And a GREAT BIG HOWL OUT!

It Was a Perfect Day to Howl !

By Edie Hubler, FOTAS Board of Directors

as seen in the "Aiken Standard", May 11, 2014 edition

Or crow, or yip, or bark, or meow ... any communication was just fine.  FOTAS sponsored its third Woofstock event last week ... the day was perfect and so was the crowd.  

At 10:30 am on Saturday, May 3, we turned the new Aiken County Animal Shelter into a festival of which to be proud.  Many hands went into making this another memorable event, so allow me, as the Chairwoman, to howl about it. 

Heather Wiseman was my co-chair, and special she is.  She rounded up her friends and sent them out on the streets soliciting business sponsorships.  The Aiken business community was generous with their support, and we can’t thank them enough.

Carole Stamm is a true friend -- I twisted her arm, so she couldn’t say no.  She headed up the Ride to Woofstock for Spay/Neuter fundraiser, which was part of the overall Woofstock umbrella.  I’m proud to say that with Carole’s leadership, we raised 70% of our goal.

Ellie Joos, a devoted Shelter volunteer dog walker, was the Publicity chair and she did a fabulous job.  In addition, Bob Gordon, another Shelter volunteer, coordinated publicity with the media.

The Woofstock music was fabulous.  For the 3rd time, Scott Ferguson and his 4 Cats in the Dog House played live music during the afternoon.  Jason Shaffer of JRS Entertainment created the play list together with his dad, Bob, who DJ’d the morning music.  

Palmetto Dog Club agility demonstration

Kudos to Brad Williams, a strong FOTAS and Shelter supporter, who was the “sound man,” and despite a late night at the Lobster Race on Friday evening -- he had arrived at the Shelter bright and early. Because of his technical expertise, the Palmetto Dog Club had sound for the agility and obedience demonstrations, as did our emcee and announcer, Mike Gibbons.

And speaking of the dog contests, our student judges (Hope Dyches, Reagan Houck, and Reece McCarthy), adult judges (December Clark of Barkmart, Nancy Webster of Dog Days Workshop, Sybil Davis DVM, and County Council Members Ronnie Young, LaWana McKenzie, Kathy Rawls, Andrew Siders, and Scott Singer), and Dog Contest facilitator Dottie Gantt took their jobs very seriously -- tough to select the 1st and 2nd place winners, but they did a stupendous job.

A long line of exhibitors presented their wares to the festive crowd.  Thanks to Aiken Balloons, Aiken Dry Goods, Aiken Pet Fitness & Rehab, Barkmart, Equine Rescue of Aiken, Hair of the Dog, Herbal Solutions, Hollow Creek Animal Hospital, Lap of Love, Sweet Ambrosia Farm, Veterinary Services of Aiken and Wyatt’s Bed & Biscuit.    Our food vendors were also a hit -- Bruster’s Ice Cream of North Augusta and Coach T’s Diner.

And last, but  most importantly, the many FOTAS volunteers who help us at the shelter, as well as at special events came through again:  Pam Blades Eckelbarger, photographer; Sue Erwin, EMT; Valorie Vance and Susan Hamlin’s South Aiken High School SERTEENS; Donna Eisenhart’s Silver Bluff High School National Honor Society members; LCDR Tony Negron’s South Aiken High School NJROTC cadets.  Their assistance was invaluable.

And on behalf of all the dogs and cats who were adopted that day into FURever homes -- woof woof, meow meow – (that’s “thank you” in animal speak, by the way).  A bunch of their furry friends are waiting at the shelter for someone like you to come and take them home, so hurry on down.

FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 333 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”

Apr. 28, 2014 - May 3, 2014

22 dogs and 7 cats  SAVED

Year to Date:  

316 terrific pets   SAVED

ADOPTION SPECIALS MAY 1 - MAY 31:

BACK IN BLACK -- black dogs $33 -- black cats $13

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!” 

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

GORDON

Terrier/Lab mix, male, 4 yrs old, 47 lbs.  Only $70 

FRANKIE 

Domestic short hair -- male -- 4 yrs old, 16.5 lbs  Only $35

FOTAS -- Newest Board Members

A New Day – A New Board

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

as seen in the "Aiken Standard" 5-4-14 edition

What does a retired international businesswoman, a bank president, a veterinarian, and a priest have in common?

