Dear Friends, Wow! Just wow! As I sat down to work on this newsletter, I realized that in the last four months FoCCAS has had some amazing accomplishments. Our 5 th Annual Paws at the Plantation raised over $8000 for the animals. Additionally we held two inaugural events, Pup Putt, a putting tournament, and a motorcycle Poker Run. These fundraisers supplied another $3000 for our projects. Our community spay/neuter efforts have continued to pay off. According to Animal Control Officers, the number of animals coming into the shelter has decreased in the last year. In the first 4 months of 2016, 93 pets have been fixed through the SNAC/Walmart/FoCCAS transport to Ridgeland. Another 104 vouchers have been used for surgery at local vets. FoCCAS has spent $5400 to help offset the cost of these surgeries for the citizens of Colleton County. Our Colleton Animal Commitment Education (CACE) program successfully graduated the 4 th grade classes at Forest Hills Elementary School, Cottageville Elementary School and Colleton Preparatory Academy. So far, in 2016, our foster/rescue program has saved 231 shelter pets. These animals have found forever homes as far away as Maine and Florida, as well as in South Carolina. FoCCAS has contributed $5200 towards food and medical care of these animals. An additional 42 animals have been adopted from the shelter and 68 lost pets were returned to their owners. In the first 4 months of 2016 FoCCAS received four grants. The Mary Ann Morris and Audrey Thomas fund of the Coastal Community Foundation ($7200) and Petco Foundation ($700) will be used to facilitate our mission. An ASPCA grant for critical care ($1000) was used for special needs of foster animals. A Walmart Community Grant ($2500) supports our continued Spay Daze program. Lastly, as many of you know, the Colleton County Shelter has been short staffed most of this year. I’d like to acknowledge the many volunteers that helped to keep up our efforts to save animals. We not only continued our efforts, but managed to grow during this time. For the Animals, Sarah Miller President Friends of Colleton County Animal Shelter (FoCCAS) Upcoming Events Tuesday, June 28 6:00 Volunteer Appreciation Dinner Colleton Farmers Market July 22 – July 29 Online Love Your Mutt Challenge Monday, August 1, deadline Online FoCCAS Calendar Submission [email protected]Saturday, September 10 11:00 – 1:00 Walk & Wag County Parking Lot Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary Saturday, March 4, 2017 5:00 – 9:00 Paws at the Plantation White House Plantation Spring 2016 Web: www.foccas-sc.org email: [email protected]Everyone loves to help the animals! The following events will give a portion of the proceeds to FoCCAS. Beef, Bourbon, and Beds Thursday, June 23 Colleton County Arts Council South Carolina Artisans Center Bluegrass and Burritos Featuring Going to the Dogs Band Friday, July 22 Colleton Center
Transcript
Dear Friends,
Wow! Just wow!
As I sat down to work on this newsletter, I realized that in the last four
months FoCCAS has had some amazing accomplishments. Our 5th Annual
Paws at the Plantation raised over $8000 for the animals. Additionally we
held two inaugural events, Pup Putt, a putting tournament, and a
motorcycle Poker Run. These fundraisers supplied another $3000 for our
projects.
Our community spay/neuter efforts have continued to pay off. According
to Animal Control Officers, the number of animals coming into the shelter
has decreased in the last year. In the first 4 months of 2016, 93 pets have
been fixed through the SNAC/Walmart/FoCCAS transport to Ridgeland.
Another 104 vouchers have been used for surgery at local vets. FoCCAS has
spent $5400 to help offset the cost of these surgeries for the citizens of
Colleton County.
Our Colleton Animal Commitment Education (CACE) program successfully
graduated the 4th grade classes at Forest Hills Elementary School,
Cottageville Elementary School and Colleton Preparatory Academy.
So far, in 2016, our foster/rescue program has saved 231 shelter pets.
These animals have found forever homes as far away as Maine and Florida,
as well as in South Carolina. FoCCAS has contributed $5200 towards food
and medical care of these animals. An additional 42 animals have been
adopted from the shelter and 68 lost pets were returned to their owners.
In the first 4 months of 2016 FoCCAS received four grants. The Mary Ann
Morris and Audrey Thomas fund of the Coastal Community Foundation
($7200) and Petco Foundation ($700) will be used to facilitate our mission.
An ASPCA grant for critical care ($1000) was used for special needs of foster
animals. A Walmart Community Grant ($2500) supports our continued
Spay Daze program.
Lastly, as many of you know, the Colleton County Shelter has been short
staffed most of this year. I’d like to acknowledge the many volunteers that
helped to keep up our efforts to save animals. We not only continued our
Carol Armentrout, Dr. Rebecca Hughes, and Janice Young headed up year two of the successful CACE program. Eleven 4th grade classrooms at Forest Hills Elementary, Cottageville Elementary and Colleton Preparatory Academy successfully completed the six week course. The classroom sessions were held once a week for six weeks culminating in a celebration and the announcement of the winner of the “speuter” essay contest about the importance of spaying and neutering pets. These fourth graders learned not only about the large number of homeless pets in Colleton County, but also pet health and safety, caring for pets’ needs and wants, safety around dogs and cats, and the importance of spaying and neutering pets.
The 2016 Speuter Winners are: Forest Hills Elementary – Megan Stanley Cottageville Elementary – Destiny Durr Colleton Preparatory Academy - Kara Fargnoli Education is an excellent way to help decrease the number of unwanted animals in Colleton County. FoCCAS is thrilled to have a wonderful CACE committee and volunteers willing to work with the young people of Colleton County to make the community more animal friendly. As our CACE program grows, FoCCAS is in need of more volunteers. If you are interested in helping contact Carol Armentrout, Janice Young or email [email protected].
