Madison Students Give Gifts to Animal Welfare League
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Instead of a gift exchange this year, first-graders in Amy Swihart’s classroom at Madison Elementary School decided to help homeless cats and dogs at the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County. “We decided to enrich the lives of our furry friends,” Swihart said Thursday afternoon at the animal shelter. “Students brought in donations here and then we’re going to McDonald’s for dinner.” Her classroom this year already has supported Riley Hospital for Children, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars for Veterans Day. “We decided to give critters some extra love,” she said. Swihart met with her students and their parents at 5 p.m. Thursday at the AWL. After dropping off their donations, everyone got to visit with the many kittens and puppies that need a home. At McDonald’s, students got to play together at the fast-food restaurant’s Play Place, while parents and Swihart got to spend some time getting to know each other. AWL Executive Director Darla McCammon said donations are very, very important. “It’s so helpful to get people to help us with physical and monetary donations. We have a list of things we need, which (Swihart’s class used to donate), which helps us,” McCammon said. “Right now we need a bigger shelter. We’re trying to find someone to pony up the money for that.” Along with donations, the shelter also encourages people to volunteer to walk the dogs. A dog in a cage too long gets “cage crazy,” McCammon said, even when they’re nice dogs, so walking them helps. Volunteers have to go through an orientation now. “We couldn’t operate without our volunteers,” McCammon said. “Right now, we are awfully full,” she said. “I made a commitment I would never put down an animal because of lack of space. I’ve never done that.” The only time an animal is euthanized is if it’s already dying or for other humane reasons. Since she’s been director, McCammon said the euthanizing of the pets has dropped 35 percent. One thing that has helped has been foster homes. McCammon said they have a pretty good list of people who are willing to be foster homes for animals. The shelter’s three employees and two interns also foster animals when the shelter gets desperate. Typically at Christmas time, McCammon said, people are discouraged from adopting. This year, the AWL is encouraging people to adopt, carefully. If someone wants to give a shelter animal to someone, the AWL has gift certificates people can purchase so the recipient can choose their own furry friend. There are four different levels: $135 for a puppy adoption package; $125 for a dog; $85 for a kitten; and $65 for a cat. “With the adoption out here, you get a couple hundred dollars worth of things,” McCammon said. If someone wants to give in-kind donations, items the shelter needs include canned dog, puppy and cat food, other kinds of food, biscuit treats, crates, leashes, collars, rubber toys for dogs, toys for cats, non-scoopable litter, cat nip, litter pans, scratching posts and pill pockets. Cleaning and animal care supplies needed include bleach, anti-bacterial dish and hand soap, laundry detergent, Clorox wipes, paper towels, toilet paper, Comet, towels, blankets, chicken broth, cotton balls and pumpkin pie filling. Office supplies the shelter could use include copy paper, HP Ink cartridges and postage stamps . For more information on the animal shelter, call 574-267-3008; visit its website at awlwarsaw.com; or on Facebook at AWLeague
