KINGWOOD — Instead of exchanging gifts with each other, Bruceton School first graders bought gifts for Secret Santa Paws.
Those paws reside at the Preston County Animal Shelter, where students and teachers delivered the blankets, toys, food, treats and other items — even a kennel and a heated water bowl — on Wednesday.
“They were able to shop as much or as little as they wanted,” teacher Sherea Singer said.
Each child picked a shelter pet to buy for. Adelyn Singer bought for a cat named Clara. At home, she tends to her cat, Cupcake, who came from the shelter. The purpose of the animal shelter, Adelyn said, “is to help them get homes.”
Riley Hagedorn has a Maltese dog named Ellie. Tyler Parks said he has two dogs — Brodie and Peanut (“Peanut is big”) — and a cat, Max. He brought blankets, dog food and toys for the shelter.
Noah Belanger was so excited about the project, his mother told his teacher he woke up at 3:40 a.m. Wednesday, afraid he missed the trip.
Preston Shelter Administrative Assistant Samantha Hostutler said, “A lot of schools and even the groups like Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts seem to donate more at Christmas.”
The shelter has a wish list of items it can always use, including laundry detergent, dryer sheets, blue Dawn dishwashing detergent, kitty litter, dog food and cat food.
The shelter is at 278 Poor Farm Road, Kingwood. Check out animals available for adoption at petfinder.com, email pcas@prestoncountywv.gov or call 304-329-3461. The shelter
is open for adoptions 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
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