July 25, 2025
By: Sarah A. Neikam, SPCA Albrecht Center Marketing Director

Animal welfare is not a solo act. It takes a chorus of voices; volunteers, community members, local leaders, and partner organizations to ensure that pets in need don’t fall through the cracks. Today, a group of our neighbors, Friends of North Augusta Animals (FONAA), is calling on the community to raise their voices; and they need as many voices as they can get.

FONAA is a volunteer-run organization that supports North Augusta Animal Control, whose shelter is a small, aging facility with very limited resources. Despite these challenges, dedicated volunteers have been helping get animals adopted, find foster homes, and even provide medical care and supplies; all through grassroots support and sheer determination.

But earlier this summer, a major setback all but halted their efforts. FONAA volunteers were abruptly restricted from taking animals off shelter property. Without the ability to transport animals to adoption events, foster homes, or veterinary care, the already-stretched system reached a breaking point. Sick puppies suspected of having parvovirus were euthanized – not because they were confirmed ill, but because they couldn’t be tested and treated in time.

Thankfully, after public outcry and tireless advocacy, that restriction was lifted. As reported by WRDW on July 22, the fostering and off-site adoption program has been revived, giving volunteers the ability to save more lives and provide much-needed care again.

“We’re grateful to the city for restoring our access and allowing FONAA to continue supporting the animals in need,” said FONAA Board Member and Volunteer Coordinator Jamie McLeod. “This is a step in the right direction, and we hope it opens the door to better communication and collaboration moving forward. Together, we can create sustainable solutions that put the welfare of the animals and our community first.”

But this step forward isn’t the end; it’s just the beginning.

FONAA’s leaders will be appearing before the North Augusta City Council on August 4th to formally request more resources, improved facilities, and better collaboration with city leadership. They’re asking for basic necessities like animal-safe cleaning supplies, vaccines to prevent disease outbreaks, and access to veterinary care for sick and injured animals. They’re asking to be allowed to do what the homeless animals of North Augusta most need: help.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make a difference in your community, this is how. Show up. Speak out. Support. Your presence at that meeting sends a message that animal welfare matters in North Augusta, and that those who care for the voiceless are not alone.

At the SPCA Albrecht Center, we know exactly how important that kind of support is. Our organization, once the Aiken SPCA, was in a similar place years ago – operating in outdated conditions with more needs than resources. The same goes for Aiken County’s FOTAS (Friends of the Animal Shelter), which has grown into a powerhouse of volunteerism and support for county animals. Neither of these organizations would be what they are today without persistent community advocacy, dedicated leadership and people who refused to give up.

FONAA is standing in that same place now, on the edge of what could be a turning point.

This isn’t just about North Augusta. It’s about the shared responsibility we all have to our region’s homeless pets and shelter animals. When one organization struggles, we all feel it. When one organization grows stronger, it lifts the rest of us with it.

We believe in collaboration over competition. In lifting each other up, not working in silos. FONAA’s efforts benefit all of us by reducing the burden on surrounding shelters, helping keep animals in their community, and creating better outcomes for pets and people alike. When we work together through open communication, shared resources, and mutual respect, we multiply the good we can do.

You can help multiply the good. Whether you live in North Augusta, Aiken, or anywhere in between, your support matters, and here’s how you can help:

  • Attend the City Council Meeting to stand in solidarity with FONAA. A full room shows local leadership that the community cares. Monday, August 4th, 5:30pm at the North Augusta Municipal Building: 132 Georgia Avenue in North Augusta, SC.
  • Follow and share FONAA’s work on social media to help amplify their message. You can find them at Facebook.com/FriendsOfNorthAugustaAnimals. Let FONAA know you’ll be at the meeting by responding to the event on their Facebook page.
  • Donate or volunteer, even if you’re outside of North Augusta. Every bit of help strengthens the network of care. Learn how at Friendsofnorthaugustaanimals.com.

The animals can’t advocate for themselves. But you can. We all can. Let’s be the community that shows up. Let’s be the reason North Augusta’s animal sheltering system improves. And let’s keep proving that, together, we’re better. 🐾

Sarah Neikam is the Marketing Director for the SPCA Albrecht Center in Aiken, SC. She has been with the organization since 2012, holding various roles including Volunteer Coordinator and Director of Operations & HR. A Certified Animal Welfare Administrator as of 2022, Sarah is a passionate advocate for animal welfare. She resides in Aiken with her husband, Tom, and several beloved cats.