This May, twenty students traveled to Braxton, Clay, and Ritchie Counties in West Virginia to provide shelter repair, training, and transport of approximately 35 adoptable dogs. They worked with several transport groups to coordinate pet rescue efforts. See some pictures from their trip! Students blogged about their experience and you can read more at the Petfinder.com Foundation Web site.
The Ritchie County Humane Society in West Virginia is recovering from a devastating fire in January 2010. Students focused on the remaining shelter structure for repair to help increase the quality of life for all animals until the new shelter is built. Other students focused on actually running the shelter for two days so that staff could utilize training from professional consultants. A memorial garden was built in honor of the large loss of life that is still weighing so heavily on the staff and volunteers.
The shelters in need of repair at the Ritchie County Humane Society.
Puppies at the Ritchie County shelter.
The one and only kitten at a Braxton County shelter. The Braxton County shelter is probably the highest functioning shelter in West Virginia. The team focused on building exercise runs to decrease shelter stress and constructed a sturdy outbuilding to create a shelter supply and food bank for Central Appalachia. Students ran animals to the vet if they were not building for transport. Students ran the shelter for two days which increased their own knowledge and gave respite to the staff.
Volunteers try to coax a shelter resident named Cammy into her new home at the Clay County shelter.
Cammy in her enclosure, refurbished by student volunteers.
Student volunteers working on new kennels outside the Braxton Animal Shelter.
Volunteers put the finishing touches on the kennels at the Braxton shelter.
Student volunteers and refurbished kennels, built to decrease animal shelter stress.
A volunteer named Sharon gives a puppy a bath at the Braxton shelter.
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