When life changes suddenly, rehoming a beloved pet can feel like an impossible decision. That’s why Ellen Priest, a dedicated board member of Friends of the Animal Shelter (FOTAS), runs the Home to Home program from her own home, offering a compassionate alternative to surrendering pets to the Aiken County Animal Shelter.
“The shelter isn’t a good environment for family pets,” Priest shared. “It’s loud, stressful and chaotic. Many animals shut down from the overwhelming noise and confusion.” The shelter’s limited resources must stay focused on strays, found animals and those brought in by animal control due to neglect or unsafe conditions. That’s where Home to Home comes in.
Before someone gives up their pet to the shelter, FOTAS encourages them to post on the Home to Home site first by visiting https://home-home.org/. The listing is also shared on the FOTAS Facebook page, giving the pet greater exposure. “In many cases, the pet finds a new home directly through those posts without ever needing to step a paw in the shelter,” Priest explained.
Not every pet surrender is due to irresponsibility. “A lot of people judge without knowing the full story,” she said. “Sometimes it’s a divorce, a financial hardship or the owner is moving into assisted living. Life happens. We don’t judge, we help.”
The program has helped rehome more than 1,200 animals over the last six years. Only 13% of those listed ended up at the shelter. Even when listings expire, Priest rarely sees those pets come through the doors, meaning they were likely rehomed or kept.
Home to Home isn’t just for dogs and cats. “We’ve placed guinea pigs, ducks, a horse and even a pot-bellied pig,” Priest laughed. “We’ll help with whatever we can.”
There’s no cost to list a pet, and adopters can’t be charged a rehoming fee. “Research showed that strong communication, not a fee, is what leads to successful placements,” Priest noted. The goal is to find a safe and stable home as quickly as possible to minimize the stress on the animal.
Home to Home continues to quietly make a powerful difference by helping animals stay out of shelters and find loving homes in the community. It’s a program built on understanding, compassion and hope. In Aiken, Home to Home is changing lives one pet at a time.