Post by CampWhippet on May 26, 2006 7:46:43 GMT -5
Student project keeps greyhounds warm
By Jody Ferres | Larry Fisher/QUAD-CITY TIMES
Fifteen-year-old Ashley Garcia never has seen a greyhound dog before.
The Smart Intermediate School eighth-grader didn’t know how cute and cuddly they were or how friendly one would be.
But she could tell you their measurements and show you the winter coat she made for the animals —and what they looked like after two visited her classroom Wednesday morning at the Davenport school.
“The quilt winter blankets were hard to make,” said Garcia, who made a bright flower blanket. “But they all turned out really cool-looking.”
For the hundreds of greyhound dogs that will benefit from Garcia and her fellow classmate’s handy work, they don’t have if the pattern is flower, green, stripes, or polka dots. The canines just want, and need, something to keep them warm.
About 40 Smart eighth-graders have worked hard for the last month making and sewing 60 blankets and 12 coats for greyhounds up for adoption at the Quad-Cities Greyhound Adoption Agency.
Something the agency desperately needed and something Daniele Busher’s clothing and design class could do.
A few months ago, fate brought Greyhound Adoption Shelter volunteer Kara Blanche to Busher’s classroom for a project with Junior Achievement.
“I actually work with Junior Achievement for my real job,” said Blanche, who has always had a special place in her heart for dogs. “The dogs at the shelter need comfort in their cages because of how thin they are.”
The thought of a collaborative sewing effort occurred to Busher after hearing Blanche talk to the students in her sixth-grade family consumer science class.
“Kara was telling the kids she got her job with Junior Achievement because of her volunteer work with the Greyhound Adoption Shelter,” Busher said. “After class, her and I talked about the need for blankets and coats for the dogs and the idea went off from there.”
After old sheet sets were collected and patterns for the coats and blankets were made, Busher’s students went to work sewing the fabric for the canines.
According to Busher, the articles have to be sewn very specifically so the greyhounds do not get their feet caught in the fabric. Also because of how thin the dogs are genetically, any creases in their cage lining can cause sores on their body.
Making the items was something the first-year teacher believed that she could have her students do to give back to the community.
“These kids don’t have a lot. Over 70 percent of the school gets free and reduced meals,” she said. “The families these kids come from may never be able to donate big funds, but they can donate their skills and time to the community.”
Donations are something the shelter lives on every day.
Started nine years ago in the home of a greyhound enthusiast, the shelter has rescued and found homes for more than 1,200 greyhounds. Although some have special needs due to racing injuries, the dogs come either spayed or neutered, worm medicine, teeth cleaned, and shots. According to Greyhound Adoption Shelter president Janet Stoefen, it’s a need for areas with dog tracks.
“After a greyhound turns five, they’re done racing. Most dogs live to be 10-12 years old,” she said. “With tracks in Council Bluffs, Dubuque and Wisconsin, there are a lot of abandoned dogs.”
Located in Maysville, the shelter cares for greyhounds looking to find homes. The area canines are nationally known, getting adopted from as far away as New York. But while they are awaiting new homes, the animals need extra blankets and warmth because of low body fat.
“A greyhound has about 16 percent body fat while an average dog has 36 percent,” Stoefen said. “That’s why they really need the blankets and coats to keep them warm.”
That is what motivated 14-year-old Megan Davis to sew a difficult winter coat and spring blanket for the dogs. “I love dogs, even though my dad won’t let me have one — only a cat,” she said.
For more information about the greyhound adoption agency visit www.qcgreyhoundadoption.org. In addition, Smart Intermediate is accepting clean, old sheets to continue the sewing project. They may be reached at (563) 323-1837.
The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.
By Jody Ferres | Larry Fisher/QUAD-CITY TIMES
Fifteen-year-old Ashley Garcia never has seen a greyhound dog before.
The Smart Intermediate School eighth-grader didn’t know how cute and cuddly they were or how friendly one would be.
But she could tell you their measurements and show you the winter coat she made for the animals —and what they looked like after two visited her classroom Wednesday morning at the Davenport school.
“The quilt winter blankets were hard to make,” said Garcia, who made a bright flower blanket. “But they all turned out really cool-looking.”
For the hundreds of greyhound dogs that will benefit from Garcia and her fellow classmate’s handy work, they don’t have if the pattern is flower, green, stripes, or polka dots. The canines just want, and need, something to keep them warm.
About 40 Smart eighth-graders have worked hard for the last month making and sewing 60 blankets and 12 coats for greyhounds up for adoption at the Quad-Cities Greyhound Adoption Agency.
Something the agency desperately needed and something Daniele Busher’s clothing and design class could do.
A few months ago, fate brought Greyhound Adoption Shelter volunteer Kara Blanche to Busher’s classroom for a project with Junior Achievement.
“I actually work with Junior Achievement for my real job,” said Blanche, who has always had a special place in her heart for dogs. “The dogs at the shelter need comfort in their cages because of how thin they are.”
The thought of a collaborative sewing effort occurred to Busher after hearing Blanche talk to the students in her sixth-grade family consumer science class.
“Kara was telling the kids she got her job with Junior Achievement because of her volunteer work with the Greyhound Adoption Shelter,” Busher said. “After class, her and I talked about the need for blankets and coats for the dogs and the idea went off from there.”
After old sheet sets were collected and patterns for the coats and blankets were made, Busher’s students went to work sewing the fabric for the canines.
According to Busher, the articles have to be sewn very specifically so the greyhounds do not get their feet caught in the fabric. Also because of how thin the dogs are genetically, any creases in their cage lining can cause sores on their body.
Making the items was something the first-year teacher believed that she could have her students do to give back to the community.
“These kids don’t have a lot. Over 70 percent of the school gets free and reduced meals,” she said. “The families these kids come from may never be able to donate big funds, but they can donate their skills and time to the community.”
Donations are something the shelter lives on every day.
Started nine years ago in the home of a greyhound enthusiast, the shelter has rescued and found homes for more than 1,200 greyhounds. Although some have special needs due to racing injuries, the dogs come either spayed or neutered, worm medicine, teeth cleaned, and shots. According to Greyhound Adoption Shelter president Janet Stoefen, it’s a need for areas with dog tracks.
“After a greyhound turns five, they’re done racing. Most dogs live to be 10-12 years old,” she said. “With tracks in Council Bluffs, Dubuque and Wisconsin, there are a lot of abandoned dogs.”
Located in Maysville, the shelter cares for greyhounds looking to find homes. The area canines are nationally known, getting adopted from as far away as New York. But while they are awaiting new homes, the animals need extra blankets and warmth because of low body fat.
“A greyhound has about 16 percent body fat while an average dog has 36 percent,” Stoefen said. “That’s why they really need the blankets and coats to keep them warm.”
That is what motivated 14-year-old Megan Davis to sew a difficult winter coat and spring blanket for the dogs. “I love dogs, even though my dad won’t let me have one — only a cat,” she said.
For more information about the greyhound adoption agency visit www.qcgreyhoundadoption.org. In addition, Smart Intermediate is accepting clean, old sheets to continue the sewing project. They may be reached at (563) 323-1837.
The city desk can be contacted at (563) 383-2245 or newsroom@qctimes.com.
