January 21, 2004
Class donates dollars to aid animal care
Norris Elementary students raise money for Cherryland Humane Society shelter
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Pennies turned into dollars and dollars turned into care for the animals of the Cherryland Humane Society.
Thanks to the efforts of fourth grade students in Robin Brister's class at Norris Elementary School, $210 more is in the coffers of the society to help with the overall care of cats and dogs there. Their pennies, dimes and foregone allowances all added up to blankets, toys, leashes, collars and medicines for these pet hopefuls.
"They kept pushing themselves as they collected more and more," said Brister, proud of her students' dedication to the fund-raiser. "They just kept going and going and going, they learned so much especially since they had to earn it."
And earn it they did: baby-sitting, cleaning siblings' rooms, shoveling snow and various and sundry chores.
"I did dishes and helped around the house and helped care for my cat," said Emily Cooledge of her efforts.
Aleah Leggett tried another approach:
"I took all my cans and bottles back and raised $6.30," she said.
Frank Migliore, shelter supervisor for the Cherryland Humane Society, spoke to the students at the beginning of their efforts. As the weeks rolled on, the students were determined to raise the totals. One day of counting showed them just two cents from an even $200, inspiring two students to dig deep.
"Then a kid said, 'I have a penny I found in my car this morning,' and Christina had a penny in her locker," said Ressa Borkovich, recalling that day. "We learned that every penny counts."
Friday morning the students visited the shelter for a tour and to meet some of the animals their money will be helping. Ben Quast, a shelter attendant, led the tour, taking them into both the dog and cat areas and explaining the many benefits of the new facility to the students.
"The natural light keeps them happier and healthier," he noted. "We also play music, it helps their attitude, they especially like the symphony, it keeps them calm."
Quast said that the shelter usually has between 30-80 cats at a time and the cat room can hold up to 45 cages. The cages have spaces between them to hinder the spread of diseases.
As a rule, cats do not stay long in the shelter.
"Cats come in and they go right back out, our adoption rate is 75 percent but nationally it is 25 percent," he told the students.
With dozens of barking dogs to pet, the students also toured the male adult dog area, the cat and dog isolation rooms, the bathing area, the two private adoption areas and the interactive room. Quast also pointed out the shelter's extensive library on all things dog and cat and outlined the facility's adoption policy.
"We do same-day adoption here, the process takes an average of one-half hour," he said.
Contributing their time and money to help these animals was not a sacrifice for these students.
"I love animals and I did chores, fed my dog, cleaned my room and helped in any way I could," said Matthew Beem, adding hopefully: "I wish I had a cat."
Cooledge and buddy Christina Wood already are making plans for joint careers and business endeavors. The two dream one day of opening a veterinarian office and of selling dogs and cats. A classmate, Ashley Gauthier, also plans to pursue veterinary medicine.
"I want to be a vet because I love animals," she said. "I would want to work here because I love animals."