Grace College students studying environmental ethics had their annual visit with Darla McCammon at the Animal Welfare League. The class is taught by Associate Professor of Environmental Science Nate Bosch. The class discusses issues surrounding the operation of a humane animal shelter such as the Animal Welfare League. During the Oct. 24 visit, McCammon offered students actual ethical dilemmas that have occurred on her watch and asks the students to consider how they might have solved these issues. Discussion ensues in which students gain an understanding of the challenges and difficulties that often need to be addressed in offering the type of healthy pet, high adoption, low return shelter like AWL, according to the release from McCammon. The students learn how AWL has extremely high adoption rates for a shelter of its size. They are also shown how AWL has a very low return rate compared to most shelters, how they conquer many of the problems often found in other shelters with their “four on the floor” rapid vaccine program and how they collect funds in a “dog bank” in order to pay and provide for care and give the community healthy pets for adoption. The students are also given a complete tour of the facility and are allowed to walk with and learn about some of the animals in the adoption area. The students look forward to this experience each year and return to the classroom where they continue their education and dig deeper into environmental ethics questions, according to the release.
