Publication: Spotlight: the best of the Bay Area
Publication Date: June 30, 2021
Palo Alto Humane Society just yesterday delivered a ton of dog toys made by local teens to the San Jose city animal shelter.
“It is a busy, crowded shelter, and we hope to create some awareness of the dogs there needing adoption and make them happy with toys to play with while they wait for a home,” said Palo Alto Humane Society Executive Director Carole Hyde. “We will also be taking some of the toys (the teens made so many!) to the Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority, the shelter in Santa Clara.”
More than 100 teens gathered Saturday, May 22, at the Church of the Latter-day Saints in Sunnyvale to participate in service projects that included making the dog toys.
“We’re grateful to this group of teens from the Mormon Church for choosing to help the animals,” said Hyde. “Many groups of teens and even younger children engage in service projects for the Palo Alto Humane Society. Where possible, we connect their efforts with local shelters and animals who need a home.”
Some of the teen-made dog toys will also be available for dog guests coming to the Humane Society’s upcoming July 7 Yappy Hour at the Sheraton Palo Alto, where there will be a special menu for dogs to enjoy. The Yappy Hour will be held from 5 to 8 p.m.
The dog toy-making project is one of the many Palo Alto Humane Society education programs that aim to help young people create a society that encourages empathy and responsibility toward all living beings.
In fact, today is also the deadline for 7th- and 8th-graders in Santa Clara, San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties to turn in entries for the society’s “Ambassadors of Compassion” short story contest. The organization hopes that by researching and writing original stories about animals and people helping each other, students will develop a greater awareness of animal welfare and will become ambassadors of compassion.
The Palo Alto Humane Society advocates generally for animals’ safety and care, and they also provide financial assistance to pet owners who suddenly face emergency veterinary care for their animals. To that end, they host an annual fall Daisy’s Day campaign that fundraises for the pet owner assistance program. PAHS also provides veterinary funding for stray and rescued animals and spay/neuter funding for rescued pets through their Animal Rescue and Spay/Neuter funds, respectively.
Besides directly helping pets and their owners thrive together, the assistance with veterinary crisis costs has the wider benefit of keeping more dogs and cats from ending up in shelters, Hyde said.
For more information about the short story contest, Palo Alto Humane Society’s education programs for young people, assistance with emergency pet care or volunteering opportunities with the organization, email them at pahs@paloaltohumane.org or call (650) 424-1901.
Thank you to Spotlight for featuring us in their June 30th edition of The Best of The Bay Area.
Click Here To Read Article