Woofstock Family Fun Day to Support Aiken County Animal Shelter

Annual event aims to boost adoptions and raise funds for the overcrowded shelter.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:07pm

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print of a colorful dog toy repeated in a grid pattern, conceptually representing the playful spirit and community support for the Woofstock event benefiting the Aiken County Animal Shelter.The Woofstock Family Fun Day aims to rally the Aiken community around supporting the local animal shelter's efforts to care for and rehome stray pets.Aiken Today

The Friends of the Aiken County Animal Shelter is hosting its annual Woofstock Family Day of Fun next week, inviting the entire community to participate. The event will feature activities for pet owners and those looking to adopt, with proceeds going towards the shelter's medical care and life-saving programs.

Why it matters

The Aiken County Animal Shelter has been facing capacity challenges, taking in over 100 animals in a recent 5-day period. The Woofstock event aims to drive more adoptions and raise critical funds to support the shelter's operations and efforts to make the animals more adoptable.

The details

This year's Woofstock event will have a renewed focus on supporting the animal shelter directly. In addition to family-friendly activities, the event will highlight the shelter's work to build trust and good behavior in the animals through daily interaction with humans, making them more prepared for adoption.

  • The Woofstock Family Day of Fun is scheduled for next week.
  • The shelter recently took in over 100 animals in a 5-day period.

The players

Friends of the Animal Shelter in Aiken County

The nonprofit organization that is hosting the Woofstock event to support the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

Amy Peterson

The Woofstock 2026 committee chair, who says the event is focused on bringing attention back to the animal shelter.

Kathy Cagle

The programs coordinator for Friends of the Animal Shelter, who notes the shelter is facing capacity challenges.

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What they’re saying

“One of the things that the board wanted to do was bring the focus back to the animal shelter.”

— Amy Peterson, Woofstock 2026 committee chair

“This year, we're really focusing it on our community.”

— Kathy Cagle, Programs coordinator, Friends of the Animal Shelter

“We took in over 100 animals last week. And so in a five-day period to take in over 100 dogs and cats, that's way too much. We can't sustain that without the community's help.”

— Kathy Cagle, Programs coordinator, Friends of the Animal Shelter

“That interaction with humans day after day teaches them to trust and that good things happen when they have good behavior. Then we hope that translates when community members come in to consider adopting.”

— Amy Peterson, Woofstock 2026 committee chair

“They're good dogs. They just need a little support and a little patience to get to that next phase of their best life.”

— Amy Peterson, Woofstock 2026 committee chair

What’s next

The Woofstock Family Day of Fun is scheduled for next week, providing an opportunity for the community to support the Aiken County Animal Shelter through adoptions, donations, and participation in the event's activities.

The takeaway

The Woofstock event highlights the critical role that community support plays in helping overcrowded animal shelters like the one in Aiken County provide care, rehabilitation, and adoption opportunities for stray and abandoned pets. By focusing on building trust and good behavior in the animals, the shelter aims to make them more adoptable and find them loving homes.