Animal Shelter group requests additional funds
A presentation by Aiken County’s Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS) detailed some “vital needs” at the shelter to County Council’s Development Committee.
FOTAS members gave a PowerPoint presentation to the committee Tuesday and to a standing-room-only audience that highlighted the shelter’s role in the community and what steps the nonprofit group thinks need to be made to improve conditions at the shelter, lessen the number of animals euthanized and help reduce the number of stray animals roaming the county.
FOTAS member Joya DiStefano said that in June 1990 – when the shelter was built – animal control officers were dispatched to 200 calls, and 100 animals ended up at the shelter. In June 2009, officers were dispatched to 588 calls, and 665 animals ended up at the shelter. The shelter has not significantly expanded over the course of that time period despite the increase in numbers.
DiStefano said it surprises her that a community like Aiken that is so friendly to horses and hounds doesn’t take much notice of the Aiken County Animal Shelter.
“I don’t think that’s who we are. It is amazing for us to be willing to tolerate the status quo at the shelter,” she said. “Nine out of 10 animals are euthanized.”
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Free spay, neuter program begins
Eight area veterinary offices have agreed to spay and neuter animals for free.
Applications are available now for Stomp Out Strays, a new initiative that seeks to drastically reduce the problem of animal overpopulation in Aiken County. Aiken County Animal Shelter and veterinary office staff believe the large amount of dogs and cats roaming the county as strays can be directly attributed to pet owners failing to sterilize their pets.
Unwanted litters can find their way to the County Shelter and may be euthanized if they are not adopted.
The shelter has a spay/neuter voucher program, but, because of its popularity, vouchers are being rationed to 25 a month in hopes the money allocated will last to the end of the fiscal year. Stomp Out Strays ensures that qualified households that did not get a voucher can still have their pet fixed at no cost.
Veterinarian Charlie Timmerman with Aiken Veterinarian Clinic said people have already picked up applications at the office.
“The stray population is getting out of control,” he said. “The Aiken SPCA, the County shelter and vets can’t solve it on their own. The public has to get involved. It’s going to take a group effort. We’ll give it a year and see if we can make a dent.”
Aiken County Animal Control Chief Enforcement Officer Bobby Arthurs said now residents have no more excuses.
The Aiken SPCA, which is also dedicated to minimizing the large population of unwanted animals, has volunteered to provide transportation to those who are not otherwise able to make a trip to the vet’s office.
“What the vets are doing is absolutely wonderful,” Arthurs said. “We are so grateful we have concerned people who are stepping up to help us.”
Households eligible for Stomp Out Strays must meet an annual income equal to or less than what is indicated on the application for the amount of people in the family. For instance, a household of three with a total yearly income equal to or less than $38,450 is qualified to have their pet fixed for free.
Arthurs still encourages residents to apply for vouchers at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.
Applications for vouchers and Stomp Out Strays are available at the shelter, 411 Wire Road, and at the eight participating veterinary offices.
Aiken Animal Hospital 648-4401
Ark Animal Hospital 648-4245
Aiken Veterinary Clinic 648-6886
Hammond Hills Animal Hospital 279-4090
Martintown Animal Hospital 278-1930
Palmetto Vet Calls 645-6556
Silver Bluff Animal Hospital 642-9053
Veterinary Services 648-5489
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Try out Animal Shelter website
Friends of the Aiken County Animal Shelter (FOTAS) now has its own website, and it’s up and running.
Feb. 14 was the official launch date for www.fotasaiken.org, which allows users to check on a number of things pertaining to the shelter, such as animal adoptions and fostering, volunteer opportunities, news and upcoming events.
As of Wednesday, the website’s hit counter was at nearly 1,200.
Lorrie Sullivan, who created the website, got involved when a FOTAS member contacted her about donating a number of leather dog leads, which Sullivan makes by hand.
“The shelter was one of those places I tried to avoid because it’s heartbreaking and I have a house full as it is,” she said. “I knew if I went there, I’d bring something home.”
