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- Tutorials resume when school starts back at Chattahoochee Courts, Western Heights and Creek Ridge on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 - 5:00 pm.
In honor of American Humane’s Be Kind to Animals Week, the Eufaula Housing Authority’s HERO Club kids volunteered their Saturday morning to lend a hand to the folks at the Barbour County Humane Society’s Animal Shelter in Clayton, Alabama. During the week of May 3-7, the after-school group studied the importance of pet care, how to become an advocate for pets and, more specifically, all about the animals they would see on their future field trip. They had read about the rampant spread of disease among animals that weren’t given the proper care. They’d also read about animals living day-to-day without human kindness to teach them gentle behaviors. The children were preparing themselves for what they would observe at the animal shelter. All were getting mentally prepared for the worse!
On May 8, ten very enthusiastic kids set out on an adventure beyond their imagination. Soon after arriving, gone was the notion that they were going to a “dump in the woods” to see beaten and down-trodden animals that were entirely helpless and defenseless. Instead, the kids were welcomed to the shelter by Mrs. Joy Bryan and Ms. Vonda Freed, owner and caretaker respectively, with big hugs and wide smiles to the charming, stone and brick, almost brand new facility. HERO kids received a short reiteration of the issues some animals have when they don’t live with a loving family from Mrs. Bryan, but they were also made to understand how an animal can overcome negative circumstances with positive influence of optimistic care.
Ms. Freed then gave the children an in-depth tour of the immaculate facility and introduced them to all of the occupants. Everyone marveled at how clean and fresh the place was and, with caution, expressed how we had all envisioned the building and grounds before our visit. Kids were given the opportunity to pet, brush, walk and feed the animals, who were even more welcoming than our hosts. After much frolicking with the pets, the small group of kids became engrossed in investigating the past and future of each pet housed at the animal shelter. Only a few animals had the same story of how they became residents at the facility. The children learned that animals become occupants by a variety of situations. Some under favorable conditions, some not so favorable. They soon found out that one of the animals was not “homeless,” but was having an “extended sleepover” at the Barbour County Humane Society Animal Shelter because she had found parents who would come pick her up soon. Daily loving care became one of the biggest concerns that grew on the hearts of kids visiting the shelter. They were assured by workers that every pet is treated to play time with someone everyday as evidenced by the gentle nature of pets kids were given the chance to tend.
The HERO Club kids’ overall impression of the Barbour County Humane Society Animal Shelter was almost as monumental as a trip to their favorite amusement park. Upon leaving, the kids learned what they can do on a consistent basis to help the animal shelter survive the rising costs of animal/pet care. They were given brochures to assist them in becoming advocates for pets and took pictures that they would keep to cherish the opportunity of meeting such wonderful people who perform such a difficult service to our community.
Pictured above are: Akira Taylor, standing; Delexica Hilton, sitting left; and Vonda Freed of the Barbour County Humane Society Animal Shelter, sitting right. Delexica and Akira learned the importance of lots of love and care for pets.
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