[PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The Zebra is proud to publish the following article written by 8th grader Cece Baker, whose Girl Scout Silver Award project shines a compassionate light on the needs of homeless animals in Alexandria. Her story is presented below in her own words.]
Paws for a Cause
Written by 8th grader Cece Baker
As a child, I have been fortunate to have a wonderful puppy called Max. I have watched him grow up and love him very much; he is like a best friend to me. Having a love for animals and enjoying visiting the Zoo a lot, made me think what could I do to give back to them.
Last year I planned my Girl Scout’s Silver Award project around wanting to help build awareness about the plight of animals and the need for adoption. There are many animals in our community who do not have a home, which means they do not have food or someone to love them. Many of these animals end up in shelters and those shelters can become overcrowded and overflow with too many animals to care for.
I chose this project because I am very passionate about animals and have a strong love for them. I want people to know that pets also have feelings and if they don’t have a family to love them, they can become lonely. Spreading awareness about animals can help people get more engaged. Someone might think twice before buying a pet when they know they can adopt one from the shelter.
So why are there so many homeless animals?…