They all serve on the FOTAS Board of Directors.

It took us 3 years to convince Caroline Simonson to join the Board.  Caroline was one of the first volunteers recruited by Jennifer Miller in 2009.  She devotes 4 mornings a week, every week, to the shelter walking and socializing dogs, assisting new volunteers, and helping evaluate dogs for transfer.

Before she and her husband Bill moved to Aiken in 2004, Caroline worked at the New York Stock Exchange, raised a daughter and worked for an international company that sold cars and vehicles to the military, diplomats and embassies.

 “After I moved to Aiken, I volunteered with other community organizations, but once I started working with FOTAS,” says Caroline, “I knew I had found my calling.”

Caroline Simonson with two of the Shelter dogs

Frank Townsend is the president of the Aiken County Southern Bank & Trust.  An Aiken native, Frank is married to Beth, and has four lovely children - Frank, Jr., Pinckney, and the twins, Wallace and Wright - and two shelter cats, Charlie and George.

FOTAS appealed to Frank to join the Board because of his deep ties to the Aiken community and his financial expertise, skills important for a growing non-profit organization raising money in the community for various activities.  We also were impressed with his optimistic, soft-spoken manner, so we made a full court press.

 “Jennifer Miller was very persuasive,” says Frank “I was appalled by the huge intake and euthanasia numbers in the County.  I knew I wanted to help.  I just couldn’t say no.”

Dr. Charlie Timmerman is a highly respected veterinarian who started his own small animal practice in Aiken 42 years ago.  He is married to Colleen, who works closely with FOTAS’ Lenny’s Brigade and Fix-a-Pet programs.  They have 2 children and 3 grandchildren.

It’s obvious why we were so keen on Charlie: the depth and breath of his veterinary experience with small animals was and has been essential.  He’s a no-nonsense kind of guy with a measured response to problems.  We need that.

“I believe in getting involved,” says Charlie, “and I believed I could make a difference in the well-being of the shelter animals by working with FOTAS.”

We assured Charlie that working with us would not interfere with his time with his grandchildren, his quail hunting and most importantly, any Clemson games.  Maybe we secretly crossed our fingers as we made that promise, but Charlie’s adroitly managed to work it all into his rich and busy life.

Father Grant Wiseman moved to the Diocese of Upper South Carolina in 2009 with his wife Heather and his twin daughters, Audrey and Abby.  Aside from being the rector for St. Thaddeus in Aiken, Grant is very active in governance of the Diocese and serves as a trustee of the Gravatt Camp and Conference Center and Dean of the Gravatt Convocation.

Grant, Heather, Audrey and Abby have fostered in excess of 300 puppies over the past 5 years.  Aside from his and his family’s obvious dedication to helping the County’s homeless animals, Grant is a kind, optimistic and practical man also with deep ties to the community and extraordinary organizational experience.

“Our family strongly believes that puppies who spend the beginning of their lives being held, named and loved are far more adoptable than those who are not,” says Grant.

He’s right – virtually all of their puppies have gone on to find loving homes through our transfer partners.

 “This is a great Board,” says Jennifer Miller.  “They are movers and shakers in the Aiken community and have been instrumental in the evolution of FOTAS to an organization able to make an enduring difference.  They work together beautifully as a team, which makes the hard work of FOTAS not only productive, but pleasurable.  I am grateful for their commitment.”

FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 333 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”

Apr. 21, 2014 - Apr. 26, 2014

26 dogs and 6 cats  SAVED

Year to Date:  

287 terrific pets   SAVED

ADOPTION SPECIALS MAY 1 - MAY 31:

BACK IN BLACK -- black dogs $33 -- black cats $13

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!” 

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

DOODLES   Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler, male, 6 yrs old, 51 lbs.  Only $70 

FULMER  Domestic short hair -- male -- 4 yrs old, 10.3 lbs  Only $35

Children are Perceptive and Caring!

Through the Eyes of a Child

By Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Director

as seen in the "Aiken Standard" 4-27-14 edition

Eavesdrop on any group of world-weary adults bemoaning the state of modern youth, and you will likely hear something like this: “Kids these days!  They’re spoiled and lazy.  All they care about is video games, Facebook, selfies, and hanging out.”

