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.
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!
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