Happy 4th Birthday FOTAS

We keep coming back to what Gandhi said: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."  What about a large rural county; can they be judged as well?  Four years ago this week, Friends of the Animal Shelter, Inc. was created to confront that very question.  How great can a home community be when it is handling thousands of its unwanted animals like refuse?

FOTAS started in 2009 raising money and making upgrades to the existing facility: a roof and floor for the overflow pens, a large dog play yard, a lovely adoptable cat house, laundry equipment, grooming tub, stainless cage banks for surgery patients.  We established a volunteer program, a foster care program, and a transfer program.  We helped Aiken County residents confront the dirty secret that well over 5,000 animals, most of which were adoptable pets, were arriving at the county shelter annually and almost all of them were dying there.  But with all the work that went into our current county animal control facility, everyone who actually went there knew the upgrades were mostly lipstick on a pig.  Aiken County needed, and justly deserved, a new county animal shelter.   

FOTAS, since its inception, has seen itself as an ally and partner of county government.  Animal control is a public obligation, a component of health and safety; animal welfare and advocacy is not. A community has to determine who they want to be, how they want to operate in and on the world in terms of its relationship to the innocents and dependents within it.  FOTAS has given animal advocates in our community a voice and the resources to leverage that voice.  And God smiled upon that effort by providing a team of county employees, elected officials, and shelter staff to join forces with the will of the Aiken County community, and to chart the way to a brand new Aiken County Animal Shelter, along with the programs to support its success.

FOTAS paid for the study to determine the appropriate course to an adequate county shelter.  When it was determined that a new shelter was the only effective and efficient way forward, FOTAS paid $125,000 for the architectural and engineering plans.  This was 25% more than the original figure agreed upon.  The county found the perfect piece of property on the corner of May Royal and Wire Road, and on March 3rd of this year we broke ground with a high-spirited ceremony.  The building is expected to be completed by the end of the year.  FOTAS has undertaken the responsibility to "Fit, Furnish and Finish" the facility.  The Fit, FURnish and Finish fundraising campaign is underway, and there are numerous opportunities to participate and to contribute.  For more complete information, contact FOTAS or go to the website.

We can be excited about our new building, but FOTAS also realizes that a building alone is not the answer.  Without a cultural shift to make responsible pet owners part of the fabric of our community, no building will ever be large enough.  To that end, FOTAS established the Spay Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) one year ago.   SNAP now partners with the County Voucher Program and the SPCA Albrecht Center and hundreds of dogs and cats have been fixed, meaning literally thousands fewer unwanted animals. 

We have so much to be grateful for in the last four years, and as FOTAS begins its 5th year, so much to look forward to.  This time next year, our new County Shelter will be humming.  We hope to encourage more and more community pride and involvement.  Our vision is that no adoptable pet will have to die there.  FOTAS is one reflection of Aiken County's moral progress - and its greatness.  Join us.  Please help. We still have a long way to go.

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”

The WEEK of July 8th thru 14^th ‘13

Brought in:  73 dogs and 44 cats!!

Adopted:  17 dogs and 1 cat 

Put down:   43 dogs and 36 cats!

Aiken County Shelter  “Pets of the Week”

SISSY  – Hound mix. 1.5 yrs.   A sweet, playful forever friend!  Yours for only $70

 

DALE – Tabby kitten. He is adorable! Your new baby for only $35

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Dear Friends and Supporters of Our County Shelter

We have a lot to celebrate right now, all because of you.  Think about it.

When we gave the FATZ manager a check to cover the 193 breakfasts we put out together last Saturday, he said, “You are the only breakfast we do in June.” 

We have you to thank for that distinction.  After all the benefit breakfasts we have celebrated together, it is almost like a family reunion.  We received notes and checks from those who would have liked to be there, but were on vacation along with most of Aiken!

Take a drive up Wire Road to the corner of May Royal and see the emergent outlines of the new Aiken County Animal Shelter on our lovely wooded lot.  All three wings are framed and there’s a roof on the adoption wing.  The floors will be poured next month.  It’s not hard to imagine how fine a facility it will be, thanks to you.  There is still time to immortalize an animal-loving loved one, or beloved pet, with your contributions.

You are the citizens of Aiken County, with friends and loved ones all over the state, the country, and even the world.  You know how important it is to you to have a community shelter that can serve the public and still provide for the helpless creatures that fall into its care.

Our elected officials have heard you, too.  County Council continues to join us in support of an adequately furnished, adequately funded, and adequately staffed facility in which we can all take pride.  The partnership between FOTAS and the county continues strengthen as we join our commitments and combine our resources to do the right thing right, so we only have to do it once.

It is because of you that the FOTAS Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) continues to move forward.  Our partnership with the SPCA Albrecht Center and County Animal Services continues its work in the Valley and Wagener.  As funds become available we hope to expand to other centers throughout the county.  So far, hundreds of pets and feral cats have been altered, resulting in thousands fewer unwanted kittens and puppies.

