The Joy of Adopting a Shelter Pet

The Joy of Adopting a Shelter Pet

by Joanna Samson, FOTAS Board of Directors

as seen in the "Aiken Standard" 12/8/13

My husband David swears that shelter dogs are grateful.  He says they know they have been saved and that you saved them, and that their love and devotion are expressions of that gratitude.  

Now I can’t say for sure that our Maggie dog’s love is an expression of gratitude rather than a reciprocal response to our love and care, or that the depth of our terrier mutt Jack’s devotion to us is somehow greater than, say, a pedigreed poodle’s devotion to its owner.

But I can say this: for most of us, the choice of that special companion from a shelter is not deliberate or particularly rational.  We visit the county shelter, and somehow, despite the pain in our hearts we feel for all of those animals with an uncertain future, we are drawn to a particular animal by some primordial feeling emanating from that mysterious, magical place in our soul where the spirit kindles love.

Stormee and Chase Cato and their daughter, Kayson knew what kind of dog they wanted after their beloved Deuce, a pit bull, passed away: another big dog or maybe a Brittany Spaniel.  Nevertheless, they decided to visit the Aiken County shelter before purchasing a new puppy, more out of a sense of civic responsibility than a conviction they might find a suitable dog.

When the Cato’s pulled up to the shelter, they saw a beautiful brown spaniel cross named Woody romping with other dogs in the fenced yard, and they just knew, somehow, he was special.  Was it his soft eyes, his joyful frolicking or the gentle way he played with Kayson in the yard?  The Catos can’t say for sure, but they knew their search was over; Woody was the one.

Lynn and Woody Malone have a similar story.  They weren’t certain they were ready for another dog so soon after the death of their long time canine companion.  But their friend Edie Hubler and long-time FOTAS shelter volunteer Sandra Procter just had this feeling that a sweet, black lab mix at the shelter named Lewis would be a perfect fit for the Malone’s.

And he was – they were instantly smitten.  Was it Lewis’ soulful, big brown eyes? The playful, sometimes silly personality?  Who knows?  The Malone’s took Lewis home, renamed him Charlie, and made him a member of their family.

One might be tempted to attribute the spontaneous attraction of the Cato’s to Woody or the Malone’s to Charlie to something more mundane, like opportunity or pity, but I do not.  Fact is, there were lots of other dogs at the shelter on those days worthy of their selection.

I believe it was destiny.  The Cato’s brought Woody home the very day Chase’s father died, and Woody has been instrumental in helping the Cato’s, and particularly Kayson, cope with that painful loss.

As for the Malone’s?  Well, Charlie has filled the void left by the death of their dog with joy.  He’s claimed the sofa and the chair, steals tomatoes off the table, pesters the cat and runs around the yard with a ten gallon plastic flower pot in his mouth.

Your destiny may be waiting for you right now at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.  Maybe it’s an adorable puppy, a goofy dog or a regal cat.  Please consider adopting your new pet at the Aiken County Animal Shelter – it’s a choice you won’t regret.

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”

Nov.  23 - Nov. 30, 2013

 

11 dogs and 2 cats adopted

Year to Date:  

668 terrific pets adopted

 

THANK YOU AIKEN COUNTY COMMUNITY!

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!”

DIAMOND -- pitt bull terrier mix, female, 1 yr old, 32 lbs

DONALD -- Domestic Short Hare, male  -- 5 mos. old, 4.8 lbs.   Only $35

Transforming Lives through Kindness

Transforming Lives through Kindness

by Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Board of Directors

as seen in the "Aiken Standard" on November 17, 2013

They became FOTAS foster families for different reasons.  

Carolyn McCarthy wanted to find a way to ward off the inevitable holiday blues caused by her mother’s death.  Sylvia Igoe wanted to celebrate the memory of the family’s special dog, Apple.  Dineen Daniels wanted to express her life-long passion for animals and honor her own upbringing to value the importance of all life.

They each had slightly different expectations for the foster experience.  

Ms. McCarthy wanted to teach Liam and Reece the importance of giving back, of helping out in the community.  Ms. Igoe wanted Isabelle and Sean to experience first hand significant life lessons like overcoming adversity and the power of forgiveness.  Ms. Daniels wanted to reinforce the qualities of kindness and compassion in Baily, Parker and Josh.

By all measures, the fostering experience has been a success for all three of these families.

Liam and Reece request supplies for the Aiken County Animal Shelter in lieu of birthday gifts.  

Bailey and Parker take their jobs of feeding and caring for the puppies seriously, often getting up at night to help their mom bottle-feed.  Josh helps his mom administer medicine. He plans on being a veterinarian when he grows up.

