AIKEN --- The Aiken County animal shelter is looking for a few good volunteers.
The shelter is hoping a new program will get many recruits who can spend time with dogs and cats.
This would include taking them for walks and giving them human contact and attention.
Aiken County Assistant Administrator Todd Glover said the shelter doesn't have enough staff to spend adequate time with the animals.
He said the time a volunteer spends with a dog or cat could be a determining factor in whether they get adopted.
"In an effort to try to improve our adoption rate, we're looking for volunteers that will come in and walk the animals and spend some time with them and maybe make the difference in that animal being adopted," he said.
He said it can be traumatic for animals to come to the shelter because they're in a cage and in unfamiliar surroundings with other animals.
Sometimes that can make an ani- mal timid, reserved or even a little aggressive.
But if someone has spent time with them at the shelter, it could help them relax and put their best paw forward.
"That first impression is a big factor when it comes to somebody adopting an animal," Mr. Glover said.
"A positive first reaction is more likely to get that dog adopted," he said.
Jennifer Miller, of the county's animal control advisory board members, said it would also help people understand the problem of homeless animals in Aiken County.
Mr. Glover said more than 6,000 animals a year, mostly dogs, come to the facility.
Of those, he said, nine out of every 10 are ultimately euthanized.
He said anyone, including nonresidents of Aiken County, can call the animal shelter at (803) 642-1537 to volunteer.
Reach Preston Sparks at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or preston.sparks@augustachronicle.com.
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This looks perfect for the rescue lady who was just sentenced to all those hours of community service.