SPCA and Shorecrest Partner Over Helping Tampa Bay Pets

When Sharon Hauser asked the assembled group of fifth-graders at Shorecrest Prep School if they had any questions following her one-hour session on taking care of pets, almost every hand in the group shot up.

And the amazing thing was, all the questions were well thought out and pertinent to the subject.

“What was interesting was that they were interested in the animals in their neighborhood, not just their (own) pet," Hauser said after the meeting. “I’ve not had that happen quite so much at other schools.”

“They’re huge animal lovers here at Shorecrest, and so I think they do know what it takes to care for animals,” she added.

Hauser, the Director of Education and Community Outreach for the SPCA of Tampa Bay, brought Rusty to Shorecrest on Monday to educate students on the amount of responsibility it takes to own a pet, plus teach them how to handle situations involving strays.

Needless to say the shaggy, lovable Chow/Mini Schnauzer/English bulldog mix was a huge hit with the kids; they stroked his fur and patted his head while he just sat there and calmly took it all in.

The fifth-graders are currently involved in their annual drive to collect food, supplies and other materials for the strays at the SPCA Tampa Bay. On May 24^th the kids will bring all the toys, blankets, newspapers and food they have accumulated to the shelter in Largo.

Last year the students brought in more than 1,000 lbs. of food; Middle Division English teacher Mindy Artze vows to beat the 1,000 lb. total this year.

“They do the most, there is nobody else that has exceeded what they have done,” Hauser said of the Shorecrest students.