If you happen to be one of those folks fretting about our future generation - fret no more: I have good news.  Aiken kids do care about making the world a better place. 

How do I know this?

I have had the honor of reading the essays submitted for consideration in Meg’s Essay Contest, a contest sponsored by FOTAS as part of the Woofstock festivities and open to local students in Grades 1-5. 

FOTAS asked contestants to respond to questions developed for each age group.  

Six-year-old Luke Vincent wrote the winning response to the Grade 1 & 2 question.  “My pet is my best friend  . . . because she is so cute and pretty!” he writes about his cat.  “She is so silly and lazy,” he adds.  

I love that.  He loves his cat despite her faults; he loves her unconditionally.

Fourth grader Reece McCarthy writes, “I think we should have a dog because when you are sad, they help and lick you . . . and,” he continues, “since I am a boy, you can play soccer with them.”  

This last addition impresses me.  No rational parent can deny the benefit of allowing a young boy the opportunity to blow off steam and develop his physical coordination at the same time?

Another 4^th grader winner, Hope Dyches, takes a worldly approach.  “[Even though] . . . we already have 9 dogs, . . . there are so many at the shelter that need loving homes,” she writes, appealing to her parent’s obvious commitment to helping the shelter’s thousands of homeless animals.

She shrewdly points out how adopting another pet will aid her development and benefit her parents:  “If you let me adopt it . . . I will be well behaved and keep my room clean.”

Nine dogs already!!??  God bless her - not only is Hope a smart, strategic thinker, she is gutsy.

5^th grader Reagan Houck writes an impressively researched and sophisticated response to why spay/neuter is important to the Aiken community. She dispels the myths (the pet will get fat and lazy, the procedure is too expensive), and highlights the health advantages (happier, stress-free pets who are content to stay home).

She cites statistics: 150,000 animals a year end up homeless, and this startling fact – one cat’s offspring can produce 2,072,514 kittens over 8 years!

She appeals to our emotions: “Nobody likes seeing a poor cat or dog in the street because they are homeless.  They need a home, too.”

Hubert Humphrey once said:

Every child is an adventure into a better life – an opportunity to change the old pattern and make it new.

This year’s winners of Meg’s Essay Contest - Luke, Reece, Hope and Reagan demonstrate the wisdom of that observation. 

I, for one, am happy and relieved to leave our collective future and the future of Aiken County’s homeless, abandoned and neglected animals in their hands.

The winners of Meg’s Essay Contest will be the student judges for the Woofstock Dog Contests (Best Kisser, Best Trick, Best Costume, Best Hairdo/Non-Hairdo, Best Singer/Talker/Howler) at Woofstock on May 3rd at the new community shelter (10:30 - 3:00, at 333 Wire Road.)  Bring your family, enter your dogs and join the fun.  See you there.

FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 333 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”

Apr. 13, 2014 - Apr. 19, 2014

30 dogs and 10 cats  SAVED

Year to Date:  

255 terrific pets   SAVED

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.

LEOPOLD   American bulldog, male, 1 1/2 yrs old, 59 lbs.  Only $70 

SPUG  Domestic short hair -- male -- 5 yrs old, 14 lbs  Only $35

JOIN THE RIDE -- SAVE SOME LIVES

Join The Ride ... Save Some Lives

By Edie Hubler, FOTAS Director

As seen in the "Aiken Standard" 4-6-14 issue

If my dog Zeus only had a thumb, he’d hijack a Harley, strap his pal Meg on the back, and tour around with the wind whipping his long, silky hair.  But alas for Zeus (and good for all the other drivers on the road), he cannot drive a motorcycle.

But you can -- along with Hailey, M.Y. and Hope, three young Aiken girls who are passionate about saving as many adoptable animals that they can.

They have joined the FOTAS Ride to Woofstock campaign to raise funds for the FOTAS’ Fix-A-Pet spay/neuter program, which will provide financial assistance for those community citizens who may need a little help.  This year’s Woofstock Dogs, Cats & Music Festival will be held at the new Aiken County Animal Shelter on May 3rd.  

Hailey, M.Y. and Hope aren’t actually riding motorcycles to Woofstock (although other FOTAS supporters will be); instead, they will be “virtual” riders.  Here are their stories.

