Jaime Fisher’s Barrhead Elementary School Grade 5 class decided they wanted to do something a little bit different this year.
Instead of the class’s usual gift exchange, the class talked about some options they could do to help more unfortunate individuals.
The class discussed options such as raising money for an organization that helps people overseas, national organizations, but in the end, Fisher said the class decided on the Barrhead Animal Rescue Society (BARS).
“BARS is such a great organization,” Fisher said. “Most of the students have animals and pets at home so they are very sensitive to pet issues. And unlike people, animals cannot ask for help.”
She said for close to a month her class has been raiding their piggy banks and saving up their allowances and doing odd jobs to raise money for BARS.
“Every cent the class raised, is their own money,” Fisher said, adding to make the experience more meaningful the students could not ask mom and dad for the money.
In addition to money, the students have been working hard collecting items BARS and the animals can use, such as kennels, leashes and dog beds.
Ashley Smith, BARS spokesperson and one of the BARS delegation that visited Fisher’s class to accept the donation, said the group was so happy to receive the student’s gift.
“It is really an amazing thing they did here today,” Smith said. “Their donation will make a big difference in improving the lives of animals.”
BARS, a non-profit organization which was formally incorporated in 2010, is an organization dedicated to ensuring that all animals in the Barrhead area are treated in a humane manner.
Smith said the group actually started unofficially before 2010.
“Our founder, Terry Colborne noticed there was a big need in the area. There are so many stray animals, dogs and cats, that need a good home,” Smith said, adding that living on a farm Colborne saw and took in many of the stray animals before BARS was formally created.
One of Fisher’s students asked besides helping animals find homes if the society did other things to help animals stay safe.
Colborne said, unfortunately BARS volunteers are called upon to do more than just find loving homes for unwanted animals. Sometimes BARS is called on to intervene and take in animals if it is suspected that they are being mistreated.
“When we receive a report about an animal that is being abused, we first call the owner of the animal to see what we can do to help or sometimes we have to call the police,” Colborne said, because BARS is not allowed to go onto a property on their own.
To do everything BARS does to help protect animals, Colborne said the organization needs a lot of help from the community.
“We have a group of about 45 very dedicated volunteers who help take care of the animals and another group of 25 or so that help whenever they can,” Colborne said, adding that they can always use more, especially in Barrhead area.
Colborne said because he no longer lives in the Barrhead area, some of the tasks he used to do have to fall on the other volunteers.
However, because many volunteers have to work, sometimes there is no one available to handle an emergency.
“Sometimes we get called out on short notice to help an animal in need,” he said, “Sometimes it is as simple picking a dog or cat up and being able to foster it for a few days. It all helps.”
Of course, Colborne said the society is also looking for financial donations. Although he said many of the feed companies in Barrhead help the society by supplying food, BARS always needs money to help offset veterinary care.
Niels Vanloon, one of the Grade 5 students, said he was happy his class could help BARS and hopes many other people will as well.
Vanloon knows how rewarding helping a stray animal can be.
“One day my parents and I saw this stay dog on the side of the road on my way home from a friends house and we stopped and picked it up,” Vanloon said, adding that after having the dog checked out at the vet, his family ended up adopting the dog.
“We named her Pup. She was a great dog and we loved her so much.”
For more information about BARS or to volunteer, contact Terry Colborne at [email protected] or 780-307-6590.
