By Joanna D. Samson, FOTAS Vice President
I am, by nature, an optimistic person, but recently my cheery nature has been put to the test.
The nastiness of the presidential election is depressing. The violence in the Middle East is escalating. North Carolina pig farms are polluting the environment. Cholera has broken out in Haiti. Bobby Vee, the early 60’s pop artist who crooned “Take Good Care of My Baby” has died. Brad and Angelina have called it quits.
Yikes! Is there no end to this misery?
Yes, my friends, there is. This Saturday, November 5th, the annual FOTAS Woofstock Festival & the Doxie Derby is being held at Citizen’s Park to benefit the Aiken County Animal Shelter, and that means hours of free fun for you and your family.
The popular Doxie Derby is back, and if the sight of all those little wiggly wittle wiener dogs wacing for the roses doesn’t make you laugh, well then, there’s no hope for you. No fast wiener dogs in your family? That’s okay, because there’s also a small dog, any breed contest as well.
Then there are the dog contests—Best Trick, Best Costume, Best Kisser, and my personal favorite, Best Look Alike—guaranteed to make even the crankiest scrooge smile.
Loyal fan and our favorite celebrity journalist, John Hart, from WJBF News Channel 6, will be on hand to serve as the Master of Ceremonies. Brad and Jayne Williams will be playing the hits all day long on their super sound system. Aiken Balloon Creations will be painting faces and making animal balloons all day for a donation to FOTAS.
So leave the troubles of the world behind and come on over with your human and canine family. Grab a bite to eat from the Sugar Bear caterers or Marco’s Pizza and top it off with some Flanigans’ ice cream. Wander around the Exhibitors tables and maybe give the family dog a quick manicure at the Nails ‘N Tails table.
Buy a raffle ticket from Doc Holly (Veterinary Service of Aiken) to win an Apple Watch, or bid on the Labyrinth Quilt made by Aiken artist Jackie Hill. Want to express your creative side? Enter our “Name the Mascot” contest and win a $50 gift card to Fatz Cafe (you can enter any time beforehand at Herbal Solutions, Bone-I-Fide Bakery or the Screenprint Factory).
While you are there, let us introduce you to some of our adoptable pets on site—after all, isn’t that what it’s all about? If you happen to fall in love, guess what? Adoption prices will be slashed in half–$35 for dogs and $15 for cats.
A tightly-knit community of caring people and businesses—Auto Tech, Herbal Solutions, Veterinary Services of Aiken, VIP Petcare, Atlantic Broadband, the Aiken Standard, Downtown Dog, Aiken Saddlery & Supply, the Aiken Veterinary Clinic, Dog & Hound, Fox Nation, Hollow Creek Animal Hospital, Larlee Construction, Pan American Veterinary Corp, The Willcox, and scores of volunteers and supporters—all coming together on this happy, festive day to make life better for the thousands of homeless animals of Aiken County.
Now that makes my heart sing.
Their lives are in our hands.