Hailey Ardis is the granddaughter of Clay and Carrie Killian, who regularly walks dogs with her grandma at the County Shelter.  Nine year-old Hailey put a blue wig on her uncle’s willing dog, snapped a photo and formed Hailey’s Goal for the Animals.  Hailey’s original fundraising goal was $300, which she surpassed quickly.  She has continued to raise money, even donating some of her allowance.  

Four year-old M.Y., the daughter of a friend of Linda Soyars’  (a long-time FOTAS volunteer), decorated her tricycle, corralled her dogs Coco & Yuke for a photo op and formed her own virtual riding team, M.Y. Groovy Riders.  She also has reached her goal, but willingly accepts more donations to her team effort.

M.Y. and her dogs Coco and Yuke, getting ready for their Ride to Woofstock for Spay/Neuter

Nine year-old Hope Dyches frequently walks dogs and socializes cats at the Aiken County Animal Shelter with her aunt, Rebecca Reindl.  In fact, I see her at every FOTAS event -- that’s how much she cares.  Her team is called Hopes Friends & Family.  Her goal is lofty -- $1,000 is her “hope”.  

Through the efforts of Hailey, M.Y., Hope and a score of other volunteers, FOTAS hopes to raise $20,000 for the FOTAS Fix-a-Pet spay/neuter program.  Solving the County’s enormous unwanted pet population through spay/neuter is a long-term proposition – most experts agree it takes at least 10 years to see a significant drop in those numbers – so FOTAS is increasing its resources dedicated to that effort.  In the meantime, we will be working feverishly to adopt out to the growing Aiken community as many adoptable pets as possible.

Join the “Ride to Woofstock.”  You can do it on your own or with a team.  You can ride for real or you can ride “virtually.”  You can sign up with an existing team, like Hailey’s Goal for the Animals, M.Y.’s Groovy Riders, or Hope’s Friends & Family.

Plus, if you and your riding team raise at least $300, you will be eligible to win an iPAD mini.  This is easy, folks. 

Challenge yourself!  See how far you can go and how much you can raise.  

Remember, it’s not what you ride, it’s what you ride for.  Ride on, my friends, ride on.

Visit  www.FOTASAiken.org or www.crowdrise.com/Woofstock2014-AikenSC for all the details. Or you can contact FOTAS at 803-514-4313.

FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 333 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”

Mar. 24, 2014 - Mar. 29, 2014

16 dogs and 1 cat adopted

Year to Date:  

146 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.

OLIVIA   Boxer,  female, 2 yrs old, 40 lbs  Only $70 

CLARK  Domestic long hair -- male -- 3 yrs. old, 11 lbs  Only $35

A Day of Firsts

A Day of Firsts

By Joanna Samson, FOTAS Director

At 5 a.m. on March 3^rd, Sandy Larsen, the County’s Vet Tech, pulled into the parking lot of the new Aiken County Animal Shelter.  Because she was scheduled to feature a couple of the shelter’s residents at 6:20 a.m. on Channel 12, she was the first person to work that Monday morning.

It wasn’t just any Monday morning, however; it was the first day the County’s new shelter was open for business.  Sandy, who shares with Chief Animal Control Officer Bobby Arthurs the notable distinction of being the first and longest employee of the County shelter, was struck at once by the difference in the setting.

“The building was well-lit,” says Sandy, “warm, welcoming.  The old shelter was always dark that time of morning.”

“Then,” she continues, “as I walked from my car to the back door, it hit me.  I could see the dogs in their outside kennels in the Intake Wing.  Wow!  What a difference!  In the old shelter, the dogs would be inside barking like crazy because they were doubled or tripled up in a small crate and stepping on each other.  Here, they were quiet!  It was amazing.”

At 9 a.m., the first volunteers, Caroline Simonson and Sandra Procter, arrived to walk the dogs.  Caroline and Sandra have been FOTAS volunteers for years.  In fact, according to Jennifer Miller, the President of FOTAS, Caroline may well have been the first person to respond to her first calls for help at the shelter when FOTAS was formed in 2009.

When I asked Caroline about her impressions on that first morning, she too was struck by the remarkable change in the dogs.

“They were relaxed.  They each had their own kennel.  They weren’t fighting for space or defending their food.  They weren’t bored - they could lie outside in the fresh air and watch the world go by.”

