By BRIDGETTE NORRIS
Tossing the yellow-green tennis ball and rushing to look through the viewfinder of her camera, junior Cydne Humphreys takes pictures of animals running around the animal shelter. She uploads the pictures to the Orange County Animal Service website hoping it will catch the eye of someone looking to adopt an animal.
“Ms. Shields and I agreed a long time ago that our common love for animals would drive us to make a difference. We wanted to share and educate our students,” Boone Animal Rescue Club sponsor Buffy Dowdell said.
In hopes of finding a family pet, the Tachon family looked for assistance from BARC. The family took a trip to the OCAS. After taking the black lab-mix out to play, the family decided to adopt. The adoption makes Marlee the newest addition to the Tachon household.
“I would absolutely advise people to adopt. The animals at the shelter are just as loving as the ones you would find at a pet store. Marlee is just as good as any purebred animal,” sophomore Taylor Tachon said.
BARC rescues most of its pets from the OCAS shelter. The club rescues animals to save those facing euthanization.
BARC also offers money donations to local rescue groups to pull pets from the shelter and place them in a home.
“We are always in need of foster homes to help us do this,” Dowdell said.
The club has about 80 members who volunteer eight hours of their time each month at a local shelter or various events the club hosts.
“Volunteering at the shelter is a good way to get community service hours, plus it makes you feel good. I like helping with the animals. We take them out to let them get fresh air and feed them. It’s definitely worth my time,” senior club member Jonathon Romanowski said.
Sometimes members decide to adopt, or even foster an animal until a permanent home is found. When a family fosters, everything is provided by the rescue: food, crate, leash, toys and veterinarian care.
“Fostering is a big commitment but a very loving one. Take into consideration that it could be days, weeks or months, but know that the [fosters] are helping to save lives,” Dowdell said.
With 82 animals saved, BARC has no goal except striving to save as many as possible, whether that means fostering until a permanent home is found, adopting or raising awareness and money by collecting sponsorships.
Currently the club is raising “Pennies for Pixie”. Pixie is a puppy with Parvo, a life threatening disease.
“Animals mean so much to me because they do not have a voice of their own. They can’t speak up for themselves,” Humphreys said.
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