PAWS is People Teens
Helping Animals
T
his list of service projects is the creative output of 19 teens who participated in the first-ever PAWS Teen Club, held weekly last summer. Bailey Gilbert, PAWS Education Coordinator, says: “I know how passionate teens are. They are dreaming about what they want to be when they grow up and it’s crucial there are spaces for them to discover those passions.” Bailey acknowledges the PAWS Teen Club is intensive and not for your everyday animal-loving teen. She developed requirements to ensure each member was committed to the five core goals:
• Starting a blog about how to transition cats to a fully indoor lifestyle. • Creating a video game about why it is important for cats to wear collars. • Planting habitat that is beneficial to both the community and native wildlife. • Putting a free pet pantry in the lower income parts of my neighborhood. • Starting a humane education club at my high school. • Preventing people from feeding wildlife with signage in my neighborhood. For more content related to this story, visit paws.org/Spring2022.
1. Investigate and develop solutions to issues facing companion animals and wildlife. 2. Learn about animal-related careers. 3. Engage in service projects. 4. Promote a greater understanding of the biodiversity of their community. 5. Foster public speaking and leadership skills. Bailey is gearing up for PAWS Teen Club 2022 and considers herself lucky to interact with people who will be future advocates for animals. As for the teens, hearing about animal-related careers from guest speakers and doing a service project were favorite features. One added, “I liked meeting other teens who are also interested in helping animals.” Another appreciated “always ending each session in laughs.” Know a teen interested in applying for PAWS Teen Club 2022? Visit paws.org/TeenClub to learn more.
Cover Story — continued of winter travel from Texas. Notes from the animal care staff at PAWS after her arrival read: “A little bit shy until she is comfortable in her surroundings but warms up very quickly into a social sweetheart.” Meanwhile, Lauren and co-owner Randy Brians were contemplating the retirement of 14-year-old Lennon, also adopted from PAWS. After years of loyal service to the people and dogs of Bone-A-Fide, Lennon’s advanced age, tired joints and slower pace were telling signs that he’d like to retire to a life of leisure, napping and snacking the day away. It was time to search for Lennon’s replacement. As longtime supporters, their first stop was PAWS. Their application called for an athletic dog, friendly with other dogs but also good with people, calm, and a no-nonsense style of taking charge when necessary. On any given day at Bone-A-Fide, Lauren and Randy are corralling dozens of dogs of all sizes, ages and temperaments. It takes a steady paw to keep order. Not long after putting in her application, Lauren received a call from a PAWS adoption advisor to come meet Adira. Lauren said, “I had no idea what kind of a ranch hand she’d make but it was love at first sight and that was that.” Lauren describes Adira’s apprenticeship as a process they are figuring out together. “Lennon has been so patient, but boy does he have moments when he looks at me as if to say, ‘Mom, can we please get on with my retirement?’”
All work and no play? No way! Adira always finds time to enjoy the snow.