Spay Neuter Achievements
In 2016, FoCCAS along with our partners, Walmart, through a community grant, and the Hilton Head Humane Association’s Lowcountry Spay Neuter Clinic (SNAC) in Ridgeland were able to offer low cost spay/neuter opportunities for residents of Colleton County. So far this year, 93 animals were spayed or neutered under this program thus preventing many unwanted litters in our county. An additional 104 animals have been fixed at our local vet offices using a FoCCAS $25 off voucher.
FoCCAS is committed to preventing unwanted litters of puppies and kittens. If you are interested in helping with this program, contact Barbara Smiley or email [email protected].
Colleton County residents can pick up a voucher for $25 off spay/neuter surgery at the shelter (33 Poor Farm Rd), FoCCAS Adopt-A-Thons, and at the FoCCAS table the Colleton Farmers Market. Vouchers are good at any local vet (C.J. DeLoach Veterinary Clinic, Morrison Veterinary Clinic, Walterboro Animal Hospital) or SNAC in Ridgeland.
Happy Tails – A Rocky Road with a Happy Ending Contributed by Lynn Cresse
Once upon a time, there was a forlorn pair of black dogs trying to get by on their own; a boy and a girl dog who looked identical. They were rescued by Colleton County Animal Control and it was discovered that the male had been shot in the shoulder and chest and that both dogs were heart worm positive. Laura Clark of FoCCAS made it her business to raise money for the vet care for both. The male dog was named Rocky. His right leg had to be amputated but his wonderful spirit and loving way won the hearts of all he met. Next was finding a foster home. A posting on Facebook did the trick when Amber Whitlock saw his story and photo which tugged at her heart. She had lost another dog that had been shot and died in her arms. She desperately wanted to foster Rocky and convinced her husband to allow her to apply. That was a year ago. Rocky has been with Amber and her family ever since and she proudly stated his adoption has just become formal. The family takes him on outings such as fishing trips, camping, and to the dog park. He also loves his tennis balls which he enjoys chasing with his four-legged friend, Buddy. He gets along with the family cats, likes to sleep in bed with mom and dad, and is living his dream life. Both Rocky and his original companion have found loving forever homes thanks to the helping and caring hands of FoCCAS and many others who have intervened on behalf of Rocky and many other animals.
A successful Paws at the Plantation was held at Orange
Grove Plantation on March 4, 2016. Jimmy Fitts catered the
dinner and Going to the Dogs provided the entertainment.
Community sponsors donated amazing silent action items.
The event raised over $8000 for the animals of Colleton
County. Thank you to everyone who donated, sponsored,
participated and volunteered.
Photo by Barry Moore
FoCCAS’s first-ever Pup Putt Putting Tournament was held on Saturday, March 19.
Winners were: 1st Place – Zach Armentrout 2nd Place – Jimmy Hiott and Charlie Armentrout Longest Putt – Bill Proctor Most Strokes – Reggie McNeil
Thanks to Dogwood Hills Golf Club for providing the venue and Robert Terry for making delicious perlo.
FoCCAS’s inaugural Poker Run, organized by Pat and
Joyce Catterton, raised over $2000. About 30 bikers
participated in the ride and others came for lunch and
the entertainment by the Going to the Dogs band.
Door prizes and raffles kept the crowd amused. A
good time was had by all.
Thanks Colleton County for 3 great fundraising events!
Rescue vs. Adoption vs. Pre-Adoption? It all saves lives! Many people hear these terms and do not know the meaning. Simply put, they are all methods of finding forever homes for the animals that end up in the Colleton County Shelter. When an animal has been fixed, is up-to-date on shots and microchipped, it is “ready-to-go” and an adopter can come to the shelter and leave with a pet. Pre-adoption means an adopter goes to the shelter, finds a new pet, but that pet is not “ready-to-go.” Usually this means the animal still needs to be spayed or neutered. The new family pre-adopts their new friend and when he/she is ready to go, they can come pick him up. Rescue involves taking the animals away from Colleton County to find forever homes. FoCCAS and the shelter work with rescues as close as Summerville, Edisto, and Hilton Head, and as far away as New Hampshire, Maine, and Florida. FoCCAS and the shelter want to find loving homes for all the animals that end up in our shelter. Below are a few of the wonderful animals that have been adopted (through the shelter or rescue) from Colleton County.
Carol Armentrout, Audra Hudson, and Janice Young created this adorable float for the Rice Festival Parade. Rachel Craven and Jordon Slocum dressed as the thankful animals of Colleton County.
Everyone loves the animals – special thanks to these students!
Colleton County Middle School Beta Club held a candy bouquet raffle and donation drive. They collected a wagonful of donations and $262. Colleton County High School National Honor Society held a “kiss a pig” fundraiser. Students donated money to see Ms. Holly Hughes kiss a pig and raised $675 for the animals. The Colleton Preparatory Academy Freshman Class challenged the other grades to collect supplies for the Colleton County Animal Shelter. The K4 class won and both the freshman and K4 students traveled to the shelter to donate nearly a year’s worth of supplies and $513. We are extremely excited to see young people in Colleton County interested in helping the animals. These projects will help the shelter and provide funding for many FoCCAS programs. Thank you to everyone involved in each of these projects.
![Colleton Poster2017-18[Converted]](https://static.documents.pub/doc/80x56/61ea9c751884a205b1419e9f/colleton-poster2017-18converted.jpg)
