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by ALYSSA BOYER
Intern Lifestyles Reporter
Students are encouraged to grab a ball and a few bucks and head to Sanford Mall on Friday for an afternoon that will benefit the homeless of Boone.
Homeless dogs, that is.
The event, Appalachian Rent-a-Dog, is sponsored by the Student Government Association and allows students to rent dogs brought from the Watauga Humane Society.
The cost ranges from five dollars for half an hour or eight dollars for an hour, between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Rent-a-dog
is one venue that the Watauga Humane Society is using to reach the
community and to raise funds for the shelter, which is especially
important during times of economic turmoil.
A. Lynn
Northup of the Watauga Humane Society said that while Boone has not
been hit as badly as other cities, adoptions and monetary donations
have decreased.
Northup also said that because people are losing their homes, more and more pets are being handed over to the shelter.
“Since
we do not receive any money from the county or any governmental agency
we have to raise all the funds to keep our shelter open,” she said.
Northup said approximately 40 percent of those who adopt from the Watauga Humane Society are college students.
Students
who would love to be part of this statistic but can’t, because of
housing regulations or extensive time commitments, Rent-a-Dog offers an
afternoon of enjoying the fun of a pet without the responsibilities.
This is something that freshman history education major Caitlin P. Major is quite excited about.
“Honestly,
the main reason that I go home is to see my dog,” she said. “It’s
nearly impossible to not have fun with a dog and we could all use a
little break from school stresses and such.”
Rent-a-Dog
can be a form of escape for students, but Northup also hopes it will
allow at least a couple dogs to escape from the shelter.
“[I hope] that everyone has a great time and that more people are made
aware of the Watauga Humane Society and all that we have to offer the
community,” Northup said. “Maybe a dog or two will get adopted!”
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