“Plus,” says Caroline, “at the old shelter, there was one small play area with a dirt surface.  The new shelter has two large, grassy areas.  When we first released the dogs, they went wild with joy - rolling gleefully on the sod.  We couldn’t stop laughing.” 

By noon, all of the adoptable dogs were played-out, and peace had settled over the shelter.  The hounds were particularly happy to stretch out in the sun and snooze.

Then came the magical moment – the first adoption on the first day.  Brooke and Jacob Jones and their beautiful daughter, Charlotte, came to the shelter to look for a family dog. They found her:  Debbie, an affectionate black border collie crossbred with a white nose and a ton of personality.

“It was a perfect match,” says Annette van der Walt, the Shelter’s Adoption Coordinator.  “Debbie and Charlotte bonded immediately.  As Debbie piled into the car with her new humans, Brandon Anceume, the kind and perceptive shelter custodian who introduced the family to Debbie, and I high-fived each other and did the 'Happy' dance from the movie “Despicable Me.”

“It was silly,” says Annette, giggling, “but we were so, so happy.”

It’s a brand new day at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, so come on over: adopt, volunteer, or just visit.  We’d love to see you.

FOTAS Volunteers work with the AIKEN COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER, 333 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”

Mar. 3, 2014 - Mar. 8, 2014

9 dogs and 1 cat adopted

Year to Date:  

91 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.

LOLA   Shepherd mix,  female, 2 yrs old, 49 lbs  Only $70 

BEN STILLER  Domestic short hair -- male -- 7 yrs. old, 10 lbs  Only $35

Felines are Masterpieces

“The Smallest Feline is a Masterpiece”

By Edie Hubler, FOTAS Board of Directors

as seen in the "Aiken Standard" 2-23-14 issue

That’s how Leonardo da Vinci spoke of cats.  They are special, just ask any other cat lover.  These beautiful creatures are agile, graceful and meticulous about their grooming.  While dogs live to please their humans and will do almost anything for food – sit, stay, roll over – cats by their nature are much more independent.  A good cat would consider a demand to perform a trick for food beneath him, and he would never, ever deign to respond to a reprimand. A cat could care less about packs or their human’s desire to be the pack “alpha.” A cat bestows its affection on a deserving human, and once they do – that cat becomes their friend for life.

Most Saturday mornings, Becky Reindl is walking dogs at the Aiken County Animal Shelter. She frequently takes her niece, Hope Dyches, who likes to spend time with the cats. Becky also fosters cats from the County Shelter and delights in talking about the experience.  

“Kittens start to play as soon as they can stand up,” says Becky, “but they fall down a lot because they have no balance. When they play, a kitten will stalk up to pounce on another unsuspecting kitten, but because they misjudge the distance they can jump, the stalking kitten misses and ends up pouncing air. Watching my foster kittens play and grow has provided me with countless hours of entertainment.”   

Becky’s current foster cat, Merlyn, plays with a mamma dog & four puppies she is fostering.  Merlyn jumps on the dog’s tail, then runs under the sofa to hide. The startled dog gives chase, but is too big to crawl under the sofa.  In the meantime, Merlyn, who has already crawled out from under the sofa unseen, sneaks up behind the dog again and pounces.  He’s a strategic hunter, that Merlyn.  

Then there’s Romeo, an affectionate 6 year old Serbian red cat who was adopted by Bobbie and Ron Kastet when he was a kitten.  Bobbie fell in love with the little red kitten at first sight, who greeted Bobbie with a kiss – hence the name Romeo.  He models like a pro for Bobbie’s camera, and purrs like an engine. Because Romeo also retrieves balls & toys, the neighbors claim he is really a dog in a cat’s body.  

Romeo’s best friend is Pinot, a bassett/golden mix adopted from the County shelter by Dave & Linda Engleman.  Romeo and Pino have play dates and even sleepovers.  When Pinot comes for a visit, he “calls” Romeo and the cat comes running.  Pinot licks the top of Romeo’s head and Romeo kisses Pinot’s feet.  They sleep and eat together, and when they are lucky enough to be given a little ice cream, Romeo puts his paw inside the dish and feeds both himself and Pinot.  Don’t believe it?  Well, just look at the photo of Romeo feeding Pinot!

