Espresso, now Bauer, a Love Story

This story began early January in the dirt at the end of a two-foot chain.  The young officer responding to the call scooped the brindle bundle of bones with pleading eyes into his truck.

When the officer delivered the starved creature to the shelter, he insisted that every effort be made to save him. 

They named him Espresso.  He tested negative for heartworm.  Too weak to eat, he was fed a liquid diet, then canned food, before he could eat the kibble.  In less than three weeks he went from 13 to over 38 pounds.

When he made it onto the adoption floor, Espresso became a darling of the FOTAS volunteers; but, even with his survival story, being a pit-mix made him one of way too many of his kind. 

Our love story continues with a couple of remarkable women we’ll call “Carla” and “Erin,” who met last summer through Facebook and a dog who needed a home.  Carla lives with her many dogs, two horses and a husband in Aiken County , but she has worked in rescue for over thirty years across two hemispheres.  Erin, new to rescue, lives with her husband and four dogs in New England. 

“Erin’s Dogs” was founded four years ago following a crisis and the heartbreak resulting from her own ignorance of how to incorporate another rescue dog into her home.  When consulted, the local SPCA’s response was, “Bring the dog in and we’ll temperament test her.  If she fails, she will have to be put down.” Not an option.

With professional affiliates, Erin’s Rescue dedicates itself to the guidance and support families need when looking to successfully adopt a dog.  It addresses three basic concerns: the kind of dog sought; placing the right dog in the right home; and, follow-up after the dogs are placed.  Once an Erin’s Dog, always an Erin’s Dog.

Carla works the Aiken County end of their rescue partnership.  It began last summer when a FOTAS 30-dog transfer to Connecticut fell through and she stepped in with the connection to Erin.  Now Carla volunteers regularly, knows and takes stunning photos of adoptable dogs, pulls, vets and ships many of them to Erin.

Since happenstance put Carla, Erin and FOTAS together in July, over 120 dogs have been rescued and placed in successful, appropriate, supported families as one of “Erin’s Dogs.”

Ultimately, Carla pulled Espresso for Erin’s Dogs, and last Wednesday Espresso went home with his new family.

Erin’s note that accompanied the photo of the event read: “Good Things Happen Because People Make Them Happen. Espresso (now Bauer) is cuddled up with his family. That kid in the middle? Yup. That'd be his best friend.”

Thursday morning , Espresso/Bauer’s new “mom” wrote, “…He had the cutest sad face when our teenager walked out the door for school. This little guy has so much love to give, and we have just as much in return!”

Now the Love Story really begins.

Happy Valentine’s Day from FOTAS! 

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”

Dogs Saved with Rescue Partners in 2011: 

In Aiken County:                75

In South Carolina:              12           

Out-of-State:                    368 (approx.)

TOTAL:                        455

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week” 

WOODY – Chow-shepherd mix, 

1 yr. 42 lbs. Gentle and friendly, a perfect Love for Valentine’s Day. 

HALF PRICE SPECIAL! $35

CHECKERS -

A friendly gal about 1 y ear old and weighing 9.1 lbs. 

Has a beautiful coat and has been spayed. $20!

Rescued Dog Deserves a Loving Forever Home

From The Aiken Standard

Submitted Article

It began with children from the neighborhood. They saw the large, golden dog tied to the front of an empty dwelling with nothing but a nylon ski rope. They saw that the rope was eating further and further into the flesh of his neck each time he lunged against his tether.

Thank God those kids told their parents, and the parents called the sheriff. The sheriff notified Animal Control. It was after hours when Officer Ford went to the scene.

By that time, a collar had been conveniently inserted between the dog's neck and the nylon rope, but this ruse could not conceal the lacerations.
"The dog was almost decapitating itself," said Officer Ford.

But what Ford found most notable was that, despite the abuse, this handsome dog was, "Very loving, with no sign of aggression."

Ford took the dog and called the county vet tech, Sandy Larsen, to let her know he was bringing in a seriously wounded animal. Larsen came immediately to the shelter and called the county vet. Following his instructions, she not only attended to the injured animal, but seeing how special the dog was, she immediately tested him for heartworms.

"If he was heartworm negative," she said, "I was determined to save this dog.

They named him Roper.

Roper's original owner was cited for animal cruelty and custody of Roper was awarded to the county.

Roper is now completely healed and sports a beautiful wide red collar of which he is quite proud. The volunteers all love him. He's very much the dog that he appeared to be on that fateful night: alert, intelligent and loving. He deserves a safe, devoted, forever home. We have high hopes for his adoption. Roper's already a celebrity and has been on TV.

The lessons we can take from Roper's story are many. It's unfortunate that we must begin with the fact that it is unlawful to tie a dog in any way that it can harm itself, or leave the animal without food, water or shelter.

We obviously hope that no dog has to be tied at all, preferring a good fence, but failing that, there are humane ways to ask a vigilant dog to safeguard our property. We could think of ourselves as their guardians, and demonstrate that we appreciate the jobs these loyal creatures do on our behalf by the way we treat them in return.

As a community we can learn from the initiative of the children who first reported Roper's condition. If you see an animal suffering from cruelty or neglect, call. Roper's life depended on it and, sadly, so will the lives of others.

The County Shelter's Dispatch number is 642-1537. You can also use that number if you are interested in adopting Roper. The Sheriff's number for non-emergency calls is 648-6811. For emergencies the number is always 911.

It is upon all of us to defend those who cannot defend themselves. Let's not let them down.

FOTAS volunteers work with the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 411 Wire Road. For more information, email info@fotasaiken.org or www.fotasaiken.org.