New Shelter is Part of a Proud Community Partnership

A Proud Community Partnership

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

as seen in the "Aiken Standard" on January 5, 2013

The Friends of the Animal Shelter – Aiken County (FOTAS) is, by its very nature, a private charitable organization created for one purpose: to supplement the limited resources of the Aiken County Animal Shelter to improve the lives of the animals who are consigned to the County’s care.

The job of the Aiken County Animal Shelter is daunting. It provides animal control and adoption services for the largest County in the State of South Carolina.  It is required by law to pick up stray dogs and cats and to accept all dogs and cats surrendered to the shelter by County residents and by City residents to the extent space is unavailable at designated City facilities. In 2012, the County took in 4800 animals, and the intake number for 2013 is expected to be equally distressing. Needless to say, the euthanasia numbers, by necessity, are haunting.

FOTAS takes its job as the private partner seriously.  It created a large network of dedicated volunteers to help with the animals squeezed into the frightfully overcrowded shelter.  It organizes off-site adoptions, foster care and transfers to no-kill facilities in other parts of the country.  It organizes donations of food, blankets and funds to help the dedicated staff at the County shelter address the day-to-day needs of a facility strained way, way past its design limits.

Perhaps the proudest achievement of the County/FOTAS public/private partnership is the new shelter under construction on May Royal Drive that when complete in February, will meet modern standards for humane care for the thousands of homeless animals that pass through its doors.

FOTAS worked closely with the County every step of the way.  It helped develop design criteria, funded the cost of the architectural plan ($125,000), and helped with the selection of the project architect. 

FOTAS volunteer Bob Bye, serves as the project construction manager, saving the County an additional $30,000 dollars.  

FOTAS has also funded the kennels, cage banks and equipment for the new shelter.

Perhaps the most gratifying aspect of this public/private effort has been the extent to which the community has rallied around – its generosity of spirit, resources, and donations to FOTAS and the thousands of unwanted animals in the County has been nothing short of breathtaking. 

And of course, all of the countless, dedicated volunteers of all ages and all walks of life from the Aiken Community who walked dogs, played with cats, helped with adoptions, managed databases, created and managed the FOTAS website, Facebook Page and prepared blast emails, wrote thank you notes, and prepared mass mailings - these are the folks that form the bedrock upon which the County/FOTAS partnership thrives.

When the new County shelter opens next month, it won’t be flashy or grand, but it will be a healthy, humane shelter built by all of us in the Aiken community.

As well it should be.  The new shelter will be able to manage the County’s current intake, but unless those numbers are reduced, all our noble efforts will be for naught.  Success depends upon the collective commitment of the whole community to a robust spay/neuter program.

We at FOTAS believe the Aiken community is up to the task and the day is nearly at hand when more people will visit their community shelter to adopt or volunteer rather than to surrender their unwanted pets.

That day can’t come soon enough.

Join us in the next phase of our work. Contact us at www.FOTASAiken.org or call us at 803-514-4313 to see how you can make a difference.

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”

Dec. 23 - Dec. 28, 2013

16 dogs and 4 cats adopted

Year to Date:  

742 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.

TEXAS   Hound,  male, 3 1/2 yrs old, 36 lbs  Only $70 

SHYRA   Domestic medium hair -- female -- 6 yrs old, 12 lbs  Only $35

What a Day for FOTAS at the Chocolate Festival

If you slid into the 24^th Annual Chocolate Festival off of Fairfield Avenue last week, between the Karaoke Bandstand and the big bouncy slide, you encountered the enthusiastic representatives of FOTAS. 

Sergio, DaVinci, Joanie, Ritchie and Rex, five unique adoptable dogs from the Aiken County Shelter, represented us the best.  They were the stars.  At very least, many attendees stopped to lavish attention on those lovable dogs; at best, two of them were adopted, Sergio and DaVinci, and went home with their new families. 

Occasionally, it seemed like Rex, Ritchie and Joanie were going to be chosen, too.  But it wasn’t their day.  Check them out on Petfinder.com, and see for yourself how special they truly are.

The Serteen animal-lovers, Katie, Jada, Madison, Justine, Carly and their supervisor, Valorie, came to help show off the dogs. The Serteens have become regular ambassadors for the animals at the County Shelter, and FOTAS has learned to count on them as valued members of our family.

The new edition of the “FOTAS Dogfather” tee-shirt and the brand new “Fairy Dogmother” shirt, both conversation starters among dog enthusiasts, went on sale that day.  If sales at the Chocolate Festival are an indication, and you want one, you had better come out to Steeplechase (10/27) or Woofstock (11/10) and get it while supplies last.

The corner assigned to FOTAS was perfect.  It offered a big area to set up dog pens and retail displays for our hats and shirts; two picnic tables for folks to gather around; lots of shade, and many, many attendees walking by.

In our quest to bring the plight of the county’s homeless animals to the public’s attention, and to bring public concern and involvement to our community shelter, FOTAS welcomes the opportunity to participate in community events like ST. Mary’s Chocolate Festival.

This year, we are focused on our Capital Campaign for the new Aiken County Shelter, due to break ground in a few months. Our volunteers work to make the public aware that we exist, that the need is urgent, and that together we can truly make an essential difference.

As people stopped to chat last week, we were amazed again by how many still do not know that there are two local shelters: one private, one public; one state-of-the-art-brand-spanking-new, and one that was grossly inadequate ten years ago, but is obligated to function in service to the public, but not to the animals.

Our next major fundraiser is our second Woofstock Festival on November 10^th.  It kicks of with our first “Mutt Strut,” a family-oriented dog parade that will kick off the festival.  Last Saturday, we had our Mutt Strut posters and flyers out.  If you missed yours, go to the FOTAS website www.fotasaiken.org/woofstock

Register, get friends and family to sponsor you and your dog(s) participation, raise $100, $200 or $300+ dollars and win prizes.  The biggest prize is a chance to win a 64gig iPad.

The Grand Prize is a shelter we can take pride in.  Please help.

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”

October 1^st thru 7^th   

AVIS-A young adult Calico tabby. Gorgeous markings, sweet dispositions. $35

Received: 76 dogs! and 17 cats!

Adopted: 12 dogs and 10 cats!

Euthanized: 32 dogs and 17 cats

Aiken County Animal Shelter "Pets of the Week!" So much LOVE for so little!

TRAVIS-A handsome gentle bear  who deserves a forever home. $70

 

 

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