Girls On The Run Go To The Dogs

By Eliza Hallabeck

Almost two weeks after their season ended, Girls On The Run met up again to decide how to spend the $900 they raised for the Newtown Dog Pound.

“They collected pledges for each lap they ran around the field,” said Liz Raftery, coach for Girls On The Run. According to Ms Raftery, Girls On The Run is an after school program for girls in third, fourth, and fifth grades. The girls can join the program from any school. Each year, she said, the girls choose a community service project, and this year it was nearly a unanimous vote to support the Newtown Dog Pound.

“It’s a great way for girls to build self-esteem and learn to run a 5-K race,” said Ms Raftery.

There were 19 girls on the team this year, and Ms Raftery said, each of them asked their friends and family to donate money for each lap they ran around the track.

During their normal meeting days, she said, the girls learn how to make healthy choices, warm up, and learn running techniques.

“It’s amazing that children just like you have raised so much,” said Virginia Jess, president of Canine Advocates of Newtown (CAN). She said the children in Newtown have been overly supportive in raising money, both for a new dog pound and for covering fees for veterinarians.

There were many sick animals at the pound this year, because there were problems with controlling the heat in the current building, said Ms Jess. The animals were also living in extremely close conditions, and about three weeks ago the pound lost hot water. Ms Jess said it is extremely hard to clean animals without water.

“This year was a very, very hard year,” said Ms Jess, “because we had so many animals.”

Unfortunately, Ms Jess said to the members of Girls On The Run present at the meeting this past Tuesday, the condition of the current pound means some animals need to be turned away.

Some girls asked her if they could volunteer or go to visit the animals, but Ms Jess said they need to be over 18 years old to handle the animals.

The girls voted on whether to give the $900 to helping build a new pound or helping to decrease the cost of bills for veterinarians.

In the end the girls decided they would split the money in half to equally go toward both causes.

“That’s a good choice,” Ms Jess said. “We so desperately need the money for both things.”

Ms Jess also promised the girls that, for most of them, the new pound will be close to them in its new location by the Reed Intermediate School once it is built. By the time it is built, most of the girls will be attending that school.

“I love animals,” said Hannah Logan, a fourth grade student from Middle Gate School who participates in Girls On The Run. “I have a dog and I wanted her forever.”

Hannah said she likes to run because it helps her to relieve extra energy, and combining running with raising money for animals was a good thing, she said.

“I went to a couple of my neighbors and my parents,” she said, “and I asked if they wanted to donate.”

Ms Jess said all of the work the students are doing is appreciated by both CAN and the Newtown Dog Pound.

“And believe me,” she said, “the animals appreciate it.”