Yes, dear friends and supporters, we can take pride in how far we have come, but please, please do not think we can afford to rest.  Not yet.

For instance, we were so elated last week at the turn-out for the FATZ breakfast for the shelter Catz.  Tipz were abundant, though no catz were adopted.  Then we found out that, while we breakfasted, 31 cats came into the shelter!  The cat intake was one hundred just last week!  Please spread the word: “9 Lives for $9,” adult cats are $9 this week only.

Please continue your support of the “Fit, Furnish, and Finish” fund for the new shelter.  Please help SNAP continue to grow.  Please give and give some more to our community shelter programs: adoption readiness, foster care, fundraising, and spay-neuter.  Together we can make a huge difference.  Thanks to you; because of you!

tagline:  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”

June 10^th thru 16^th, 2013

Brought in:  74 dogs and 100 cats!!

Adopted:  16 dogs and 2 cats 

Put down:    49 dogs and 79 cats!

CALLIE – 1 yr.  Soft and cuddly muted beauty, a lot of kitty for only $9 this week.

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!” 

SOPHIE – 1.5 yr. shepherd mix.  As sweet as she is lovely! A special deal at half price: $35  

 

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

How Broadway Sang for the New County Shelter

To say FOTAS’ mission has been blessed these last four years is understated.  The quest has been to help Aiken County provide our community with a public animal shelter that is a healthy, happy place, seeking never to euthanize an adoptable pet.  The whole process has been steeped in magic, and last Saturday is another example.

It began in January with some friends off to the Carlyle Café in New York to see a family member perform. Two of those travelers happened to be on a FOTAS committee working feverishly to raise the money needed to “Fit, Furnish and Finish” the new Aiken County Animal Shelter.

The “family member” performing was none other than Broadway star, Howard McGillin, best known for his record setting performance in the title role of “The Phantom of the Opera.”  Somewhere in that journey north, the idea emerged to ask Howard to come to Aiken and perform for a private fund-raiser for the shelter.

Not only did Howard agree, but he brought his longtime friend and award-winning composer, Joseph Thalken, to accompany him on the piano.  

As the event took shape and the guest list was assembled, the evening expanded to honor some of FOTAS’ most dedicated volunteers and supporters.  Invitees were offered the opportunity to send pictures of their pets.  A slide presentation incorporated these very personal examples of why we do what we do to support the FOTAS mission. 

The slide presentation also educated the audience with visual evidence of the dire conditions at the current shelter.  Prior to the music, Committee Chair, Joanna Dunn Samson, showed the rusted vents, the peeling paint, the overcrowded cages, but even more critical, the facility’s inability to quarantine sick animals in its open floor plan with open-trench sewage drains running past all the pens.  

The watercolor elevations of the new shelter design lifted spirits and set the stage for the show.  Howard’s performance consisted of eleven show tunes interspersed with delightful anecdotes about singing for the Queen Mother in London and being flown on a private jet to sing for a private party by Donald Trump.  Howard McGillin gave the audience multiple excuses for rousing applause.  He is a master of his craft.

In addition to the performance, the evening included a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres, a sumptuous buffet dinner, wine and endless desserts.  Much of the cost was either donated or discounted and FOTAS wants to add their heartfelt appreciation to: Joanna and David Samson, Richard Samson, Alexandra S. Thomas, Stoplight Catering, All-Star Rentals, Diaggio-Guinness Distributers, Jo Mayer, David Trachtenberg and especially Howard McGillin and Joseph Thalken.
A special shout out goes to Tom Bossard. As Joanna's "right hand man", he handled himself with grace and generosity.  He took care of all the food and rental arrangements, set up for the party and worked out the invitations and programs with her.  He also picked up and used his decorating skills to arrange incredibly stunning center pieces for the tables. The ultimate partner and typical FOTAS volunteer, he never asked for anything; he never complained. We are truly blessed to have such wonderful volunteers who give so much of themselves each day!

Not everyone can recruit a Broadway star to help raise the money we need to “Fit, Furnish & Finish” our community shelter, but there are many ways we all can contribute.  There are adult and children’s “Giving Parties,”  the Girl Scout help, golf tournaments by golfers, silent auctions and equestrian events, and, of course, Woofstock, to name a few.

The magic is in just thinking of a way to help and then just doing it.

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”

March 26^th thru 31^st  

Received: 32 dogs and 7 cats

Adopted: 3 dogs and 3 cats

Euthanized:  21 dogs and 11 cats

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!” 

MIMI - 11 months .  She is a lovely hound with energy and heart!  Only $70

 

ARA –  Young adult Siamese mix.  Bright eyes, bright mind.  Only $35!

 

 

 

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