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.

WRDW Channel 12 Offers a Weekly Opportunity to Shelter Pets

What a joy for Sandy Larsen, Senior Vet Tech at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, to arrive at work early on Monday morning, and hear on the answering machine, “I saw this dog on channel 12.  This is my number…. I got to have this dog.”

It starts her week off right. 

Sandy has been getting up at 4am every Monday morning for almost five years now so that she can give one more animal a chance to find a forever home. 

WRDW, Channel 12 has a segment called , “Take Me Home” featuring adoptable pets in need of good homes.  Our Aiken County Shelter pets star on Monday mornings at about 6:20 am.

You may see a cat, dog, puppy or kitten.  Sandy says that she tries to pick the animal that has been there the longest and that has the personality for this opportunity.  She has learned to avoid the hyperactive ones.

“Once I took this young black lab, and he got so excited when he saw Tim, the meteorologist, that he ripped the button off Tim’s jacket.”

Although there has been recurring turnover among the anchor women, Tim and Sandy have been doing this spot together since the beginning.  One time Tim did the whole weather segment with the kitten Sandy brought on his shoulder.

On Saturdays, Sandy and Denise, one of FOTAS’ volunteer coordinators, have a game they play in anticipation of Monday’s potential “star.”

“Who are you going to take this week?” asks Denise.

Sandy picks a candidate.  More often than not, that animal will be adopted before the shelter closes on Saturday, and Sandy must choose again.  It is her turn to spend time one-on-one with an animal.

“It may sound crazy,” she says, “But you’d be amazed at how much I can learn about a pet in the time it takes me to get them out of the kennel, walk them to do their business, ride to the station, and then wait to go on.”

She learns if they are housebroken, how they do on a leash, how they ride in a vehicle, and how they deal with strangers and new situations.  She appears with them like a proud coach.

The whole process pulls at Sandy’s heart.  She wonders if they think they are going home when they get in the truck.  She recalls  a dog called Amanda, “She sat close, put her paw on my lap, and just looked out the window the whole way.”

Sandy swears that when these animals go on TV it is like they know it is their time to show what a wonderful pet they can be. But you don’t have to take her word for it.

Go to WRDW.com, go to “Community” and then click the drop down “Take Me Home.”  You may still see Uggy offering his belly in the lower right corner of the screen. 

Sandy and the shelter staff love to hear, “I saw this dog on Monday morning; do you still have it?” Check it out. 

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”

September 3^rd thru 9^th   

Received: 57 dogs and 30 cats

Adopted: 7 dogs and 3 cats

Put down: 31 dogs and 36 cats

Aiken County Animal Shelter     “Pets of the Week!”                            

So much LOVE for so little $$!

ANNABELLE-Yellow lab mix. 4 yrs. This dog is a doll on and off leash. $70 includes the love!

 

 

ORLANDO  –  1yr.  This elegant gentleman will be a soothing companion.  $35, purr-FREE!

 

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

NJROTC Unit were the Stars of the FOTAS Benefit Breakfast at FATZ

Last Saturday, FOTAS held its fourth annual benefit breakfast, an occasion marked by many firsts.  It was our first-time event with FATZ Café, having outgrown our original partner, Applebee’s. 

We had adoptable animals from our county shelter on site for the first time, thanks to Herbie Brown, our Rescue Waggin.  A cat and two kittens found new homes.  With great community support, we sold more merchandise, and raised more money than any previous benefit breakfast.

And most significantly, we were honored to work side by side with the NJROTC Unit (Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) from Aiken High.

If you Google “NJROTC,” here’s a bit of what their website will tell you about the program:

The NJROTC accredited curriculum emphasizes citizenship and leadership development, as well as our maritime heritage… seamanship, navigation and meteorology.  Classroom instruction is augmented throughout the year by … community service, academic, athletic, drill and orienteering competitions…, marksmanship sports training, and physical fitness training.

What does the NJROTC program do?

• Promotes Patriotism
• Develops informed and responsible citizens
• Develops respect for constructed authority
• Develops leadership potential
• Promotes high school completion
• Promotes higher education
• Promotes community service
• Develops a high degree of personal honor, self-reliance, individual discipline and leadership…

The service and work ethic s developed in the NJROTC program’s participants were in evidence at the FOTAS breakfast.

Commander Negron is understandably proud of the performance of his young people, and he clearly enjoys his role in their development as the unit’s commander at Aiken High.  He has led both rifle teams and academic teams to win state championships, but last Saturday they were Aiken County Animal Shelter champions.

