Animal shelters and rescue groups in the Augusta-Aiken region are asking fans of the late Betty White to honor her pet-loving legacy.
The iconic actor, known as much for her activism for all animals in addition to her award-winning acting, died Dec. 31, 2021, at her California home. Within hours, the hashtag #BettyWhiteChallenge was launched on social media platforms around the world.
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The challenge calls for animal lovers to donate just $5 to a local rescue group or shelter on Jan. 17, which would have been White’s 100th birthday.
The SPCA Albrecht Center in Aiken County is holding the “Golden Girls” adoption event on Monday, Jan. 17 at the shelter at 199 Willow Run Road. The center is asking for monetary donations but is also offering fee-waived adoptions on all senior pets over six years of age. Female animals can be adopted for $5.
“We’re hoping our ‘Golden Girls’ Adoption Event will help find forever homes for our senior and long-term animals that tend to wait far too long for the loving home they deserve, while honoring a legend in animal advocacy,” said Communications Director Claire Roberson. “Every dollar adds up to lifesaving care for our animals and we are so grateful to animal advocates like Betty White, whose legacy and love for animals in need inspires community members to get involved.”
There will be a “Golden Girls” themed raffle, cheesecake and photo props. Adopters will also receive treat bags.
Friends of the Animal Shelter, the volunteer group for the Aiken County Animal Shelter, is partnering with Downtown Dog for an event Saturday, Jan. 15 at the store at 150 Laurens St.
Ellie Joos, FOTAS secretary, said the “Betty White Birthday Bash” is a drop in event from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and will feature games, a look-alike contest and refreshments.
“I think this challenge is genius,” Joos said. “It honors an amazing woman and animal lover and will help so many homeless animals at the shelter here and nationwide, especially when organizations like ours had to cancel fundraising events the last two years and once again live with uncertainty about events with the current surge. At the same time, the number of animals coming into the shelter has not declined so everything that is done helps us to continue saving their lives.”
Joos said they are also receiving monetary donations through their website’s donations page https://www.fotasaiken.org/donate/
For some rescue groups, cash donations are the lifeblood that lets them continue helping animals. One of those is Shelter Animals Matter, which began as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in 2016.
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“We are 100% donation driven for all our expenses with vet costs being 99% of our expenses. We do not adopt locally so we don’t receive adoption fees,” explained spokeswoman Marcia Plunkett. “Our function is to pull from local shelters, get the dogs healthy then transfer to our placement partners in other regions of the country with less of a dog overpopulation problem.”
Many of the dogs SAM helps are heartworm positive. The organization is planning to highlight Betty White’s birthday with a social media post on Monday. The group accepts donations through PalPal. The link is available on the website https://shelteranimalsmatter.com/
Adoptable dogs at the Aiken County shelter can be viewed at https://www.fotasaiken.org/adopt/animal-shelter-pets/
Animals at the SPCA Albrecht Center can be viewed at www.LetLoveLive.org/available-pets
In announcing its event, the Albrecht Center paraphrased the theme song for the “Golden Girls” television show.
“Thank you ‘fur’ being a friend!”
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
