Aiken County Animal Services Offers a “No More Homeless Pets” Program

A family moves into a mobile home out in a rural area of the county.  They have a couple of dogs, one indoors and one outdoors.  They tie the outdoor dog up in the yard.  A neighbor dog comes over and impregnates the tethered female.

The mewing sounds come from cardboard boxes, empty buildings and dumpsters.  The county shelter gets overrun with unwanted puppies and kittens.  There are not enough foster homes.  The puppies get sick.  The kittens get sick.  Many caring hearts are broken when the tiny creatures die.

In Aiken County you have no obligation to spay or neuter your pets, so if members of our community allow their animals to breed, and the pregnant animals or their offspring end up at the county shelter, we all pick up the cost.

Currently there are many stakeholders in breaking this tragic, wasteful, irresponsible, immoral cycle.  There are low-and no-cost spay/neuter services like the SPCA Albrecht Center in Aiken and North Augusta’s CSRA Life Saver.  There is the FOTAS SNAP Program currently serving the Wagener area and the Valley, and there is the Aiken County “No More Homeless Pets” Spay and Neuter Program serving qualifying citizens throughout Aiken County.

How does the County Spay/Neuter Program work?  An individual fills out an application providing basic information: name, address, animal data, ownership, liability waivers and household income.  Once qualified by Animal Services, the owner receives a voucher that will be honored by any veterinarian in Aiken County who performs spay/neuter surgeries.

Applications are normally available through any of the following:

·         Aiken County Animal Shelter,

·         Public Works, Department of Social Services

·         County Libraries

·         Animal Control Officers

Applications must be presented in person at the County Animal Shelter to receive the voucher.

There is a $15 co-pay which accompanies the redemption of the voucher with the SPCA Albrecht Center, but the procedure will include a rabies vaccine and micro-chipping.  In some instances even transportation can be arranged.

There really is no good reason to have an intact pet in our households.  There is no reason to allow a female dog or cat to go into heat first, or have “just one litter.”  Male or female, cat or dog, a pet is going to be a happier healthier member of the family, and of the community, if its body’s recurring and incessant demand to breed is gone.

 In the absence of legislated incentives to alter our house pets, it falls upon the entire community to help stem the tides of unwanted puppies and kittens.  If you know of a situation that would be aided by accessible, affordable spay/neuter services, please provide information to the appropriate parties about what opportunities exist and how to access them.

Here is some contact information:

Aiken County Animal Services: (803) 642-1537 or www.fotasaiken.org

SPCA Albrecht Center: (803) 648-6863 or www.spca-albrecht.org

CSRA Life Saver: (803) 215-0559 or (803) 221-8608 or www.csralifesaver.com

FOTAS believes that their lives are in our hands. And, if you are not part of the solution, you may be part of the problem. 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”

May 13^th thru 19^th, 2013

Brought in:  55 dogs and 41 cats

Adopted:  11 dogs and 6 cats 

Put down:    54 dogs and 56 cats!

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!” HALF PRICE thru June 8^th!

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PERCY – 5 yrs.  Silver gray with big green eyes.A real lover! 

 MOLLY – 2 yrs. A happy, happy gal! Yours for half-price, only $35! 

 

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

The Right Dog Can Save a Grieving Child’s Christmas

Chase’s mom, Tristan, had been in and out of the hospital pretty near all his young life.  Two liver transplants failed to save her and she passed away last June, a devastating loss for the seven-year-old.

Chase went to live with his mom’s big sister Adadra, her husband, their three young children, and his grandma.  Even the great-gran’s live behind their property in Williston.  

A photograph of the smiling child and his lovely young mother depicts the change in the boy since his mother’s passing. Duplicate pairs of hazel-blue eyes smile out of glowing faces framed by auburn hair and matching red tops.  When his mother died, the child withdrew into the darkness of his grief.

Chase always wanted a dog, and as his eighth birthday approached on November 30th, the family decided that it might be good for the boy to have one.  They had a big fenced yard, and a dog might help the child to find his way back to a smiling childhood.

They decided on a rescue and looked for shelters in the area.  

“Barnwell County’s shelter was closed,” Adadra said, “So that’s what brought us to Aiken.”

“There were lots and lots of really cute dogs, but they were really feisty.  I think Chase was a little overwhelmed.”

They were about to leave and continue on to other shelters when a volunteer dog-walker came up with a young red dog who seemed very calm.

“It was truly something amazing to see,” said Adadra, “It was as if the dog knew Chase and Chase knew the dog.  She walked up to him quietly and when Chase knelt to pet her, she gave him her paw.”

The boy lit up. “I want this one!” he said, “And I’m going to call her Charlee.”

Chase took Charlee for a walk up the trails.  She was perfect.  Even when coaxed to continue looking to be really sure, he insisted that Charlie was the one.

Chase and Charlee

“They picked each other,” Adadra said, “Charlee is so sweet and calm.  Even with our six-month-old baby she is gentle.  It’s like she knows…”

Chase and Charlee are inseparable.  They go for a jog in the morning around the yard, and Chase’s grandma made Charlee a bed and she sleeps right next to Chase every night.  Charlee even has her own stocking to hang for Santa.

“It’s practically full already,” Adadra laughs.

The tiny miracle that began in the tight confines of the Aiken County Shelter has convinced one Williston family that the unquestioning love and companionship of the right dog can be the best medicine there is.

“I’d recommend it to anyone,” Adadra says, and you know she is thinking about her young nephew and the way a rescued dog helped him laugh again.

Find love at the shelter.  If you don’t quite believe it, try fostering for Christmas. There is no better medicine than the love of the right dog.  Ask Chase, and Merry Christmas to all!

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”

Happy Stats for 2012   

FOTAS Transfer Program shipped 511 dogs to great homes up north this year!

FOTAS Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) and Lenny’s Brigade fixed over 160 cats and dogs in Wagener-Salley since 8/1!

 Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!”

MAGGIE - 16 weeks.  This Gal is a cuddler! 
                                   Take her home for Christmas for only $35                                   

KINDLE -  This youngster would love you to try him in your home for the holidays.  Only $35   

All adoptions ½ price for the rest of the year!  Foster for Christmas!

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