In selecting rising senior Bobby Arthurs as the unit’s executive officer for 2012-13, Commander Negron said, "This year, he was my go-to guy for all big community service activities, as well being a platoon commander."  No surprise to find young Arthurs leading the unit serving the FOTAS breakfast.

Bobby started his freshman year looking for a way out of gym class, which participation in the NJROTC program affords.  Now he has his eyes on the Marines and the Citadel.

Valery, a rising sophomore, was recruited in the 8^th grade by a couple of High School cadets.  She likes the teamwork, skill building and the way the program gets them involved in serving their community.  She loved fund-raising for the shelter.

Here’s the thing - next year, when we settle in at our brand new, fine and final Aiken County Animal Shelter on its rolling wooded lot, FOTAS  sees an opportunity to do much more than rescue lots and lots of homeless pets. 

We are building a public place that beckons, a place that can deepen the character and enhance the quality of the Aiken County communities it exists to serve.  Animals do make us human.  Humble, practical and creative, our new public shelter will inspire the best in us, much like those magnificent young people with the NJROTC at Aiken High.

  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”

June 11^th thru 17^th

Received:   84 dogs & 19 cats

Adopted:     4 dogs & 13 cats

Euthanized:  33 dogs & 19 cats

 Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week” 

XENA and WEBSTER - darling, inseparable, loving, year-old siblings.  These two are truly better than one!   Half-price at $35 each  

WEBSTER

XENA

 

COCONUT  - Cuddly male kitten who will purr for you.  Yours for 

only $35! 

 

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

 

 

So Many Ways to Serve an Extraordinary Community

Last Saturday, a FOTAS contingent of volunteers and seven adoptable dogs waited at the intersection of Sumter and Park while the entire Memorial Day Parade passed by.  It was the official debut of Herbie Brown, our Rescue Waggin’, and we waited to fall in line and bring up the rear of the parade.

FOTAS was honored to be invited to follow such a venerable procession and remember the soldiers’ sacrifices in protecting our communities.

The silver pickup that pulled Herbie Brown was loaned by Justine for the occasion.  The four dog (and one cat) tunes blasting from the truck’s CD player were assembled by Meg and Scott.  “Who Let the Dogs Out..UNH!” 

Two youths, Alexander and Tavian, volunteered to be the FOTAS mascots.  “You ain’t nuttin’ but a hound dog…”  It was too hot for them to wear the paper maché heads, so the boys sported the mascot shirts and held signs advertising “FOTAS’ Breakfast at FATZ for the County Shelter Cats (and Dogs),”  while the mascot heads bobbled on the ends of the cooler handles.  “…You can show me how to walk the dog…”  And the music played on. 

It was hot that afternoon, so the marching dogs (with volunteer) had to be cycled in and out of the air-conditioned cab, and on and off the back of the truck, or carried in arms.  The effort paid off: Meco, Tator-Tot and Wiggles were adopted. 

We still have some kinks to work out in Herbie Brown’s air conditioning, but it will be up and running by June 16^th.  He will be the “Kitty Caboose” at the FOTAS Breakfast at FATZ Café with a load of adoptable kittens and cats.

This is the fourth year that FOTAS will hold a benefit breakfast.  It is the first year at FATZCafé.  We are forever grateful to Applebee’s for their support in the past, but the growing community interest in the annual event demands a bigger venue.  We hope you will come out. 

Tickets are selling fast.  Pick them up at Bone-i-Fide Bakery, Aiken Saddlery, or email us at info@fotasaiken.org and we will see that you get what you need.  We also have no-show donation “bookmarks,” if you want to support the cause, but can’t make the date.  There will be a drawing from the numbers sold for a fun prize.  The winning ticket number will be announced on our website on the 16^th.

What better way to honor our soldiers’ service than to build communities in which we take pride?  FOTAS believes that how we care for our animals is one reflection of those communities.

The county shelter is currently overrun with unwanted litters, with and without their mothers.  The adoption section has been expanded, but there has been a sudden blow to the custodial capabilities with maternity leave and turnover. 

We are recruiting volunteers to help clean the adoption pens between 8 and 10 am.  If you can help in this time of need, please call the shelter: 642-1537.  Your shelter needs you!

  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”

Fairway Horse Transport has transferred over 1,300 Aiken County dogs in 4 years, for free.

The Aiken County Animal Shelter euthanasia rate was 86% in April!

CONGO Adorable and friendly Half Price only $35

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week”  Half-Price Special goes until July 7^th!

 

 

AVIS one of many cats and kittens. Every size age and color. Litters are coming in faster than we can handle!