Animal shelter in Aiken has seen an influx

The Aiken County Animal Shelter is dealing with an influx of animals and is trying to increase adoptions after receiving more than 100 animals last week.

Bobby Arthurs, shelter manager, said such an influx was unexpected. He said the warmer temperatures have extended the breeding season, resulting in more animals.

“In the month of October, we are looking at a normal range of 260 animals and we are over 300,” he said. “We still got so many more days left in October, so that’s the part that gets us a little nervous because we are having so many coming in this time of the year and the warmer temperatures draw in a lot of the animals.”

Arthurs said they haven’t had to double up on kenneling – ye. He said such an arrangement makes it uncomfortable for the animals.

The problem, he said, is adoptions are not keeping pace with the shelter’s intake rate.

“We had more animals coming in and it slowed down with animals coming out,” Arthurs said.

On Tuesday, there was a small increase with 10 adoptions and eight animals being taken in. It was a different story Wednesday afternoon with one adoption and four animals taken in.

“We have committed ourselves to do everything we can ... to adopt every adoptable animal, to make sure they have a chance to find a home through foster care, transfer to other shelter that are our northern partners, through adoptions,” he said. “We don’t even think about anything else other than that.”

The shelter's adoption rate is more than 90 percent and euthanization – mainly for animals who are suffering or injured and have to be put down – is under 10 percent. He credited organizations like Friends of the Animal Shelter and other volunteers for the 90 percent rate.

He encouraged pet owners to spay and neuter their pets. Aiken County residents can receive discounts on the procedures.

“Spaying and neutering your pet is the answer to the overpopulation in Aiken and throughout the state of South Carolina and throughout the country, especially the southern states,” he said.

Adoptions are not limited to Aiken County residents. Arthurs said residents from Columbia, Burke and Richmond counties can adopt, but can’t foster animals.

The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. It is closed on Sunday. Adoption fees are $70 for dogs and $35 cats and include spay/neuter, microchip and rabies shot.

Those interested in fostering a pet can contact FOTAS at info@FOTASaiken.org or call their hotline at (803) 514-4313.