There are over 7 million homeless pets in the U.S. who need a good home. According to New Jersey’s Office of Animal Welfare (http://www.state.nj.us/health/animalwelfare/facts.shtml), approximately 61% of dogs and about 75% of all cats entering shelters across the country will be euthanized. This equals to more than 12 million dogs and cats are euthanized in pounds and shelters across the country every year. The fact is there are simply not enough homes for them. There are 362 animal shelters in NJ that are working diligently to protect and care for animals, but they need help. Shelters like the Cumberland County SPCA and the Atlantic County Humane Society each take in over 5,000 animals a year! The numbers are startling and horrendous. There is a pressing need for continued education in animal welfare, advocacy and intervention such as encourage the neutering of companion animals, as well as relaying the message of the careful decision-making required by families for the lifetime commitment and care of a companion animal. While the American Humane Society has been protecting animals since 1887, the regulation and education of animal welfare is relatively new in New Jersey. The Office of Animal Welfare was just created in 2004 to oversee statewide animal welfare issues. Thus, students across our state need education and information on animal welfare to improve the lives of homeless animals in the state of New Jersey.

In an effort to promote both leadership and service learning, Helping 100, a student led organization made up of 8th graders through 12th graders, will coordinate and lead a conference for all 6th grade students at Northfield Community School (NCS). The focus of our Build an Ark Conference is to educate and increase awareness of animal abandoned and homeless issues, as well as help aide in the decline of these problems. Our project connects our club, student body, teachers and Community of Caring committee members at NCS with community partners for meaningful service activities. In the Build an Ark Conference, 6th grade students meet a panel of experts from the New Jersey Office of Animal Welfare, Humane Society professionals, local veterinarians, pet stores owners, and government officials who will speak on animal welfare issues. In addition, students will develop service-learning skills through workshops led by Helping 100 and Community of Caring teacher members. The conference will culminate with a service learning project where Helping 100 students teach 6th grade students how to make small fleece blankets to put in the dog and cat cages for local animal shelters. In addition, we will create a website that will relay animal welfare information, advocate, and create awareness of the existing problems. Helping 100 members will complete an iRescue video from all conference activities, which will include student reflection, interviews with experts, adoption advice and other useful material. The theme that runs throughout is for students to help students to building community as seen in the following activities: • Helping 100 members research animal abandoned and homeless issues, and share these issues with 6th grade students. • Helping 100 members will talk about caring, leadership and initiative using a book called The Dog Poop Initiative (http://dogpoopinitiative.com/) and the discussion guide. • They will work with 6th grade teachers and Community of Caring (www.communityofcaring.org) committee members to lead students through team building exercises and a workshop on the basic elements of service learning. • 6th grade students then “pay it forward” again by making blankets for the Humane Society. • Helping 100 record the process through their community awareness iRescue Videos and website.

Helping 100 members have already begun planning the conference, we’ve researched and found materials and lessons for student workshops, have already contacted the Northfield Middle School and begun the action plan for the project with administrators and teachers in the Northfield Community of Caring Committee. We know who to contact for our panel of experts and know how to make the blankets for the animals. Below are our goals and timeline: SMART Goal #1: Coordinate a Build an Ark Conference that creates awareness of the animal welfare issues and teaches the benefits of service learning to all sixth grade students at Northfield Middle School (approximately 140 students). 1. Plan and coordinate conference agenda of activities with Northfield Middle School administration, sixth grade teaching team, and Community of Caring teacher members. (October 27-November 2) 2. Contact the New Jersey Office of Animal Welfare, Humane Society professionals, local veterinarians, pet stores owners, and government officials, to be on panel of experts. (November 3-November 9) 2. Create flyers and podcasts to advertise the event (November 17-November 23). 3. Hold Conference on December 3, 2008 and make 100 “iRescue” blankets to be distributed to the local Humane Societies in Ocean City and Atlantic City. SMART Goal #2: Make infomercials on Animal Rescue, Homelessness, Proper Care. 1. Helping 100 advisor trains team on Garage Band and iMovie to make videos. (November 10-16) 2. Research Animal Rescue Issues (October 27-December 3) 3. Create video infomercials on Animal Rescue and Care, Service Learning Opportunities. Get footage from conference on December 3, 2008 as well as interviews with personnel from New Jersey Office of Animal Welfare, Humane Society professionals, local veterinarians, pet stores owners, and government officials (October 27-Decmeber 3) SMART Goal #3: Build and maintain a website. The last goal is to build a website that will help the community to know about future events our team will hold. 1. Update the animal homeless portion of the website with care tips, rescue information, our “advertisement” services for community members and Humane Society who need their pet adopted, put videos on website (ongoing) 3. Research and develop content more thoroughly (ongoing) 4. Maintain website (ongoing)

You can adopt a pet: http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=adopt_home or at http://www.petfinder.com.