But when Sullivan was at the shelter to drop off the leads, she realized a need.
“I decided I could do a website and clerical work from home. I am not a professional website designer, but I felt comfortable enough to say I could do it,” she said.
Users visiting the website can learn more about volunteer opportunities – either by walking and socializing animals kept at the shelter, performing clerical work and participating in community outreach events – post to the message board and check out what is coming up by viewing the events calendar. For instance, the shelter is offering a “Two Fur One” adoption special in which animal lovers can adopt two pets for the price of one – typically $70 – or adopt one animal for half price.
There is also a donation page on which users can enter in their credit card information and make a charitable donation to help further the FOTAS mission of improving the quality of life for shelter animals and reducing the euthanasia rate by promoting successful pet adoptions and helping to prevent unwanted and abused cats and dogs.
“The website is growing into something that’s exciting,” Sullivan said.
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Shop takes donations of food to make shelter animals’ Christmas merrier
Armfuls of packaged dog food left Herbal Solutions on Tuesday, bound for the Aiken County Animal Shelter.
Business owner Jeri Barrett donated her window display of Nature’s Logic all-natural dog food to the shelter to feed the canines housed there.
Aiken County Animal Control Officer Rick Davis loaded his truck with roughly 26 bags and a handful of canned dog food.
“Those animals out there need help. It’s like ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?’ They never know. That’s an everyday thing. I hope this gets people to think, ‘What can I do to help?’” Barrett said.
Barrett admits she has a special place in her heart for the shelter. Herbal Solutions’ shop dog, Petey, was adopted there.
On Saturday, volunteers will be at Herbal Solutions to collect donations from the public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Those wishing to donate can dip a bowl into a bag of dry pet food, if they already have it, and bring the food in a Ziploc bag to Herbal Solutions.
“If enough people do it, it will be a Christmas miracle for the animals,” Barrett said.
Animal Control Advisory Board member Bill Busser was on hand Tuesday to help with the heavy lifting.
“The shelter is limited on their funds,” he said. “Any little bit helps.”
Davis said, at any given time, there are 100 animals at the shelter to feed.
“We absolutely appreciate it. Programs like this are great,” he said.
Herbal Solutions is located at 722 Silver Bluff Road in the Centre South shopping center.
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Grant aids Aiken SPCA’s Spay and Neuter Fund.
The Aiken Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is the recipient of a challenge grant, which will help low-income households spay and neuter their pets if they have not been able to receive a voucher.
Linda Darden, a seasonal resident of Aiken who helped found Vermont’s North County Animal League, will match up to $5,000 of 2009-10 donor contributions to the Aiken SPCA Spay and Neuter Fund.
Board President Barbara Nelson wrote in an e-mail that the SPCA will use the funds generated by Darden’s challenge grant to assist those individuals who are not able to obtain a spay/neuter voucher from the Aiken County Animal Shelter.
Because of the program’s popularity, the County Shelter has begun rationing vouchers to 25 a month and one per household. Officials are afraid the money allocated will be depleted before the end of the fiscal year.
It has happened before. The $30,000 that Aiken County Council earmarked for the program last fiscal year ran out in nine months. Full Story…
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Washer, dryer to aid animal shelter.
Christmas came very early at the Aiken County Animal Shelter.
On Wednesday, a brand new industrial-size washer and dryer was donated by three families who pooled their money together. The equipment was delivered and installed this week. The new units are so much bigger than the previous ones that some cat cages had to moved to accommodate them.
The three families asked not to be identified, but one of them did comment on the donation.
“We did this because we heard the shelter was operating with a household washer and dryer. There was no way they can keep up with it all,” she said. “It is not the responsible thing to stand back and say something should be done. This made us feel good.”
Not only are the units new, but they are also much more efficient. The washer and dryer have capacities of 60 and 75 pounds of laundry, respectively.
Typical household washers and dryers range between 10- and 12-pound capacities.
Previously, staff had to rush to get loads of laundry done in the morning because the dryer would heat the room to an uncomfortable temperature while it was running. Laundry stopped at noon, and the blankets, towels and pet beds would pile up.
