JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Homeless Pet Clubs (
HPC) give students, civic leaders, and business owners a way to share their love of animals by promoting animal rescue, responsible pet ownership, adoption of shelter animals, and animal welfare. Each club picks pets to "sponsor" and promote for adoption. Pit Sisters, a Jacksonville-based organization, is the first animal rescue group to sign up and pair adoptable pit bulls with students at Andrew Jackson High School.
"We want people in the community to know what the situation is for homeless animals, especially with us being a pit bull rescue we have an uphill battle but if we have groups like Andrew Jackson that are helping us to market our dogs we will be able to save more," said Jen Watson, the founder of
Pit Sisters.
HPC gives animal lovers from diverse backgrounds a way to leverage different strengths to save the greatest number of at-risk animals. Schools, businesses, and civic clubs share their love of animals by participating in:
- animal rescue
- telling the story of their sponsored pets via facebook, emails, and posters
- volunteering at adoption events
- raising funds to support their local shelter and club
Working together, school, business, and civic clubs build on their love of animals and ultimately foster a love of community that transcends social status.
"I was overwhelmed with how many students that were here I couldn't believe the students that showed up. I learned that they really want to help but don't know how and this homeless pet club is a way that they can help," says Watson.
Reshaud Gray is one of those students and he is ready to sponsor an animal and do what it takes until he finds them a home.
"It is really sad to see animals dying because there is no room, so it would make me feel great about saving they lives," said Gray.
According to Watson, she feels, with this program established in various schools, Jacksonville is well on its way of becoming a no-kill community in no time.
