They might not be fighting oppression or organizing a political protest, but the students at Ironton High School have found a worthy cause – preventing animal cruelty.

Tuesday, December 07, 1999

They might not be fighting oppression or organizing a political protest, but the students at Ironton High School have found a worthy cause – preventing animal cruelty.

The students in Shannon Lane’s English class set up shop in front of the cafeteria last week and asked for donations to purchase a kennel for the Lawrence County Animal Abuse and Adoption Center.

"People don’t think animals are living things," sophomore Brittany Elkins said. "They think they are food and they kill them and eat them. Even though they don’t eat dogs, they are still mean to them."

Miss Elkins and Mallory Skaggs researched animal cruelty in Lawrence County for their English project this year, and they were shocked at what they found.

"I looked at the pictures and I wanted to change it," Miss Elkins said. "I mostly looked up cases in Lawrence County – like the two-headed dogs and experimental dogs."

Miss Elkins and Miss Skaggs found out they are not alone in their belief that animal cruelty is wrong. Through this fund-raiser, they have discovered that their fellow students also care.

By seeking donations and selling baked goods, the sophomore class raised $375.17, which was more than their goal of $300, Ms. Lane said.

"I think there’s a need in the community to address the fact that animals are being abused, and promote the humane society, because they don’t kill the animals. Instead, they try to take preventative measures with spaying and neutering," she said. "We wanted to help the humane society out because we believe in what they do. It’s all volunteer, but they have to pay the vets, the lawyers and the list goes on."

The money will be given to the humane society in hopes that they will purchase a kennel with a separator so that there will be room to house two more dogs, Ms. Lane said.

Ironton High School students might not be able to save every animal, but that won’t stop them from trying, Ms. Lane said.

And though not much, every donation helps, Miss Skaggs said.

"They can keep more animals," she said.

To help the high-schoolers with their cause, call Ms. Lane at 532-3911 and leave a message for her at the high school.

Or, to make a direct contribution to the humane society, call 533-9050.