Four-Legged Friends Benefit

From Middle Gate School Students

By Kendra Bobowick

Sarah Connor and Rachel Mrozinski share friendship, eighth-grade gossip and schoolwork at Middle Gate School, and now share the credit for a donation the two made to Canine Advocates of Newtown on January 4.

Welcomed by Animal Control Officer Carolee Mason and her assistant Amy Andras, the friends took a moment to pet Midnight, a friendly female black Lab and regular personality at the pound. Rachel and Sarah stepped outside to pet a couple of circling cats that also make the pound their home. With Ms Mason was another familiar guest to the facility, Canine Advocates of Newtown (CAN) President Virginia Jess, who also thanked the girls for organizing the contribution of food, dog toys, and treats, and cleaning supplies needed in the kennels. The girls’ donations are the year’s first following a CAN campaign to raise funds to support a new dog pound.

Orchestrated by Ms Jess was last year’s collection of more than $90,000.

“I never, never thought we could raise all that money in one year,” she said.

As the fundraising and Newtown Dog Pound support roll into 2007 she looks at Rachel’s and Sarah’s efforts saying, “Every donation helps. Every little dollar helps.”

The girls’ idea began with a letter they printed and distributed in search of donations. They later placed a collection box at the school where they soon found food, toys, and cleaning supplies. Within a month they had filled three boxes.

Other schools are on their list of potential collection sites. Both Rachel and Sarah agreed that they hope for permission to collect elsewhere. Contact CAN at canineadvocates.org.