(above) Families looking to adopt a new pet should consider visiting their
local shelters and many of our local rescues such as Rawhide Rescue in
Warren and avoid buying or stopping into a pet shop chain store selling dogs
that come primarily from puppy mill breeders. #AdoptDon’tShop.
Keira Larsen earns Girls Scout Silver Award
Keira Larsen of Green Brook Girl Scout troop 65023 has earned her Silver Award by completing her project called “From Homeless to Forever Home.” Keira worked hard to learn the process of community pet adoptions and the challenges that homeless pets face. Her 50 hours-plus project was to assist Rawhide Rescue in bringing dogs up for adoption to pet adoption days held at PetSmart. She fostered a dog that was homeless and eventually adopted a homeless dog.
The largest problem is the increasing number of homeless pets, contributed to by puppy mills, families that do not neuter or spay, and pet abandonment. Many area rescues bring dogs from high kill shelters in the south that are filled with unwanted pets. Once the shelters fill up the older animals are placed on the Red List of animals scheduled for euthanasia. At that point rescues get emails asking for those animals to be taken into foster care.
Keira worked hard handing out information about each dog on the adoption floor, setting out water bowls, socializing each dog, helping families meet different dogs and stuffing envelopes for the annual fundraiser which pays for transportation, veterinary care and food for each dog fostered. It was rewarding seeing people fill out applications and eventually taking their new dog home. Helping families bring home a new family member is a wonderful sight.
The Silver Award is the second highest award a Girl Scout can achieve. Active Girl Scouts should speak to their leader to find out more about working on this award as well as going to the Girl Scouts Heart of NJ website. Families looking to adopt a new pet should consider visiting their local shelters and many of our local rescues such as Rawhide Rescue in Warren and avoid buying or stopping into a pet shop chain store selling dogs that come primarily from puppy mill breeders. #AdoptDon’tShop.
