Aiken County Animal Advocates
THE VOICE OF PAWS
(Palmetto Animal Welfare Services, Inc.)
By Joya DiStefano
This Aiken County Animal Advocates Columns was posted in the Aiken Standard on 05/29/2014When you think of chicken soup what are some of the first things that come to mind? You are feeling puny and someone cares to make you feel better? Or do you think of a book about and by almost any marketing demographic in the nation: couples, teenagers, those grieving, addicts, spiritual groups, techies, gardeners and, of course, every kind of animal-lover in God’s creation. Chicken Soup for Human Life’s Soul series, who has not read, or at least heard of them? They are translated and sold all over the world.
Chicken soup is the national metaphor
for helping one to feel better. On June
28, 1993, the Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing Company was born from a
small book idea that no major publisher would touch. Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen were the
original authors, and after building the Chicken-Soup-for-the-Soul brand into a
major corporation, they sold off the company in 2008. Since then, the brand has
continued to flourish.
Nationally known celebrity veterinarian,
Dr. Marty Becker is a best-selling author of many Chicken Soup for the Animal
Lover’s Soul books: Cats, horses, dogs.
He has other titles, too, branching out into the relationship between
humans and their pets, and their curiosity about pets. Why do horses sleep standing up? Why do cats always land on their feet? Why are people with pets happier and healthier? What can we learn about grieving from our
relationship with our animal friends?
Are you totally fascinated
yet? How can you not be? I had purchased my tickets to tonight’s (May
30th) event: “Chicken Soup
for the Aiken Horse Lover’s Soul” when I started doing a little more research into
the headliner for the event, Dr. Marty Becker, DVM. If I hadn’t had the tickets already, I would
have gone straight to the Equine Rescue of Aiken Facebook page, or its website (www.aikenequinerescue.com) and
ordered them. It is at the Aiken Center for
the Arts on Laurens Street. You can buy
tickets for the same price at the door. This is an event not-to-be-missed; here’s
why…
The topic has to be fascinating
to area residents. Animals? Are we not terrifically special because of our
relationship with animals? Dr. Becker is
an entertaining, walking encyclopedia on most of the animals we care about:
horses, dogs and cats, and probably others, too.
The $20 ticket price includes
wine, beer, tons of hors d’oeuvres, the speaker and the opportunity to invest
in the self-enhanced chance to go home with some truly valuable items: a $6,500
diamond tennis bracelet, original art by real artists, and some other expensive
stuff you might never have the chance to own were you not to participate. You buy
all the tickets you want in lots of 4, then you weight your chance to be
selected to go home with the rare gift of your choice. All of the food, drinks and gifts are
donated, so you can walk through the door at 6pm for $20. Admit it; you cannot afford not to go.
The best reason to turn up
tonight is Equine Rescue of Aiken. It is
a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in which we can all take pride. Jim and Debbie Rhodes love and passion for homeless
animals show up in everything they do for and with this amazing facility. They,
their volunteers, and supporters have built a rescue and re-homing enterprise for
horses and dogs that represents our greater Aiken Community so well. We can all be thankful that Aiken County is Equine
Rescue’s home.
In the unfortunate event that you
are not available for this evening’s festivities, let me tell you about some
other opportunities to have fun, raise some funds, and feel good about being
involved.
This month (May) The SPCA began a
new summer series, “Phideaux’s Flea Market (8am-2pm) and Dog Wash (10am-2pm).” If you want to make a little extra cash, you
can buy a spot and have your own “garage sale” at the site for $50 plus whatever
you don’t sell. Your leftovers will go
to raise funds for the SPCA at their Treasure Chest locations throughout the
area. The next Phideaux’s Flea Market is
on Saturday, June 14th.
PAWS (Palmetto Animal Welfare Services,
Inc.) would like to offer you another alternative to do a really good
thing. If you can’t be bothered to sell all
that stuff taking up storage space, give it to us. We will sell it at the Phideaux’s Flea Market
and use the funds to continue to promote our Spay/Neuter Your Pet (SNYP) program
throughout the county. We currently have
sites operating in the valley through the Burnettown Hall, Windsor at the Shell
Station and Jackson at Town Hall. In Jackson
alone, we have helped the SPCA fix over 50 animals since April 1, 2014. All our
subsidized surgeries are done at the SPCA.
The SNYP program, through
referrals to the county voucher program, FOTAS in Wagener, Lenny’s Brigade for
stray cats and the SPCA is making a significant contribution towards keeping animals
out of our local shelters. That is the
PAWS Mission: Unwanted pet prevention and well-homed pet retention. SNYP is the heart of our efforts. Check your sheds, garages and closets for
items to donate then call: (803) 634-0564 or 226-9479. We will make it easy for you to get your
stuff to us.
We hope to see you tonight for
some figurative chicken soup and a lot of real goodies. We also encourage you to plan for Saturday,
June 14 at the SPCA Albrecht Center, 101 Willow Run Road. In between think about how to participate:
give your goods to PAWS for SNYP, have your own table and give the rest to the
SPCA, or just come and shop. It will
make you feel good, like chicken soup.
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