So many of the pets that arrive at the Aiken County Animal Shelter are family ready. One of our foster families contacted me the other day, saying that they couldn’t figure out how a dog so housebroken and good with other pets could possibly arrive at the shelter as a stray. This always boggles our minds, too. Such well-mannered pets and no one is looking for them.
Then we get the pets who have been severely neglected, abused and unloved. Unfortunately, these animals can’t tell us their stories. We have to try and put the pieces together and sometimes their backgrounds remain a mystery.
In this category, we have two dogs on our adoption floor who need homes — but they need to be the “right” homes.
Kole is a handsome, black dog with freckled feet. When he arrived as a stray, he was despondent and shut down. Shelter Manager Bobby Arthurs took Kole on as his project. He saw something in Kole and started bringing him hot dogs every day. Well, that was the key! Kole is food motivated but not big on being touched. He is easy to walk and will stay by your side, bumping you with his nose to get a treat. He lets us give him little pats but does not like to be hugged or petted.
Kole came in around the same time as a very shy, white and tan dog named Spice. For days, Spice hid in the corner, shaking until the kennel staff made progress with him. This poor boy would try to climb the walls to escape our touch. Slowly he learned to go for walks but still hit the ground and flattened out when we tried to pet him. He is doing much better, but it will take time for him to feel completely safe.
Kole and Spice have become buddies and trust each other. Shelter staff take them into the play yard every day and the two comfort each other, walk around together, sniff together. We think these dogs need homes with other dogs who can mentor them and show them how to be “pets”.
Kole and Spice deserve a chance for a happy life in a good home. Yes, they have some issues. But with their past, who wouldn’t? Please share their stories and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. If you are interested in adopting one of these dogs in need, please call the Aiken County Animal Shelter, 803.642.1537 (option # 5) or email info@fotasaiken.org and make an appointment to visit them.
Their lives are in our hands.
– By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator
