in other regions of the Country, making room for 120 more adoptable animals at the shelter. That’s a total of 240 additional animals that can be saved this year.

All of these events - the Best Friends Lifesaving Grant, partnering with sister rescue agencies, the continuing recruitment and training of new volunteers and foster parents, the increasing number of County residents taking advantage of the SNAP program, active participation in community events, and of course, the opening of the new County Animal Shelter at the end of the year – speak to the success of FOTAS and the County’s efforts and commitment to educate the public and promote animal welfare and responsible pet ownership. Perhaps the ultimate goal of FOTAS and the County to eliminate euthanasia of all of the adoptable animals at the County Animal Shelter is within reach.

On October 5^th, St. Mary’s is holding its 25^th Annual Chocolate Festival, and FOTAS is thrilled to participate again in this exciting, unapologetically fattening, community event. Stop by the FOTAS table and meet some of the adorable foster puppies and their loving foster parents. Now really . . . what could possibly be more fun than a double fudge cupcake with buttercream icing on a lovely fall day in Aiken surrounded by cute puppies and laughing children? If the truth be told, not much.

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”

Sept. 16 - Sept. 21, 2013

9 dogs and 8 cats -- total 17 pets adopted

Jan. 1 - Sept. 21, 2013, year to date

584 terrific pets adopted

THANK YOU AIKEN COUNTY COMMUNITY!

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!”

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

THISTLE - 2 yrs. Female spayed, gray tabby. A special loving girl! Only $35