Aiken County Animal Shelter

This is a post about a group of people who loved animals enough to fight for a new facility to house the ones abandoned or surrendered.

 
The old animal shelter was twenty years old and designed to hold 100 dogs and cats.

The shelter is obligated to accept all strays and owner-surrendered animals.

The county shelter takes in over 5000 animals a year.

Yes, I typed the number correctly.

The old shelter building was not equipped to handle that many animals.

92% were euthanized each year.

Yes, 92%

Friends Of The Animal Shelter (FOTAS) is a private group formed to raise community awareness of the problem with our enormous overpopulation.

They are committed volunteers who fought hard for donations to build this beautiful new facility.

The euthanasia rate has dropped to under 75%.  Adoptions and fostering are up.

The grand opening was held recently.  Chucks and I attended and were amazed at the wonderful facility.

Dogs no longer crammed together in small cages.


Clean spacious dog runs with access to the inside and the outside.

Adoptable dogs are kept separate from the incoming dogs to prevent the spread of disease.




 


There are wide open spaces for outside exercise.

Volunteers come to walk the dogs.

The areas are kept clean and neat.

The kennels have self-filling water bowls.

The kennels are bright.

One or two dogs per kennel.

They can choose to stay inside or lounge in the outside area.

During the grand opening, over 300 people showed up.

I was struck by these two buddies.  

No loud barking.

No nervous pacing.

As if they were saying welcome to the new place.

There is a small building for the cat colony.

A group of cats who have inside and outside access.





They were all in lazy mode when I visited.


I have almost volunteered several times.

I applaud those who can come out to socialize the cats and walk the dogs.

I do not know how they can stand the day they go to walk "their" dog, and he is gone.

You hope he was adopted, but this is not a no-kill shelter.

So why did I tell you this long and rambling story?

Because each time a friend or family member loses a pet, we send a donation to FOTAS.

Some of you readers have received a tribute from them in honor of your pet.

I wanted to let you know the memory of your beloved cat or dog lives on in this new facility.

Please be kind and spay or neuter your pets.

Thank you.

See y'all!

PS  This is where I abandoned my art piece.  Where abandoned animals get a second chance.

If you would like to donate to FOTAS, go to their Facebook page here.

PS PS  - Not all the animals are dogs and cats.  They have to take whatever is abandoned or surrendered or mistreated - horses, goats, and pigs among the many that come through here.

Thank you, FOTAS!

Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA14

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Shearing Winter's Fleece

Warm temps and blue skies are here.

That could only mean one thing.

Get ready, ladies, it is time to shear your winter's fleece.

All you have to do is take a good look down.

All the winter's fleece you have been hiding under your winter's fleece has got to come off.

Now I come from a long line of basically hairless people, and the hair we do have is colorless.

But on the day the photo was taken, I felt the breeze flutter through my long leg locks and knew it was shearing time.

Also in line for shearing is Scout who is shaggy beyond shagginess.

Azalee has not a care in the world.

She can sleep knowing her fleece is quite short.

No shearing to do here!

How does a cat curl in a perfect circle?

I do wonder if Annie has a wax for this job.

A nice dark patina.

With a smooth finish.

With a huge grin and a humorous wink, I hope this post has made you smile.

Today is my blog's second birthday.

I decided to celebrate with a little humor.

I love being a citizen of Bloglandia.

Thank you, faithful readers and dear friends!

And, ladies, I was NOT kidding about the shearing of the winter's fleece!

See y'all!

Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA14

SHOP HERE! 

Abandoned Art

Can we say "Cluck, cluck"?

Yes, I was chicken.

I was nervous.

I called Chucks twice to make sure he was available in case I got into trouble.

This was way out of my comfort zone.

I created a piece of art and abandoned it in a public place.

YES, I DID IT!!!

It was exhilarating.

Yes, I will do it again.

It was all part of the Art Abandonment Project.  It is a world-wide group on Facebook.

Anyone can request to join.  LINK

Here's what I did:

Found a board.

Painted it red.

Mod Podged an old bag to it.

Made some unsanded grout/paint mixture.

Poured it on the board.

Made a big puddle.

Plugged in the hair dryer.

Turned it on high heat.

Blew the heck out of the paint.

It cracked and creeped into a wonderful pattern.

Used Distressing Ink to age and make some dots.

Used a sponge to stamp a heart.

Used a wide blade chisel to scrape the surface smooth.

Used sandpaper to bring out some details.

Added a saying.

Added some black lines around the heart.

Added some more chips.

Found a dog image (Graphics Fairy - thanks!).

Found a tag (Horror Monster - thanks!)

Distressing Ink and varnish over and over and over on both.

Found a star stamp to put on the opposite of "dog".

 

Found some leather lacing and eye hooks and some rusty wire.

Assembled the whole thing.

The easy part was now over.

I am always comfortable when creating.

But the abandonment is scary.

What if no one takes it?

What if it is thrown away?

What if?

What if?

What if?

Just do it, Donna.

Stop distressing over it.

So I made my official label with the official logo.

Followed other directions of placing it in a sealed, clear bag.

Wouldn't want Homeland Security and the FBI after me!

Gathered my art, my camera and my courage.

Called one more time to make sure Chucks was at home.

Walked right into a place where true animal lovers are found.

The receptionist was distracted and had to leave the desk for a minute.

I quickly propped the bag against the counter.

I pretended to take photos of the plants and murals in the new lobby.

She told me to walk about the facility and take all the photos I wanted.

I wanted to leave and let someone find the art piece.

I was there for about twenty minutes, but no one had found it yet.

Have you ever participated In Art Abandonment?

Have you been the lucky recipient of found art?

I am proud I participated.

See y'all!

Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA14

SHOP HERE! 

The Cottage Market Presents Junkin Joe Every Friday

Bonnie Bonnet

 A white lamp bought several years ago for fifty cents needed a bonnie bonnet.

And buy one I did.

Leather shade with velvet flowers.

Luscious!

Just going to look and admire it.

Quite lovely with her bonnie bonnet in the garden.

But no, she will come back into the house.

A little like Audrey H. peeking through the blooms.

One last look before taking her inside.

Love the shade - distressed leather with cream velvet roses.

I have waited so long to find the perfect bonnet for her.

And there it was - sitting in the thrift shop!

Yes, someone made this shade and donated it.

From bonnie bonnets to bountiful buckets.

Look how much the speedwell has grown in a few days.

Got to go admire the lamp some more.

Wonder what she looks like with a light bulb?



See y'all!

Use this discount code to receive 10% off your purchase at the Distressed Donna Etsy store:

DISTRESSEDDONNA14

SHOP HERE! 

Share Your Cup #97 
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage 
The Cottage Market Presents Junkin Joe Every Friday