By GARY WILLOUGHBY   Aiken SPCA President and CEO   3/13/2012 12:00 AM   

This past Saturday, the Aiken SPCA had another big adoption special, and it was very rewarding to see a total of 20 animals get adopted in one day. We wish everyday was this great, but we are so thankful that so many people came out to adopt, especi ...

By GARY WILLOUGHBY   Aiken SPCA president and CEO   1/30/2012 7:59 PM   

Nearly a year ago, on Feb. 4, we began the day on a high note, with my wife and I driving 1,000 miles round trip in one day to transport a van full of dogs we transferred in from the Aiken County shelter to a new shelter partner, a fellow SPCA in Lak ...

By GARY WILLOUGHBY   Aiken SPCA president and CEO   1/24/2012 12:31 AM   

This past week highlighted for me how some people allow their pets to be at risk when they are outside unsupervised. The first experience occurred when I drove down a street in Aiken while on my way to pick up supplies for the shelter. On my right, ...

By BARBARA NELSON   Chairman, Aiken SPCA   1/10/2012 12:31 AM   

Last week the Edgefield County Council took the first steps toward improving the quality of service of its Animal Control division. Taxpayers will benefit from reduced operating costs, and animal lovers will enjoy the peace of mind of knowing their t ...

By GARY WILLOUGHBY   Aiken SPCA executive director   1/4/2012 12:12 PM   

As we say goodbye to another year, I can't help but look back at last month and how wonderful it was for animals in our community, both the ones temporarily in shelters and in loving families. A couple of weeks ago, thanks to generous contributions f ...

By CHRISSEY MILLER   Aiken SPCA Development Director   12/20/2011 12:31 AM   

On the heels of the Aiken SPCA's biggest adoption special ever, we are thankful so many wonderful animals found homes for the holidays. In all, we found homes for nearly 40 dogs and cats. We thank you all for whatever part you played, whether it was ...

By GARY WILLOUGHBY   Aiken SPCA Executive Director   12/12/2011 8:40 PM   

This time of year is a special time for people of all ages. Some of our deepest memories are formed with big family gatherings at the holidays. Whether you are the one hosting the parties or traveling to your parents' or grandparents' house, the Chri ...

By GARY WILLOUGHBY   Aiken SPCA Executive Director   12/7/2011 11:55 PM   

Area dog owners are encouraged to grab a pair of reindeer "ears," a leash and man's best friend, and join the Aiken SPCA for its first "Reindog" Romp and Pet Fair on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center. The "Reindo ...

By GARY WILLOUGHBY   Aiken SPCA Executive Director   12/2/2011 12:19 PM   

Traditionally, most animal shelters in our state stay full no matter the time of year. The Aiken SPCA takes in dogs, cats and an odd assortment of other creatures that were once strays. In addition, we give comfort and a temporary home to pets that h ...

By GARY WILLOUGHBY   Aiken SPCA Executive Director   12/2/2011 12:19 PM   

Each and every day the Aiken SPCA receives calls from citizens about a wide variety of topics. They vary from needing information about spay and neuter options, low-cost vaccination clinics we can tell them about, adoption questions, and what to do w ...

By GARY WILLOUGHBY   Aiken SPCA executive director   11/21/2011 8:32 PM   

This is the time of year to reflect on everything that we are thankful for. At the Aiken SPCA, it is no different. This year has been a tremendous year for our 76-year-old organization. Even though we began the year with a horrible fire in February, ...

By BARBARA NELSON   President, Aiken SPCA   11/15/2011 1:53 AM   

This July, the Aiken SPCA will open a new shelter and introduce the public to a new age in animal welfare. It will be the temporary home of animals with stories of once lost creatures that will be saved by a human soul. If you are one of these people ...

By GARY WILLOUGHBY   Aiken SPCA Executive Director   10/31/2011 8:22 PM   

In Aiken County alone, many animal welfare groups work to find new homes for homeless animals. These groups include the Aiken SPCA, the Aiken County Animal Shelter, Molly's Militia, Equine Rescue of Aiken, Canine Shelter Rescue, Happy Tales and other ...

By GARY WILLOUGHBY   Aiken SPCA Executive Director   10/25/2011 12:30 AM   

Throughout the month of October, shelters around the country have held a variety of promotions highlighting their wonderful dogs in an effort to find new homes for them and to bring in people who may not have considered a shelter pet before. Earlie ...

By Barbara Nelson, Aiken SPCA President     10/18/2011 12:31 AM   

Let's not be discouraged and believe that the serious problems associated with the overpopulation of homeless dogs and cats cannot be solved in the near term. It can, but it will take a strategic plan that puts forth reasonable ideas that can be supp ...

By GARY WILLOUGHBY   Aiken SPCA Executive Director   10/11/2011 12:21 AM   

The SPCA operates with a small staff and modest budget; therefore partnerships are vital to doing all the work that is needed to improve animal welfare in our area. We know adoptions play an important and visible part of animal welfare. We also know ...

By GARY WILLOUGHBY   Aiken SPCA Executive Director   10/4/2011 12:08 AM   

Whenever I meet someone in the community walking their dogs, I find myself drawn to go over and pet their dogs and say hello. I tell them where I work and, often, they proudly state that one of their dogs is a rescue dog from the Aiken SPCA. Other ...

By GARY WILLOUGHBY   Aiken SPCA Executive Director   9/12/2011 10:43 PM   

It is not unusual for us to run different adoption specials at the Aiken SPCA from time to time. In the summer, we offer 2-for-1 cat and kitten adoptions because the warm summer months lead to large numbers of kittens coming into shelters, and we n ...

By GARY WILLOUGHBY   Aiken SPCA Executive Director   9/5/2011 8:30 PM   

Diamonds in the rough are defined as someone or something that has hidden exceptional characteristics and/or future potential, but currently lacks the final touches that would make him or it truly stand out from a crowd. Local shelters, animal welfar ...

By GARY WILLOUGHBY   Aiken SPCA Executive Director   8/22/2011 8:34 PM   

History's most famous kite flyer, Benjamin Franklin, once declared that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." It is highly likely that Mr. Franklin wasn't referring to the pet overpopulation issues we have in the CSRA, but we take his wo ...