Reagan Bondra and Sloane Matthews listened intently as their classmates at Roy A. Hunt Elementary School in Arnold asked questions about the dogs being paraded outside of the school.
Is the dog docile?
Does the dog do well in storms?
What’s life like for a dog in a shelter?
Ultimately, the 190 third-grade students at Hunt would put those answers in a promotional poster for four shelter dogs at Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley.
The displays will be posted on Animal Protectors’ Facebook page to try to raise awareness and hopefully connect them with someone willing to adopt the dogs, said teacher and Animal Protectors volunteer Lindsey Zarichnak.
“It’s a way to give back,” Zarichnak said. “They don’t have to use money to give back, they can give back by volunteering. They can help in other ways.
“They’re trying to persuade people to adopt the dog.”
Reagan and Sloane’s class was tasked with promoting Dolly, a 5-year-old husky and collie mix. The most interesting thing about Dolly, Reagan said, was that she has one blue eye and one brown eye.
“I liked seeing how excited she was,” Sloane said.
The students’ goal was also to use persuasive writing using factual information.
“I like writing facts about them,” Sloane said.
The other dogs presented by Animal Protectors shelter administrator Danielle Baughman included Fauna, a 2-year-old pit bull mix who was found as a stray in Memorial Park about two months ago.
“She was skin and bones when we picked her up,” Baughman said. “She’s one of the most cuddly dogs I’ve ever met. She falls in your lap.”
Students also were to promote Jasmine, a terrier-foxhound mix; and Frankie, a rottweiler-terrier mix.
“It’s a good way to promote the dogs, and people can see them through the kids’ eyes,” Baughman said.
The project is a win-win for students, volunteers and dogs alike, Baughman said.
“It’s always a great opportunity to show the dogs any chance we get,” she said. “Seeing them in a busy situation like this is helpful to us to find out their best home. The dogs love it.”
Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com.
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