Nevada Students Say Thank You for Helping Animals
A group of school children, ages 11-14, were so moved by the role Dakin and our community played in accepting 12 dogs and puppies from a South Carolina shelter ravaged by Hurricane Helene last fall, that they sent a collection of heartfelt, handmade thank you cards.
The Del Webb Animal Support Club (DWASC) is a program at Del Webb Middle School in Henderson, Nevada. Students hold meetings on Wednesdays after school to share their love for animals and learn about their care and welfare. Dr. Tracy Leslie, an advisor who works with the students, noted, “I saw a report on the news (about the transport) and thought Dakin’s efforts were extraordinary, so I mentioned it at a club meeting. We brainstormed ideas, and Ms. Melone (a co-advisor for the club) suggested writing the cards, as part of our Week of Respect. I think the students loved the idea of writing the cards as a way to process the terrible events and to show they care about what you do to help animals that are in harm’s way.”
The dozen dogs and puppies arrived at Dakin on October 10 from Aiken County Animal Shelter, which had lost its internet connection and access to water in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane. In an effort to clear shelter space for storm-displaced animals, Aiken quickly coordinated the transport of dogs that had already been in-shelter to Dakin. While awaiting the arrival of the van, Dakin appealed to our community to donate much-needed pet food and other supplies that could be loaded into the van after the dogs were removed, and sent right back to Aiken. Dakin then reduced adoption fees to encourage people to make room in our shelter.
The weekly DWASC meetings attract 25-35 students, and they are always busy with projects. According to Dr. Tracy, “We have also made cards for our local shelters for specific animals up for adoption to encourage people to look at them more closely. We have sold popcorn at lunch to raise money for shelters. Our next project is a school-wide collection for our local shelters of blankets, towels and wish list items. It is likely we will also try to do something similar for the wildfire victims in California.”
Our thanks go to these extraordinary students at the DWASC for their uplifting cards and artwork. For everyone who donated goods that were delivered to Aiken, fostered or adopted a pet to help make the transport such a success, or otherwise supported it, please enjoy these delightful works of art, and know that you helped inspire them.