West End Elementary celebrates its Pet Advocates!
On Wednesday, November 13, 2026, the West End Elementary fourth graders gathered in the school Media Center to celebrate becoming Pet Advocates after participating in the Pet Responsibility Program.
A review of the “I Can” statements from each lesson was facilitated by PRC volunteers Mary Ann Root and Susan Blackburn.
The Pet Responsibility Committee (PRC) mascot, Speuter (Mary Smith), who had been a lonely stray kitty, was introduced to the students and read a poem that told her story and highlighted responsibility for our pets.
Three students were announced as winners of the Speuter Story Contest, successfully writing about the importance of getting pets “fixed” to control Pet Overpopulation. The students won a free spay/neuter for their pets or could donate their award to another person. Winners were Sophie C. She donated her voucher to Caring Hearts. Asher E. has a 2 yr old dog that he plans to have neutered and Coco E. is planning to get a pet soon.
Twenty Star Artist awards were given for creative illustrations of pet care on “clinic bags”. The decorated paper bags were donated to the Sandhills Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic in Vass, for dispensing medications to pet owners to give to their pets after their surgeries. The winners in Ms. Crisp’s class were Sansa, Laneya, Coco, Brinley, Valor and Elsie. The winners in Ms. Hammond’s class were Dylan, Kyle, Ana and Brooke. The winners in Ms. Gaffney’s class were Scarlett, Graylyn, Lizmeiry, Colton, Kaida, Sophie, Cora, Dani, Sophia and Leroy.
The guest speaker was Dr. Laura Diem, owner of Pinehills Veterinary Clinic. She talked to the kids about the different types of jobs that veterinarians can do and showed the kids a slide show called, What did that pet eat?!” The students were asked to guess what each pet had eaten ….. and it wasn’t a food item!
The Promise Poster was read with students agreeing to the pet-related statements by saying “I Promise”. It was circulated among the classrooms for signing by the fourth graders and will be displayed in the school, and we closed with an update on Snowball and Barney. Bookmarks and stickers were distributed in the classrooms.
Congratulations to the West End fourth graders for speaking up for “those who have no voice”. They will be wonderful advocates!