Now, shelter staff can do laundry all day long if they wish.
Crews were installing the new equipment Wednesday, and Animal Control Chief Law Enforcement Officer Bobby Arthurs said they put them to use beginning Thursday.
“We are very excited,” he said. “This has been needed for some time. We do so much laundry every day.”
The Aiken County Animal Shelter accepts donations of towels and blankets, which can be dropped off at 411 Wire Road.
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Credit cards can soon be used for County services
Customers can soon swipe credit and debit cards at the Aiken County Animal Shelter and other departments.
The County currently allows credit cards to be used in the payment of taxes only, but that will change as the option extends to the shelter for pet adoptions, the new Visitor Center in downtown Aiken for the purchase of tourism merchandise and the Planning and Development Department for services such as securing building permits.
“Hardly anybody carries cash,” said Robbie Bellamy, tourism program coordinator. “Once we get that credit card machine going, that will be good.”
She said she has had to direct a number of people to ATM machines downtown before as they did not have the cash or a check to pay for their purchases.
County Administrator Clay Killian and Bobby Arthurs, chief enforcement officer with animal control, agree the move will be more convenient for all involved.
“It makes life a lot easier on shelter staff and the citizens of Aiken County,” Arthurs said. Full Story
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Breakfast to benefit animal shelter
Eat breakfast for the dogs and cats of the Aiken County Animal Shelter.
Members of the Animal Control Advisory Board have planned a June 6 breakfast benefit at Applebee’s with proceeds going to the County shelter.
This is the shelter’s first official fundraiser, and the staff is excited.
“Any time we can hold a function and increase donations and make people aware of our location and adoptions, it’s a win-win situation,” said Bobby Arthurs, Animal Control chief enforcement officer.
The breakfast will be from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Applebee’s, 1360 Whiskey Road.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children, and tips are welcome. Carry-out is $6. Bacon, eggs, pancakes and coffee or tea are included in the ticket price.
“We have to take responsibility for the animals in Aiken County,” board member Jennifer Miller said. “The shelter really needs a commercial washer and dryer and desperately needs to be expanded.”
“We tried to make it affordable so everyone can participate,” Miller said.
Tickets are available in advance at Aiken Saddlery & Supply, Aiken Animal Hospital, Silver Bluff Animal Hospital, The Ark Animal Hospital or The Bone-i-Fide Bakery. Tickets will also be available at the door.
“We also hope people will come who haven’t bought tickets yet and get them at the door,” Miller said.
For more information on animals available for adoption at the Aiken County Animal Shelter, visit www.petfinder.com, call 642-1537 or visit the facility at 411 Wire Road.
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Website reunites lost pets with their owners.
A dog who had wandered off from his owners served as the impetus for Victoria Foulkes-Pyle to create a unique tool that will be a welcome resource for pet owners who are trying to reunite with their pets or for those who have found lost pets.
AikenPetsReunited.org is a new website that’s doing its part to help reunite pet owners with the members of their family who have lost their way. Foulkes-Pyle and Wes Funderberg, the City of Aiken’s web administrator, created the website, which is a free service.
Foulkes-Pyle had discussed the idea for the website with Aiken SPCA President Barbara Nelson and with the Aiken County Animal Shelter prior to creating the website, which is now available as a countywide resource.
“I found a dog while I was walking my dogs on a farm in Montmorenci,” said Foulkes-Pyle, who added that the dog has since been reunited with his owners in Windsor. “He had been running around, and I didn’t have any idea of how to put him back in touch with his owner. He had a collar on but there was no identification. He appeared to be lost and was a really nice looking dog. He came into the house without any problem or hesitation. I sent an e-mail out to a number of people that I knew, and they forwarded it out to a number of people they knew.”
Future plans call for the addition of a phone number as another way to help reunite lost pets with their owners for those people who don’t have access to the Internet.
Any pet that has been found can be listed on the website, said Foulkes-Pyle. Full story
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