Having a dog can serve many purposes for a family. The canine can simply be the family pet, a service animal, a worker on the farm or all of the above.
It is sometimes hard to quantify exactly what a dog means to a family, but for the last several years, students in third, fourth and fifth grades from schools across Lawrence County have had the chance to write about why their dogs are at the top of the pack in a contest hosted by the Lawrence County Auditors Office.
While it is certainly a fun contest, the essays also give an opportunity to teach those children the important responsibility that comes with dog ownership.
This year’s winner was Duncan Jones, a fifth-grade student from Fairland West Elementary.
Not only is a “top-dog” contest good for the children to write about their furry friend, but is also aimed at bringing awareness to having tags for dogs throughout Lawrence County.
In addition to having dogs registered, this can ultimately help in the event a dog ends up at the shelter.
We are glad this has become an annual event by the auditor, and continues to honor our students for their hard work, their animals and also bring critical awareness about dog ownership and the responsibilities that come along with it.