Students' Pet Project Is a Real Tail-Wagger

by Sandy DeLisle, Coordinator End Dogfighting in Chicago

The auditorium was at capacity. The crowd anxiously waited for the show to start, its buzz growing louder with every passing moment. A booming voice came over the sound system commanding audience members to quiet down. Onstage, the special guests waited for their introductions.

Who were these highly anticipated stars who had traveled to Greenbay Elementary School in North Chicago, Illinois?

By the level of excite-ment in the gym, you might guess the Jonas Brothers or Miley Cyrus were stopping at this K-5 school fifty miles north of Chicago.

But no, all the excitement was over three homeless dogs from Orphans of the Storm Animal Shelter. The dogs were there for the kick-off assembly of the school's Students Against Animal Cruelty month.

A  6-year-old Labrador Retriever wagged his tail furiously. His family had lost their home and returned him to the shelter after 5 years as their family pet. A 4-year-old beagle who was picked up on the street as a stray squirmed with anticipation. And, an extremely affectionate 2-year-old pit bull patiently sat on the lap of the person who held her leash. The sweet dog was proof that it's the animal's caregiver who determines a dog's attitude more than her breed.

Alongside the canine superstars were the show's producers—thirty 5th-grade students. The kids had carefully written and practiced a skit about the problems homeless dogs face. Each child stepped forward wearing a hand-lettered sandwich board with the title and picture of a different type of needy pet. One by one, they told the story of a puppy mill survivor, a stray dog, an abused dog, and so on.

Lessons from the Animals

From the start of the school year, Evelyn Cole, the students' teacher and avid animal lover, has taught her students about animal protection issues. Her two rescue dogs from Orphans of the Storm were frequent visitors to class. One, a beagle who no one wanted because she was so overweight. The other, a 15-year-old chow mix who had spent almost his whole life at an animal shelter. After bonding with their teacher's dogs, the students wanted to give something back to Orphans of the Storm. In February, the students held a blanket drive for the shelter. But that was just the beginning...

The students started following stories on the TV news and Animal Planet about puppy mill raids. When they learned of a bill in the Illinois General Assembly, Chloe's Bill, that would regulate the conditions under which breeding dogs are kept, they got busy. The students wrote letters to their state representatives encouraging them to support the bill.

From there, enthusiasm spread through the entire school. All three 5th-grade classes decided to "adopt" Orphans of the Storm as their project for the year. They brainstormed ideas for fundraisers, and then held a raffle and a dog wash.

Putting an End to Cruelty

The month-long campaign to stop animal cruelty began with the student-led assembly and will end in June with a huge Orphans of the Storm Family Day. Scheduled activities include a pet costume contest and pet talent show. There will be a make-your-own-sundae station and a free dog vaccination clinic. Most importantly, however, animals from Orphans of the Storm will be available for adoption.

When asked why students should be concerned about homeless and abused pets, Joanita Cokely, a 5th-grader in Mrs. Cole's class, said, "I think it's important to care about stray and abused animals. All animals have feelings, and an animal knows when he is not loved or being cared for."

Greenbay student Ariana Castrejon gave an explanation for why the shelter dogs were so well-received at her school. "Some dogs are more caring than some people. And dogs save people's lives too."

And that's a tough act for any human to follow. Even Miley Cyrus.

Learn what other KIND Kids are doing for animals here!