SYRACUSE – Through a marketing class project, dogs and cats from the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County were able to be loved on and played with at Wawasee High School Wednesday.
Two of the animals ended up getting adopted through the event.
Four dogs and three cats were brought into the high school and Tina Schmucker, the assistant director of career and technical education at WHS, said the animals were a mix of long-term and new animals at the AWL.
On Wednesday, an area at the high school was sequestered off. Students were able to walk the dogs, who were on leashes, and play with the dogs and cats and give them treats. AWL volunteers were on site, as well.
Wawasee student Mackenzie Michael said people were able to take papers for more information about the AWL.
“We wanted to start by doing something for Valentine’s Day and like show love and stuff, so we thought it would be a good idea to bring in some of the animals to show that,” as well as bring awareness to the adoption process, Michael said.
Schmucker said the goal of the project was to plan an event and do all the marketing behind it. The project had to be focused on social media, which is a part of the curriculum for the class. So the event was promoted through social media and the students in the class became “influencers in their school.” They named it “Pink Day” and encouraged everyone to wear pink.
Student Grady Maloney said, with putting on the event, students were able to learn about how to manage and advertise the event, as well as what to do when something goes wrong. He said students were able to incorporate lectures and things they’ve learned from the class into putting on Wednesday’s event.
During the event, there was also promotions to adopt, volunteer and foster with the AWL. A donation box was also at Wednesday’s event, where around $20 was collected.
There was a lot of coordination, including giving attention and support to the high school’s cafeteria staff, which Maloney and student Madison Greer delivered hot chocolate and doughnuts to.
AWL Executive Director Tonya Blanchard informed Schmucker a parent dropped by the AWL after work Wednesday and adopted one of the cats that had been brought into WHS, and a grandparent went in and adopted one of the dogs.
“Our goal was to have one adoption, so right away, we had two,” Schmucker said.
Greer said she thought the project was all about giving back to the community and showing Valentine’s Day is not just about people with significant others, but showing love to animals as well.
Schmucker said Valentine’s Day isn’t always a great time for everyone and so “we did term it Pink Day” and that’s what started the conversation about the event idea.
Schmucker mentioned to Blanchard she felt it could be an annual event and Blanchard seemed to be on board with the idea. Schmucker said she wasn’t promising anything, though.
Schmucker said there was a community focus during Wednesday’s event, but there was also a lot of learning about what goes into an event, noting “you can market a lot of things without selling something.” The students did a good job at marketing a need that was out there with social media.