Group shares how it helped transform Aiken County pet shelter
AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - On Friday, Friends of the Animal Shelter discussed what all went into transforming the Aiken County Animal Shelter and bringing down euthanasia rates.
Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS) was formed in 2009. In 2013, they helped build a new shelter in Aiken County.
Since then, they have had tremendous success in significantly decreasing euthanasia rates.
They say this is a result of shelter staff, FOTAS volunteers, the county government and an overall change in attitude throughout Aiken.
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They also said three specific things can be attributed to this downward trend:
- Trap, neuter, and return programs.
- Their home-to-home program, which allows owners to easily rehome their pets.
- More owners spaying or neutering their pets.
The transformation wasn’t easy. It took a lot of hard work.
Jennifer Miller, the president of FOTAS, says this transformation could also be done in other communities.
“I when the shelter was euthanizing over 90% of the animals, and there were some citizens that wanted to sit down and bash the shelter for doing that. And I I said to them, ‘Do you want to take these animals home?’ So, I think what it really takes is working with public officials, elected officials, community citizens, to work together in partnership, to see if we can bring as many resources as we can to help,” said Miller.
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Miller also focused on overcrowding that they are experiencing right now, and said a main problem is the veterinarian shortage.
“It means that more puppies and kittens are being born. That means not enough low-cost, spay-neuter opportunities. What it means is somebody can’t get a vet appointment to have their animal checked, or it’s too expensive, so they don’t want the animal,” said Miller.
Miller said they also work very closely with their community.
“When you come to here to volunteer, we give you an orientation, but we don’t have set hours. The shelter is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can come whenever you want,” said Miller.
Kathy Cagle, the Programs Coordinator, said: “Our volunteers are like family, or it’s a very close-knit friendship because we all are animal lovers. We all have the same goal trying to make their lives as good as we can until we can find them a forever home.”
Miller says it’s still not easy, and they are taking in nearly 123 animals every five days.
Due to overcapacity, all adoption fees for pets over one year old are currently waived for the month of June.
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