Isabelle and Sean help their mom with all aspects of caring for the momma dog and their puppies: feeding, filling water bowls, cleaning the crates, playing and socializing with the puppies and giving extra special love and attention to the momma dogs.  They know how important their efforts are in helping these puppies find a forever home.

Life lessons learned?  You bet.  Parker loves to watch the puppies being born.  “It’s so cool that each puppy comes into the world in its own little sack.”

Isabelle and Sean have learned that even though these dogs have had challenges and hardship, they never give up.  With a little help, they can forgive and learn to love again.

Liam and Reece have learned to let go gracefully when the time comes for the puppies to leave.  “We know they are going to a safe place and a nice home,” says Liam.  

“It’s hard,” says Reece, but he thinks about the next dog he will foster and help find a new home.

Foster families like these are a critical component of FOTAS and the County’s efforts to find every adoptable animal a permanent home.  Every dog or puppy transferred to a foster home frees up space on the adoption floor of the County’s grossly overcrowded shelter for another adoptable animal.  That’s a big deal.

Carolyn McCarthy says, “The change that occurs in a dog when it is shown a little kindness is amazing.  It can take weeks, days or sometimes even hours, but every dog is different by the time they leave us.”

So, too, is the family who fostered that dog – it is transformed by the kindness it shows.

FOTAS desperately needs more foster families.  Call us at 803-514-4313 for more information.  You’ll be glad you did.

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”

Nov. 4 - Nov. 9, 2013

10 dogs and 2 cats adopted

Year to Date:  

629 terrific pets adopted

THANK YOU AIKEN COUNTY COMMUNITY!

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!”

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

BABE,  shepherd mix.  Female, 2 years old, 31 lbs        Only $35 -- adoption special.

BENJAMIN ----    Domestic short hair, Male.  4 months old   3.4 lbs      Only $35.

Fall in Love at Steeplechase

by Joanna Dunn Samson, FOTAS Board of Directors

Reprint from the October 20, 2013 "Aiken Standard"

On Saturday, the 22^nd Fall Steeplechase will be run at Ford Conger Field.  If I had to choose an event that is “quintessential” Aiken, I might just pick the Aiken Steeplechase Races, which combine the traditional Aiken love of all things equine coupled with robust community participation.  Once again, FOTAS is delighted to be one of the non-profit organizations selected to participate in the festivities.  

The FOTAS booth located in the Playful Playground behind the merchants tents promises to be a happening place.  The kids can race stick horses and try their hand at the beanbag toss while you chat with the FOTAS volunteers dedicated to making the world a better place for the County’s homeless animals.  Get to know one of the rescue dogs spending a glorious day out with an enthusiastic Serteen volunteer.  Play with 5 month-old Heather, a shepherd cross, or toss a ball with 7 year-old Lucy, a beagle mix, or 6 year-old Sophie, a doxie cross, or even 5 year-old Alva, a little brindle terrier.  Pay a little attention to Heather, Rosco, Priscilla or Cody – they will melt with joy.  This could be your day to adopt the next love of your life.

What makes adopting a pet such a thoroughly satisfying experience?  The answer is obvious from the pet’s point of view:  they are saved from a life of neglect with an uncertain outcome.  But what about us?  What do we get from the experience other than the good feeling that naturally flows from performing a kind act?  As a repeat adopter who currently lives with two rescue dogs from Aiken County, I can speak to that.

My husband and I adopted our first dog, a white husky mix named Ricky, the month we moved in together 20 some odd years ago.  We knew the decision to take Ricky home would change our then footloose and fancy-free life, but we had no idea how profound those changes would be. 

We bickered over training efforts and sleeping arrangements (Ricky won on both accounts).  We created a routine for Ricky that grounded us in our new home.  We packed him in the car and ventured out on long hikes in new places.  When he was sick, we developed ingenious tactics to trick him into taking his medicine.  In time, our love for Ricky transformed us into a family.

Then came Maggie Mae, then Mack, Miss Maggie and Jack – all of whom have shaped our lives in miraculous ways.  My tough, take-no-prisoners husband meticulously dices chicken and scrambles eggs for their special Sunday breakfast.  Jack and Maggie follow him around like a wake – moving behind him in perfect formation.  He naps with Jack curled up in his arm.  We gave those dogs a safe place, and in return, we made a safe place for ourselves.

So if you are going to Steeplechase this weekend, stop by and see us.  It might just be your day to fall in love.

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”

Oct. 7 - Oct. 12, 2013

7 dogs and 6 cats adopted

Year to Date:  

589 terrific pets adopted

THANK YOU AIKEN COUNTY COMMUNITY!

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!”

