Amazing Gracie Makes the Case for a Second Chance

by Joya Jiménez DiStefano

Gracie was supposed to die.  Her family wanted her euthanized at the County Shelter for “nipping at the children.”

The Chief Enforcement Officer passed Gracie’s kennel and she cowered and growled.  He said that Gracie should not go on the adoption floor.  The senior vet tech looked at the black-and-white Spitz with a touch of brown and a lot of class, and she thought what a shame it was to destroy such a lovely animal.

The noise and smells in the overcrowded county shelter overwhelmed Gracie.  Seeing her fear, the vet tech showed Gracie the power of confident kindness, perhaps the first Gracie had ever known.  Five days later, Gracie responded by allowing her heartworm test without a fuss.

Gracie went on the adoption floor.  The volunteers continued to work to earn her trust and build her confidence.  A FOTAS’ transfer partner agreed to pull Gracie and work with her shyness, necessitating a short-term foster placement until she was transported.  Priscilla agreed to take Gracie.

The day Gracie left the shelter, she hopped in Priscilla’s car, sat on the passenger seat, and looked forward, bright-eyed, with a grin of anticipation on her lovely face.

When they arrived at the house, Gracie was respectfully considerate of Priscilla’s two little dogs.  They walked out in the fenced pool yard where Gracie promptly jumped into the pool. And Priscilla immediately pulled her out.

“I think she wanted to be rid of the shelter smell,” Priscilla said, “because she never jumped in again.”

In the eleven days that Gracie lived with Priscilla and her two dogs, Gracie never growled or even raised her lip.  She needed meds for kennel cough and let Priscilla give her pills and squeeze cough medicine down her throat.  Gracie sat when asked and came when called. She was good on a leash and not aggressive with cats.  She liked being brushed.  At night, Priscilla’s two little dogs slept beside her on the bed, and Gracie curled up happily beside them, on her own bed on the floor.

Priscilla wrote a letter, recounting their experience together, to send with Gracie to her new forever home.  It ended, “Please be good to her; she is such a good dog.”

And to God, Priscilla sent a simple prayer, “Please, God, make sure she gets a good home with lots of love and care.”  More likely than not, Gracie will.

 What is the lesson for us here?  One, we can work miracles together with dedication, insight, compassion, and common sense.  Two, even dogs aren’t always what they seem at first look.  Three, the programs emerging among shelter staff, volunteers and foster care can do great things; that is, if there are enough of us.  So far, there aren’t. 

Finally, even with all of the above, if we don’t get the unwanted population under control with spay/neuter, we will fail miserably.  Just look at the numbers for 2 Julys, think about all the Gracies, and then decide what you are going to do to help.  Please.

Joya is a retired organizational problem-solver and radical educator, Joya is an artist, Servant Leader, and co-founder of FOTAS, Inc.

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”

July                               2012 vs. 2013

Animal intake	427	642!
Return to Owner	19	21
Adopted	52	59
Transferred	41	53
Euthanized	324	496

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!”

BAMA – Boxer/hound mix.  9 mos./62 lbs. The volunteers love this guy, a sweetheart!  Only $70

BEESHA – 1 yr./7lbs. She is exotic, with lovely green-gold eyes, and affectionate!  Only $35

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

FOTAS Begins Year Four with an Annual Meeting and Celebration

On August 18^th, FOTAS celebrated its volunteers, accomplishments, and its vision for the future at our third annual meeting for members.  The meeting highlights are worth sharing for those who wonder what we have been up to.

The 2012 FOTAS Annual Meeting was billed as a “Potluck Snack Celebration,” and nearly forty stalwart members braved the midday heat on the grounds of the County Shelter.

Borrowed tailgate tents were pitched in front of Herby Brown, the 1979 Airstream converted to FOTAS’ signature Rescue Waggin’, and the podium was the ramp to C.A.T.S. (Cats at the Shelter), a lovely adoptable cat colony, another FOTAS contribution to the County Shelter.

Three tables covered with food, iced beverages in coolers below, entertained the attendees until the meeting was called to order. 

The FOTAS treasurer report was an appropriate launch to the meeting/celebration: FOTAS has no debt, and no real overhead as an all-volunteer organization.  This allows all of the money raised, after expenses, to directly benefit the county’s homeless animals.

In addition to Herby and C.A.T.S., here are some additional ways FOTAS has invested over $75,000 in the county Shelter to date:

·       Commercial Laundry Equipment

·       Large dog Play Yard

·       Stainless Steel Cage Banks for surgical recovery

·       Grooming tub and table

·       Platform Scale

·       Renovated the Autoclave for surgeries

·       Toys, treats, food, flea & tick treatments and shampoo

·       Kennel decks and Kuranda beds to get the dogs off the concrete

FOTAS has also raised enough money to fulfill its commitment to the County in the MOU for the new shelter construction: the county makes the funds for the building a priority and FOTAS pays for the Architectural and Engineering costs.

 FOTAS has over 1000 members and roughly 75 active volunteers with both lists still growing. Our volunteers realize FOTAS’ mission by:

·       Making shelter animals more adoptable with training, exercise and TLC;

·       Fostering mamas and puppies or kittens, babies without mamas, and special needs cases;

·       Organizing and staffing fundraisers like our benefit breakfasts, golf tournament, Hunter Pace, Giving Parties, and, of course the grand event: Woofstock Festival of Mutts and Music (to be augmented this year by better weather, a Mutt Strut and, we hope, another Motorcycle Ride-to-Woofstock on 11/10/12);

·       Staffing adoption events at Petsmart and local businesses;

·       Establishing and expanding our Spay Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) to target local communities; and,

·       Maintaining our database, website, social media, thank-you-note and canister program, and writing this column.

In short, FOTAS is volunteers and donors.

The meeting ended with the introduction of two new board members, Frank Townsend and Joanna Dunn Samson, our own banker and lawyer to help steward our growing pains. 

FOTAS’ mission is, in part, to help the Aiken County Animal Shelter be a healthy, happy place where no adoptable pet has to go to die. 

Last year 5,011 unwanted animals came into our shelter, FOTAS helped the county shelter save 1,652 or 33%.  Now that’s worth celebrating.

  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”

FY 11-12	City of Aiken	Aiken County
Imp. Dogs/Cats	656	5,011
Ret. to Owner	143	307
Trans /adopted	159	1,345
Euthanized	376	3,808

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week” are HALF PRICE*!

MAY – Lab mix, 42 lbs. A real doll and your new best friend for only $35!

KINDLE – Baby male Siamese mix.  He’s a rare beauty for only $35