Girl Scouts build canine play area for Warwick Animal Shelter

WARWICK-Thanks to a local Jr. Girl Scout Troop, the Warwick Valley Humane Society's Animal Shelter can now offer its canine residents an amusement park For their Bronze Award Project, Junior Girl Scout Troop 313 from Goshen Service Unit 612 recently constructed an agility course/play area for the homeless dogs. "They told me this project was important because the dogs suffer from kennel stress" said Emily Shedletsky, Animal Control Officer with the society. She coordinated the project with Girl Scout Troop Leader Jean Bradley and Assistant Leader Becky DenDanto. All the girls who participated did their research into the types of plants that would be safe for dogs. Then they constructed, painted and decorated the various agility stations. "Jonas," a young pit bull terrier mix, was chosen to demonstrate the course. With a little coaxing he bounded up the haystacks, went up and over the A-frame, and jumped the hurdles. "He thanked the girls with kisses and won their hearts," said Shedletsky. The troop members who participated in the project were Kristyn Alfonso, Christine Attanasio, Jamie Bradley, Cassie DenDanto, Emily O'Brien and Sarah Willmott. "All of us," said Suzyn Barron, president of the Warwick Valley Humane Society, "wish to express our gratitude to Troop 313 for their hard work and creativity on behalf of our homeless dogs. Some like Jonas spend many months at the shelter, waiting for a family to take them home. It gives us hope for the future when young people, like these Girl Scouts, show their compassion for animals and their willingness to work on the animals' behalf."