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

SI ----    Male Lab.  10 months old ,  45 lbs!  Only $70

LITTLE BIT ----    Male Calico.  10 years old ,  10 lbs !  Only $35

Buddy is One Lucky Mutt

Buddy was the kind of dog that gets passed up at any shelter.  A medium-sized hound-pitt-who-knows-what mix, Buddy was high energy and untrained on a leash.  The volunteers tend to wait and hope someone else takes these cases out.

Buddy’s break came because he was “housebroken.”  Sandra stood outside his clean cage and looked at Buddy who looked back at her as if to say, “I’m good; I’m really trying; just give me a chance.”  She leashed him up.  Buddy dragged her out to a spot where he balanced on three legs and peed and peed and peed.  Sandra felt sorry for him.

The next time Sandra tells Buddy, “This time we are going to the play yard first.”  She watched Buddy run three fast laps, go to the gate, and look at her.  She leashed Buddy up and they go for a walk.  This became their routine: Buddy waits for the leash, goes out and relieves himself, three laps in the play yard, and a walk up the trail. Buddy became Sandra’s project.

BUDDY

A month goes by and Buddy is still at the shelter.  They neuter him and give him another 30 days.  Sandra has grown fond of Buddy and urges the Shelter staff to take him on TV.  Monday, May 6^th, Buddy goes on TV.  No one calls.

Meanwhile, across the river, a man called James lost three dogs with the end of a relationship. His co-worker knows James is rattling around in an empty house and altered life.  She sees Buddy on TV.  She tells James.  She shows James the TV clip.  She reminds James. James is still thinking about it.  She takes James to the Aiken County Shelter that following Saturday.

Sandra was there when the party arrived and asked for Buddy.  She was breathless with her urgency.

Sandra says it was love at first sight between the man and the dog.   James describes a more considered interaction in the play yard.  His co-worker offered that she’d brought a sheet for the back seat, should James decide to take Buddy home.

James stroked Buddy’s head, ruffled his neck and said, “You’re not staying here any longer, Bud; I’m taking you home.”  Tears welled in Sandra’s eyes.  She knew that Buddy didn’t have much longer. 

Sandra had grown attached to Buddy and gave her contact information to James, suggesting he might call, or send a picture for the bulletin board.

As weeks went by, Sandra was at least relieved that Buddy was not returned.  Then she got the call.  On Saturday, July 6, James and Buddy came for a visit.  They arrived before the shelter opened.

Buddy gets groomed; Buddy goes to dog parks and plays well with other dogs.  Buddy has a whole house to share with James, who keeps saying, “This dog is a blessing in my life.” He means it.

Sandra looked down at Buddy looking up at James. “The dog was actually smiling,” she says, “He got the perfect home.”

Find your blessing at the shelter.

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 1^st thru 7^th, 2013

Brought in:  88 dogs and 40 cats!!

Adopted:  11 dogs and 2 cats 

Put down:    48 dogs and 40 cats!

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!” 

 

 

 

GEORGETTE – Adult calico.  Affectionate and unique.  She is a purr-fect pet!  Only $35

 

KYRA – 9 mos. 33 lbs.  Shepherd/hound mix.  Playful and bright as a new penny. Only $70

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

FOTAS Partners with SPCA to Make Possibility Reality for County Shelter

All that exceeds FOTAS’ accomplishments are our possibilities!  Here are a number of recent reasons for our optimism.

Yesterday, FOTAS held its second Woofstock Festival of Mutts and Music.  With the weather forecast, sponsor/vendor/exhibitor support, and community interest as predictors of success, it must have been spectacular.  All of the proceeds from the event will be invested in our new shelter.

Last month, accompanied by some very special adoptable dogs, FOTAS engaged the community on the needs of our County Shelter at St. Mary’s Chocolate Festival and Fall Steeplechase.  More than 5,000 unwanted, mostly adoptable, dogs and cats a year are still coming into a grossly inadequate facility.

Since January FOTAS has transferred 431 dogs to no-kill shelters up north. They move through an unbroken chain of relationships from our inadequate shelter to volunteer foster homes, to transfer partners, to the love of responsible, well-vetted homes. 

Combined with our county adoptions, we are saving twelve- to fifteen hundred pets a year, and still seven out of ten animals coming into the county shelter die there. 

Naturally, we cannot build, adopt or transfer our way out of this heart-breaking reality.  The real solution to the horrific euthanasia rate of impounded animals is to address the problem at its source: the elimination of unwanted litters of puppies and kittens through spay/neuter and responsible pet ownership.

