Friends of the Animals Shelter visits local elementary school after student advocacy project

On Friday, Friends of the Animals Shelter Programs Coordinator Kathy Cagle visited Graniteville Elementary School following a second grade persuasive writing project meant to help shelter animals get adopted.

The school’s second grade classes wrote about different pets that are available at the Aiken County Animal Shelter based on pictures of the animals; their writings will be posted on the coordinating pets’ kennels to encourage adoption.

Cagle brought along an adoptable dog to meet Graniteville’s students – Willis, an eight-month-old mixed breed puppy.

She talked with the students about Willis and what it means to be a pet owner.

“When you get a pet, you’re gonna have that pet for that pet’s full life, right? You’re gonna take care of it, you’re gonna give it what it needs,” said Cagle. “The most important thing every pet needs is love.”

Students had a chance to pet Willis after learning how to conduct a proper “dog handshake;” holding out one hand and letting a dog approach you first.

“Do you know what I like about dogs?” Cagle asked the students. “Dogs are full of love.”

Several students shared their thoughts on the writing project and their visit with Willis. Second Grader Aubrie Lopez said: “animals need home and shelter and food and stuff, and love … people have to treat dogs the same way they want to be treated.”

John Luke Sikes, another second grader, talked about what it was like interacting with Willis in the classroom.

“At first she or he was nervous, and then after, she was getting used to us,” he said.

Second grader Fabiola Evangelista-Cruz said that the persuasive writing project is important “because some dogs don’t have a home.” She added: “My favorite part about this was that I can help other dogs get a new home.”

Cagle talked about the importance of relationships between animal shelters and schools: “We want to start teaching kids this age, you know, when you get a pet, your pet is for life, you know? If you have an issue, there’s ways to fix it, there’s training and, you know, you don’t throw your kid out, so don’t throw your dog out.”

The Aiken County Animal Shelter is hosting a student reading day on June 15, where students will be given the chance to bring a book to the shelter and spend time with dogs by reading to them.