We have been very lucky to be partnering with staff and students at the University of South Carolina, Aiken.
This summer, I was contacted by Logan Sharpe, Assistant Director of Student Leadership and Engagement, who had some students that needed volunteer opportunities. We set up a time for them to visit the Aiken County Animal Shelter on September 14. These students blew my mind, they were so kind, they asked all the right questions and sincerely cared about how the shelter works and why it is important.
This was the beginning of our partnership.
We were then invited to the Volunteer Fair on campus in October. Volunteer Kathy Samaha and I took an adoptable dog Tina to meet students and explain how EASY it can be to volunteer.
Volunteering doesn’t come natural to everyone. It can be uncomfortable calling, setting up training, making time. So, we handed out flyers showing students how they can “check out” a dog through our Doggie Dating Program.
Many students living on campus miss their pets left at home. We offer a program in which all people have to do is call the shelter and set up a pick up time. They can then come get a dog, take it to the park, take it to Dunkin Donuts, wherever! It’s just fun and stress relieving for both the students and the dogs. (Plus let’s face it, their generation is way better at taking pics and displaying them on social media to reach our leading adoption market.)
Kaydence Moore is a student at USC Aiken who recently became a volunteer and foster for us. She and her friends have been walking dogs and now she has fostered two dogs!
“I enjoy volunteering and fostering so much,” she said. “I get the chance to improve these dogs’ lives as much as I possibly can and I think that is rewarding enough. I decided to help out at FOTAS because, for one, I saw that they needed volunteers and fosters. All of my pets growing up have been adopted from a shelter or as a stray. With how much they have helped me, both emotionally and physically, I wanted to help and give that back as much as I could.”
This past week, I was invited to speak to students on campus at their Paws 4 a Cause seminar. The students were so great and asked good questions. They were shocked by the number of animals we have and I hope feel motivated to change this community for the better.
We look forward to the administration members coming in November for their volunteer training as well.
We are grateful to be invited to schools in our area. If we are ever going to change the constant flow of unwanted, neglected and abused animals in Aiken County, it will have to be through education.
Their lives are in our hands.
By Kathy Cagle, FOTAS Programs Coordinator
