This week, in the midst of a season where we strive to remember
Peace, Joy, Generosity and Hope for a better tomorrow, FOTAS would like to
acknowledge and appreciate our Aiken County Council and one of its exemplary
public servants, Todd Glover.
Without Todd Glover there would be no FOTAS; without FOTAS there would be no
community-wide, concerted effort to address the dismal conditions at our county
shelter; and without the first class public-private partnership that has
emerged between Friends of the Animal Shelter, Inc. and Aiken County Government
the miracle of Tuesday night’s decision would never have happened, but it did.
Three years ago Todd Glover
saw the opportunity for a nonprofit organization to address the need for animal
advocacy in the County Animal Services Department. He also knew where those interested could find a model for
just such a venture. Three members
of the Aiken County Animal Control Advisory Committee (AC3) stepped up to the
challenge and FOTAS was born. Todd
Glover continued to work closely with FOTAS building a strong
bridge between the County and the community around animal
advocacy.
This month Todd is going to leave Aiken County Government for the position of City Manager of North Augusta, a
well-deserved career advancement, and one lucky town.
Last June, FOTAS and Aiken County entered into a formal Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) regarding the initial phase and funding for our new
shelter. FOTAS would provide $100k
for the architectural and engineering plans if the county would make $1m
available in 2012.
The last half of this year has been full of research, reports,
proposals, rebuttals, rejections, and a boatload of frustration for all of us
invested in the outcome. But a
wise man once said, “If it was easy, we’d already have done it.”
In any community venture there are always stakeholders, and rarely
are their interests totally compatible; “never” may be more accurate. The new Aiken County Animal Shelter building
program is certainly no exception.
Space does not allow us to acknowledge all of the people who
pulled off our latest miracle, especially in the last few weeks when it seemed
like we not only were going to lose Todd Glover, but that we had hit another
impasse with County Council and the additional funding we knew was imperative,
but a special nod should go out to Council Chairman, Ronnie Young, Councilwoman
Kathy Rawls, Councilman, Charles Barton who know their county, and to Ernie
Wolf form the AC3 and FOTAS who is never at a loss for a better idea.
On Tuesday night, the Aiken
county Council gave Todd Glover the perfect going-away gift as they unanimously
approved an additional $500,000 to be added to the million already committed
for a new county animal shelter.
The additional money puts Aiken County well
within reach of a shelter adequate to our needs and in which we
can all take pride.
Now, for an even Merrier Christmas, why not bring home one of our
very special half-price pets?
They’re waiting.
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”
For Dec. 5th thru 11th
Dogs taken in: 105
Cats taken in: 40
Dogs adopted: 17
Cats adopted: 8
Dogs euthanized: 66
Cats euthanized: 28
Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week”
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STING
3yrs. He is such a good boy and would love a forever home for
Christmas.
½ PRICE!
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ELF
Beautiful green-eyed boy offers a big fluffy
cuddle.
Half price thru the
holidays.
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