Wuddup with DAWG!
NEIRAD enilno edition
If you simply can not resist pursing your lips and talking in a sort of baby gibberish centered around the word "wuv" to the closest furry featured creature DAWG is the group for you. Students who want to help homeless animals and meet some great people have a fun new club to answer those needs. DHS's DAWG has been gaining popularity as well as publicity within DHS hallways. Many can't help but stop and laugh at the posters with the clever acronym: DAWG, thought of by sophomore Sydney Schildnecht, which stands for Darien Animal Welfare Group.
"DAWG is a great way to find opportunities to volunteer, it's really laid back and always fun. I always look forward to going to the meetings," sophomore member Meredith Persico said.
The club was founded last year by sophomore Samantha Wood, who describes the club as an alliance "for students to help find a way to…end suffering to animals both locally and worldwide."
D.A.W.G. made its debut last March when it held a joint food drive with Middlesex Middle School. However, it wasn't the normal sort of food drive with brownies and iced cupcakes. Instead, Pedigree puppy chow and kibble lined the hallways. This pet-food drive was successful in raising hundreds of pounds of canned dog and cat food as well as blankets and other pet necessities that were then donated to the T.A.I.L.S. and P.A.W.S. animal welfare groups in Norwalk.
In addition to the pet food drive, the group held a variety of other activities to help raise awareness of animal cruelty and neglect. Last April a few members from the group spent a weekend during spring break at the Monroe Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or SPCA. The SPCA is a no- kill animal humane organization that has worked to provide abandoned and stray animals with safe homes. DAWG members senior Caroline McDonough and sophomore Darby Dyar (who has since moved to Indiana) helped paint and spruce up the shelter facilities.
In May, D.A.W.G. held a two-day bake sale and sold homemade cookies, cupcakes and brownies baked by the various club members. The goodies were sold in the cafeteria during all three-lunch shifts. The bake sale was yet another success for the club as the club earned $446, which they donated to the Monroe SPCA.
“Our group has identified several ways that students could have an impact and promote positive change in animal welfare issues. But we're not just all about talk: we have a specific plan of action to address animal welfare needs,” Wood said. When the club members are not busy stirring up brownie mix for a bake sale or stacking up piles of Pedigree at their meetings, they are able to meet with veterinarians. Faulty advisor Stacey Wilkins has been able to have veterinarians in the area including Dr. Michelle Lamothe and Dr. Vicki June come and speak to the members of the clubs at the meetings, which are held roughly once a month.
Consider stopping by their next meeting later this month. DAWG is always eager to welcome new animal lovers into the group. For further information contact Samantha Wood samibowami@gmail.com or visit the DAWG Web site Web.mac.com/wdoughty
Interested in helping animals? Adopt a cat in need!