Beginning last spring, through an opportunity offered by Pawmetto Lifeline in Columbia, FOTAS volunteers moved deliberately and actively into facilitating low-cost, targeted spay/neuter services through the new Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP). 

Wagener area citizen’s response to the program was huge and saw that more than 80 cats and dogs were fixed before funds were exhausted in Columbia.  That is when Aiken SPCA stepped up to the plate and became the critical partner for FOTAS SNAP in Wagener, picking up the surgeries for an additional 50 to 60 animals.

FOTAS and Wagener owe a huge debt of gratitude to Gary Willoughby, the SPCA’s executive director, who dedicated private funds received to continuing two spay/neuter transports of up to 20 animals each to their clinic this month.

As FOTAS continues to expand SNAP, piloted so successfully in Wagener, to other county trouble-spots, the SPCA will be ramping up their surgical capacity in the new Albrecht Center.  The partnership emerging between the two organizations has the potential to move our county ever closer to never having to euthanize an adoptable pet!

There are so many ways you can help us achieve this goal.  One way is to make a donation to our Capital Campaign for the new county shelter.  Another is to write a check to FOTAS-SNAP and help fund targeted spay/neuter with the SPCA.

Or, now that the cold weather is upon us, the county shelter badly needs warm blankets for its current residents who are relegated to the overflow pens. 

Donate: dollars, food, or blankets.  Volunteer.  Foster.  Adopt a shelter pet.  Help make the possibilities realities.  We need you; in fact, can’t do it without 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”

October 29^th thru November 4^th     

Received: 50 dogs and 44 cats!

Adopted: 10 dogs and 2 cats

Euthanized: 27 dogs and 34 cats

 Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!” So much LOVE for so little!

 

Jazmine - Boxer/Mix: Walks well on leash. OK with cats.

 Only $35 

 

LOONEY – 3 yrs 13lbs  Siamese mix female. Gorgeous! Prefers to be only, or top-kitty.  Yours for only $35.                              

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

Social Media Wave Assists the New County Shelter

FOTAS is on the Social Media bandwagon using facebook, twitter, YouTube, BLOGS and the FOTAS website. These tools are used for better communication. Events like the MuttStrut Walk for the Animals at Woofstock on Nov 10th, PetSmart Adoption Days, or the need for dog and cat food or stuffed animals for our shelter pups; all are online.

Our website continues to evolve and is now connected to other Social Media tools.

With your online participation, we could be so much more effective in reaching our audience: all residents and businesses from the entire Aiken County Community. We want to tell you all about current programs, needs, the new County Shelter and the services it will provide.

Social media has a great impact here. It can be fun and easy to spread the word to the entire County.

With 880+ facebook followers, FOTAS can reach upwards of 10,000 people viewing our posts in any given week. Our posts are shared and our message spreads!

How amazing that we can “speak” to you and to people you know and then to their friends and friends of their friends, all from one message posted on our FOTAS facebook page, our website or a Twitter “tweet”. It’s like the Telephone Game without the distortion of the message!

Like Us on facebook to receive FOTAS updates along with friends updates. Follow us on Twitter. Visit our website for more information and direct access to these sites.

Share our latest message! When we post something of interest, like our Capital Campaign, a cute kitten or great dog, share it on your facebook page or with individual friends who may share your interest in animals or just tweet it out. Think of the possibilities and all the people we could reach! If they want to help they can, if not, no harm, no foul. No phone calls or personal pleas for help involved. People can choose to read our message or not. No annoying spam like emails need be sent out through this process.

One of our dogs was adopted by a family in Louisiana due to a shared post! All Events and adoptable animals’ photos are on our website, facebook and Petfinder thanks to Annette, Susan and Elizabeth.

These powerful tools have led to pet adoptions, assistance from and partnerships with other organizations, brought in donations for specific needs and even helped find lost pets. Feel free to tweet messages from @FotasAiken and reach even more people!

Our website has a moving YouTube video tour of our current shelter, as well as fun videos from past events like last years Fall Steeplechase!

Please use these powerful tools to help FOTAS reach the entire Community that the Aiken County Animals Shelter serves.

With your help, we can reach those with the interest and resources to help us attain our biggest goal yet: to build and outfit a new Aiken County Animal Shelter by the end of 2013! Let’s help the abandoned animals of OUR County.

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”

October 8th thru 15^th   

Received: 96 dogs! and 38 cats!

Adopted: 14 dogs and 3 cats!

Euthanized: 32 dogs and 33 cats

Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week!” So much LOVE for so little! 

 

BESS-1+ yr Choc. Lab mix Sweet gal Looking to love you! A special price of only $35!

 

CHANCE-3 yr Loyal Australian Cattle -Blue Healer cross. A bargain at Only $35!