County approves dog trip
Dogs who might otherwise be euthanized here can get a new lease on life in Massachusetts with a resolution Aiken County Council approved Tuesday.
The resolution officially establishes an agreement between Aiken County and the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, Mass. for the transfer of animals for the purpose of placing them in qualified homes.
Earlier this month, 13 dogs from the Aiken County Animal Shelter were transported to the shelter in a horse trailer equipped with a video feed, warm hay for the dogs to nestle in and buckets of water to keep them hydrated during the 1,000 mile trip.
The trip was pulled off without a hitch and many, if not all, of the dogs have been adopted. The shelter credits the region's aggressive spay and neuter campaigns at keeping pet numbers manageable and demand for shelter dogs high.
"This is a very good thing," said Bobby Arthurs, chief enforcement officer with Aiken County Animal Control. "Our shelter is always overfilled with animals. We have to try to reduce the euthanasia rate. I am absolutely ecstatic."
Transportation was provided at no cost by Fairway Horse Transport out of New Hampshire, and it will be the same company utilized by the County in the future.
Aiken County Administrator Clay Killian said Tuesday that many of the dogs were within a day of being euthanized.
"We actually saved 26 lives," Arthurs said. "Sending the dogs up north left openings for 13 additional dogs to be brought out to the adoption wing."
The path has been laid for future transports of dogs from the County shelter, but it won't happen on a regular basis, Killian said. Fairway Horse Transport can only shuttle dogs to Salem when a trailer is available in the area.
Killian said if any other shelters were willing to come to a similar agreement, the County would be more than happy to speak with them.
Arthurs added that roughly $13,000 is left in the pot for the County's low-cost spay and neuter program. Much like the City of Aiken's program, the County's provides vouchers to residents who require financial assistance to have their pets fixed.
An application must be filled out and a voucher is then granted depending on the animal and its gender - a dog spay is up to $100, a dog neuter is up to $75, a cat spay is up to $75 and a cat neuter is up to $45. The qualified applicant can present the voucher to the veterinarian of their choice in the County.
Applications are available at the Aiken County Animal Shelter located at 411 Wire Road. For more information, call 642-1537.