- April 20, 2024
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PAWS summer campers give Elsa some attention in the Halifax Humane Society's cat and kitten room. Photos by Michele Meyers
Halifax Humane Society's Volunteer Manager Kiana Gay and camp coordinator Emily Carnes talk about the enrichment treats and toys made by the camp participants.
Halifax Humane Society's Volunteer Manager Kiana Gay shows a cat toy the PAWS campers will make during the week.
HHS's Volunteer Manager Kiana Gay shows a cat toy made during camp.
1-year-old Winston gleefully plays in the water.
Oreo cookie game winner strikes a pose prior to the second round of competition.
Kyra Graham blows bubbles at HHS's dog park.
Charli Martin has five cats and claims to be a"cat lady."
The goal of the Oreo cookie game is to move the cookie from the eye to the mouth without touching it.
The Oreo cookie game is a camp favorite.
Oreo cookie game winner.
Lulu licks her pupsicle.
Some of the dogs at HHS participate in the Prison Pups and Pals 8 week training program.
Lulu begs for more treats.
Camp coordinator Emily Carnes informs the campers that they will be making enrichment treats for the dogs as Kyra Graham cheers.
The enrichment treats are filled with Moist and Meaty dog food.
Brecken makes her second enrichment treat.
Jameson stays busy stuffing the PVC pipe with dog food to make an enrichment treat for one of the shelter dogs.
Volunteer dog walker Peggy Nero tries to clear the kennel hallway.
Hawaii gets some attention from a PAWS camper.
Campers and volunteers keep the cats and kittens company at the Halifax Humane Society.
Clean-up duty for the campers at the PAWS summer camp.
The Halifax Humane Society held its last Pals of Animal Welfare and Sheltering summer camp of the season Aug. 9-13 for a group of 25 children ranging in age from 8-13 years old.
According to HHS’s community outreach director Barry KuKes, the shelter has been offering summer camps for 20 years and have always sold out. This year, HHS was able to increase the spots available from 20 to 25 camp participants per week, and as a result, it was necessary to have four student volunteers from both Calvary Christian Academy and Silver Sands Middle School, to assist with the activities.
Camp curriculum is a combined effort of Kiana Gay, HHS’s Volunteer Manager and camp coordinator Emily Carnes who based their decisions on the age range of the kids attending that particular week. The last week consisted of an older group, which made it easier to execute multiple enrichment treat activities and increase the complexity of the games.
“We are creating a new generation of caring human beings who love animals,” Gay said. “Hopefully they will come back and volunteer or adopt a pet of their own.”
Throughout the week, campers crafted treats for the shelter animals along with cat toys made from bottle caps, streamers and pipe cleaners. Once completed, the kids got to interact with the dogs and cats by offering them a treat or toy. They were instrumental in helping out with the animals in the kennels which has proven to be an essential moral booster for both parties.
Self-professed “cat lady” and the proud owner of five cats, camper Charli Martin, summed up her interaction with the animals during camp week.
“The animals like to speak to me,” she said. “I want to adopt all the cats, including the grumpy ones.”
Presentations were also part of the camp agenda, which included a variety of volunteers who spoke to the campers about wildlife and the important roles dogs play that benefit humanity. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission taught the campers about black bears while the Volusia County Mosquito Control explained the potential dangers of the insect along with steps to take to reduce its presence. Paws of War also shared their emotional support dogs with the kids and taught them about how they rescue shelter dogs for their mission to help veterans and first responders.
“I think the kids should have fun and learn something during camp,” Carnes said. “While they’re here, they can share their love with all the dogs and cats. I hope some of them will find a new dog or kitty to take home.”
