County animal shelters from Georgia and South Carolina came together in one spot with the same goal on Sept. 3, getting dogs and cats out of shelters and into loving homes. The dogs were brought from Augusta Animal Services and Aiken County Animal Shelter to Augusta Regional Airport for the event.
Two dogs were adopted within the first 15 minutes of the six-hour event. Pinata, soon renamed Penny, went home with Martha Barnes and her granddaughter.
MORE: Pet Adoption Campaign Underway in Aiken
“I have several rescue dogs, and some of them are older; some are close to 15 years old,” Barnes explained. “We lost a few dogs this year from old age and natural causes, and we wanted to be able to help another animal.”
Airport spokeswoman Lauren Smith said they’ve done adoption events in the past and they were successful.
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“We try to look and talk to the animal shelters and nonprofit organizations and see what their numbers are,” she said. “When they are getting overwhelmed with capacity, we try to hold these events out here. The previous two, all the animals were adopted.”
Both the Augusta and Aiken shelters report they are filled to capacity.
Kathy Jacobs of the Aiken County shelter’s volunteer group, Friends of the Animal Shelter, said joint adoption events show the magnitude of the need.
“We’re all in the same boat right now. We’re all heavily inundated with homeless dogs,” she explained. “I think us partnering together just helps show it is a united problem. We’re all trying to help each other. We don’t care who gets adopted today, as long as somebody goes home.”
“We all have the same goal in mind; we need to adopt out,” said Crystal Eskola, assistant director of the Augusta shelter. “Whether you adopt from FOTAS, Columbia County or Richmond County, we all need to get animals out. Whether you adopt from a shelter or a rescue group, just adopt.”
One non-government operated animal shelter has announced it is critically overcrowded by more than 50 animals as kitten season and owner-surrendered animal numbers skyrocket. The SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare has issued a plea for emergency foster homes.
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Communications Director Claire Roberson said, “We ask that foster parents are 18+, have permission of all adults in their house/landlords if they are renting, and that their current animals are up-to-date on vaccinations & fixed. Supplies are provided to foster families.”
The application to foster is available on the center’s website.
MORE: Pets Available for Adoption from Hands to Paws Rescues
There is also a Clear the Shelter drive that runs through Sept. 19. Special fees are in effect, $25.00 for select dogs and kittens under one year old. There is no fee to adopt an adult cat over one year old.
The center is at 199 Willow Run Rd. in Aiken. They are open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They will be closed Labor Day. All available pets are listed online at: www.LetLoveLive.org
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com.
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