Ellie and Bill Joos, FOTAS volunteers, walk dogs at the County Shelter several days a week.  Although they love dogs too, they are particularly fond of cats and have two of their own - Sheba and Buddy. While at the Shelter, Ellie makes a point to also visit the adoptable cats (which she calls fluff balls) to help socialize them. She often posts photos on Facebook of the available cats at the County Shelter -- she calls it kitty lovin’.  

Please join our other FOTAS volunteers at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.  The dogs and the cats can always use a little lovin’ and we are looking for lovin’ homes for them too.

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”

Feb. 3, 2014 - Feb. 8, 2014

11 dogs and 3 cats adopted

Year to Date:  

72 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.

MIA FARROW   American bulldog,  female, 2 yrs old, 38 lbs  Only $70 

BEN STILLER  Domestic short hair -- male -- 7 yrs. old, 10 lbs  Only $35

New Shelter is a Place of Hope

New Shelter is a Place of Hope

By Joanna Samson, FOTAS Director

As seen in the "Aiken Standard" on 1/26/14

Last Monday, my good friends Tom and Len picked me up to take me out to the new Aiken County Animal Shelter.  The last time I had been there, the new shelter was an almost completed shell – the triumph of its full potential not yet evident. I was anxious to view its progress.

We took a left into the newly paved parking lot at 333 Wire Road and pulled into a freshly painted parking space.  Tom turned off the engine, and the three of us sat in silence, lost for words.

Gone were the piles of construction debris, dump trucks, rolls of wire, unpacked boxes of equipment, piles of lumber and rolled up fencing material lying on the ground, electricians wiring outside fixtures, carpenters installing signs and outdoor cage banks, and painters touching up trim.

Instead we gazed upon a simple structure consisting of three separate long rectangular buildings placed side by side - the Lynn Carlisle Main Administration Building in the center with tall glass doors for public entry, flanked on one side by the Animal Control building and on the other by the Adoption Center – and connected in the middle by two walkways for staff and public access.  

The previously hectic construction activity had yielded to a few landscapers placing sod and an electrician on a ladder in a walkway checking a lighting fixture.  The new Aiken County Animal Shelter, painted in peaceful shades of cream and aqua with accents of soft coral colors on the trim, was dazzling in the soft glare of the Carolina sun in January.

I was overwhelmed by gratitude – to Kathy Rawls and rest of the County Council who staunchly refused to back down from its commitment to ensure a basic humane standard of care for the thousands of homeless animals charged to its care each year; to the countless FOTAS volunteers and supporters who believe that it is their responsibility to find all of the adoptable animals a loving home; to the founders of FOTAS whose patience and persistence and vision of humanity never waivered from the daunting task in front of them; to the County’s administrators and architects who made the collective vision the reality before us.

The new Aiken County Animal Shelter is not a Taj Mahal.  It is a beautifully simple structure built on a modest budget with both public and private funds and resources.  It is a structure built with design considerations that prioritized function and a healthy environment without sacrificing aesthetic concerns.  

It is a testament to what can be accomplished when government partners with private citizens to make the world a better place.

It is a testament to a community joined by dedication and hope.

In the next few weeks, as Bobby Arthurs, the County shelter staff and FOTAS begin the arduous process of moving the animals under its care to their new home, I know that today’s peace will give way to the chaotic sound of as many as 200 animals being cared for under one roof.

But that’s okay: the internal peace of knowing we all – the County, FOTAS and the entire community – did the right thing will endure.

I recently found these lovely words written by author Jim Willis:

“I looked at all the caged animals . . . the cast-offs of human society. I saw in their eyes love and hope, fear and dread, sadness and betrayal. And I was angry.

"God," I said, "this is terrible! Why don't you do something?"

God was silent for a moment and then He spoke softly.

"I have done something. . .

I created you.” 

Thank you citizens of the Aiken community, for this compassionately noble effort.

Photo below is of Sandy Staiger, FOTAS volunteer and artist painting a mural in one of the new Shelter's multipurpose rooms.

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”

Jan. 13, 2014 - Jan. 18, 2014

8 dogs and 0 cats adopted

Year to Date:  

41 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.

ROSCOE   American Bulldog mix,  male, 1 yr old, 39 lbs  Only $70 

CLINT EASTWOOD   Tabby -- Male --5 mos. old, 7 lbs  Only $35