Student Contributor -S. Benson
I’ve been working at Spokane Humane Society for over a year and was very excited to partner with them with this project. I wanted to show my placement students the benefits of donating to animals in need. I explained to them all the important aspects Spokane Humane Society offers to their adoptable animals. Students were very engaged, since who doesn’t love animals.
I started by telling students about how much I love working with and caring for the animals at Spokane Humane Society. I then provided students with the printout of Spokane Humane Society’s wish list and informed them that these donations can be new or used. Also, food, toys, blankets, and treats are not the only donation options. Included on the wish list is office supplies and cleaning supplies, these items help workers and volunteers provide exceptional service for the animals. For this project I decorated a donation box and included pictures of adoptable animals on the front. As well as a picture of Kane, a dog who was at the shelter for over a year before he found his forever home. By being able to donate new or used items to animals in need, students are given the opportunity to give back to their community and learn responsibility. Students were so excited to be able and provide things for shelter animals that one girl convinced her mom to sign them up for volunteering. Another young boy recently lost their family dog and brought in his old dog bed to donate. He mentioned that his family will be looking at Spokane Humane Society dogs to adopt when the time is right.
This project went great with my placement students, and they brought in amazing donation items for the shelter animals. Talking about some animals at the shelter who have medical issues and have been there for a while really pulled on the heart strings of some children. I informed them that adopting out animals with lifelong medical needs can be difficult. Also, I made sure students understand that donations can be new or used. Telling students this aspect is important and would be my advice for anyone trying to do the same project, because not everyone has access to buy new donation items.
