With the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine forcing people to stay home, many adopted or bought a new pet in the last year or two to keep them company.
After the quarantine ended and the COVID-19 cases started to decrease, shelters started filling up again.
“People just went back to work and didn’t know what to do with their pets or no longer had the time to take care of them,” said Deputy Director of City of Augusta Animal Services, Crystal Eskola.
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Eskola said shelters everywhere, like Augusta Animal Services, are receiving dogs and cats by the hundreds each month.
According to Augusta Animal Services, since January, the shelter had taken in more than 3,000 cats and dogs, and have almost half that amount. The report also said the month of July was recorded to have the highest number of animals taken in by the Augusta Animal Services at just a little more than 500.
To help animals get adopted and fostered more, Aiken and Richmond County are holding different events to encourage potential owners and animal lovers to visit the shelter and get involved in a program.
The Aiken County Animal Shelter and Friends of the Animal Shelter are holding Clear the Shelter Day, the facility’s biggest adoption event of the year, this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. All of the adoptable pets will be sponsored and available for no charge during this event, according to a news release.
Clear the Shelter Day will mostly take place outdoors, with dogs brought out to potential adopters. While the shelter is at full capacity, it is hoped this special event will result in all of the pets on the adoption floor finding forever homes.
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Meanwhile, in addition to a foster home program, the Augusta Animal Services Shelter holds volunteer orientation and training every month for those who want to assist in caring their animals through walks, bathes, and playtime.
The shelter also offers a Doggy Day Out program and a K9 Test Drive program which allow for potential owners to spend time with dogs outside the shelter to make sure every pet is matched with the right owner.
“FOTAS and the county staff are working overtime this summer to make sure no adoptable animal has to be euthanized on our watch, but we need the community’s help,” said FOTAS President Jennifer Miller. “Please consider giving a County Shelter dog or cat a loving home this Saturday.”
For more information about volunteering or other programs at Augusta Animal Services shelter visit: https://www.augustaga.gov/644/Volunteering or call (706) 790-6836 ext. 8077
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com)
