Local animal shelters still looking for Christmas homes for dogs and cats
The Aiken County Animal Shelter is looking for people who would like to share their home, even temporarily, with a furry companion over Christmas. The shelter is having a “Foster for the Holidays” event.
The shelter will be closed beginning Thursday, Dec. 23 through Sunday, Dec. 26 so dogs will have limited time outside of their kennels and interaction with people. Friends of the Animal Shelter volunteers will walk and feed the dogs and clean kennels in the morning. After that, there will be no one at the shelter.
“If you live in Aiken County and want to help a homeless dog escape from the stress of the shelter for four days, we would greatly appreciate it,” said FOTAS Programs Director Kathy Jacobs. “These dogs just need a break from kennel life. We will provide food, a crate, blankets…anything you need.”
“Our hope is to get as many pets as possible that have not been adopted, into a home for the holidays, so that they are not alone over the four-day period,” said FOTAS President Jennifer Miller.
Aiken County residents can visit the shelter at 333 Wire Rd. from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to pick up a dog. Dogs can be returned from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 27. unless participants decide to keep the new pet.
This event is similar to the “Christmas Home for the Holidays” at Augusta Animal Services, which is looking for families that will not be traveling for the holidays and would be able to pick up a dog or cat from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22 or Monday, Dec. 27. Pets can be returned to the shelter from 1 to 4 p.m. Monday, Dec. 27 or Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022.
Augusta Animal Services Deputy Director Crysal Eskola said, “Of course, we hope that the match is perfect and the family falls in love and wants to adopt or have a friend that does.”
Augusta Animal Services is at 4164 Mack Lane.
The SPCA Albrecht Center in Aiken just wrapped up its “Empty the Shelters – Holiday Hope” event, in partnership with the Bissell Pet foundation.
Communications Director Claire Roberson said they adopted out 40 cats, 23 dogs and two rats.
“These adoptions absolutely helped with our year-long overcapacity issues, but we have one final request before 2022,” she said. “The SPCA Albrecht Center still has quite a few long termers that have waited upwards to a year and would desperately love to find their forever home before the New Year.”
The center, at 199 Willow Run Rd. in Aiken is open from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22 and Thursday, Dec. 23.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
