Westmoore Elementary 2024-2025
Westmoore Elementary Celebrates Its Pet Advocates!
It was a very happy day on Monday, December 2, 2024, as the fourth graders at Westmoore Elementary School gathered to celebrate what they had learned during their 6 session Pet Responsibility program. The Pet Responsibility Committee (PRC) team that presented the program was led by volunteer Liz Surface.
The students learned about the “sad problem” in Moore County: too many abandoned, neglected pets ending up at the Moore County shelter and not enough adoptive homes for all of them. They learned that the best way to control animal overpopulation is by spaying & neutering our pets. They learned how to take good care of their pets and to make good choices when selecting a pet.
During the celebration, they were visited by Speuter (PRC volunteer Mary Smith), the PRC kitty mascot. Speuter read a poem about her humble beginnings as a stray kitten on the street. The students learned that Speuter was lucky to have found someone to love and care for her and went on to live a happy, healthy life. Speuter encouraged the students to think about how much better the world would be if we all took it upon ourselves to save just one pet in some way.
During the program, the students decorated paper lunch bags to be donated to the Sandhills Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic in Vass. Each bag carries an advocacy message and will be used to dispense medications for pets after their surgery. There were some very creative and imaginative bags. Four students were awarded certificates for their artwork and messages. Those receiving awards were Parker D., Vivian E., Kelsey D., and Roselyn R. Great work by All!
As part of the program, the students were asked to write a “Speuter” story about how their pets would benefit from being spayed or neutered. All the stories showcased what they had learned. Ten students won a framed certificate and a voucher to spay or neuter their dog or cat. Winners were Finley H., Luke W., Landon H., Silas C., Matthew M. Landon B., Abbott B., Olivia K.; Owen D., and Mystic N. Lizzie, Bella, Maverick and Shelby are among the pets who will be fixed and not add to the pet overpopulation situation in Moore County.
Neil Copeland of Seven Lakes Kennels spoke to the students about how he trains dogs to work with the military, law enforcement and private security companies or dogs who are pets and need some training to thrive. He took a lot of questions from interested students and parents. His training “partner” was Cora, a young, yellow Lab who is learning to be a good pet for her family.
The students recited a Promise together, taking to heart the words they were saying and then signed the Promise Poster, giving their intent to do their best for all animals.
We congratulate all the Westmoore fourth graders for being part of the team that makes life better for all pets!
