If Christmas is a time for giving peace and love special
attention, then it is Christmas all year at the home of Fran and Don Bush.
Many may already know Fran from Booklovers Bookstore, located in
Country Square at the corner of Huntsman and Hitchcock Parkway. Others may know Don because he repaired
something that seemed irreparable, like he did for FOTAS after the wind blew
our tailgate tent to smithereens at the Woofstock Festival.
Fran has a donation box on her checkout counter at the store and
lately, instead of her usual fundraising for the Aiken County Shelter, she is
raising money for a family of fostered cats left to starve in a vacated rental. Only two happy healthy youngsters remain to
be adopted, “Socks” and “Half-and-Half.” Neutered and spayed, respectively,
they’ve had all their shots. You can’t
find a better cat than one that had its start at the Bush home.
There, at the Booklovers’ collection box, the conversation started
about the 4-unit condominium that Don built for the dogs and cats currently in
residence at their homestead.
The
Bushes have four dogs, all rescued. Don
built the condo for thirteen-year-old Betsy, with two dog apartments on the
first floor, and two
cat condos on the second floor.
There is a thermostat for the radiator between the dog apartments and the
space is lit beyond the clear entrance flap so the dogs can see if they are
going to have a roommate before entering.
Jingles, a handsome yellow shepherd who now has his own cat, was
one of four pups who were almost road kill.
Fran turned them in to the county, then went back and adopted Jingles. His siblings went north on FOTAS’ first
transfer.
Fran found “My Lady,” a chow-collie mix, at the county
shelter. My Lady was a starving stray
rescued with one remaining pup. Fran looked
to fill a recent vacancy and My Lady chose her.
A week later, she returned for My Lady’s pup, Tippy.
The open space around their home offers sanctuary for cats living
among dogs and birds living among cats; the bird feeders high on PVC poles, and
the cat shelter/feeders fenced off from the dogs.
The screened porch off the back has heat lamps for the cat sofa
that was once a swing, and additional shelters for security and feline
reflection.
Don can watch the cats cavort from his computer desk and act as
doorman for entries and exits. A 5-foot cat
pole he designed is in the center of the living room surrounded by boxes cats
adopted, a sofa to leap onto, and a couple of soft chairs which humans can employ
to create a useful lap.
Cats in desperate need have a way of finding Fran and Don. They come deathly sick, starved, found huddled
in wheel wells, left to die in empty houses, and find sanctuary. Like all rescued pets, they know a loving
home is a blessing.
Our county pets are half-price until New Year’s Eve! Merry Christmas!
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. 12th thru 18th
Dogs taken in: 46
Cats taken in: 23
Dogs adopted: 11
Cats adopted: 3
Dogs euthanized: 45
Cats euthanized: 28
Aiken County Shelter “Pets of the Week”
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ELMO
Young adult male who would love
a forever home for the New Year.
One week only ½ PRICE!
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MR CLAUS
Mr. Claus can bless your home before the New Year for only $35
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