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Six high school students from the Cape May County Technical School were the first group of students to visit the education courtyard created by the Animal Alliance of Cape May County. By partnering with the Cape May County Animal Shelter in Crest Haven, the Animal Alliance shows students the importance of spaying and neutering animals, as well as giving general information about the shelter.

The courtyard was built last year with the purpose of raising public awareness about the humane treatment of animals and to raise funds through a memorial walkway where people can support the Animal Alliance by buying bricks that are included in the walkway.

Joan Veneziano-D'Avanzo, vice president of the Animal Alliance of Cape May County, said one of the goals was to bring groups of students to the shelter to educate them about its services.

"The purpose of the program is first to let people know the shelter exists because many people still don't know it is right here in Crest Haven," Veneziano-D'Avanzo said. "We also wanted students to know how the shelter animals arrived here and some of the emotions the animals go through. Many of the students can relate to what it's like being in a new place and that animals experience the same emotions as humans. They feel the fear, anxiety and stress of going to a new place. They just have four legs instead of two."

Veneziano-D'Avanzo said another goal was to make the experience of meeting some of the shelter animals hit home for the students. A few shelter dogs were introduced to the group, which made the experience real.

"Most of the kids have pets, and meeting the real animals at the shelter brought it home for some of them," Veneziano-D'Avanzo said. "It made it more real than just throwing out statistics of how many animals are euthanized each year because no one wants them. We really stress the importance of spay/neuter as well to keep the animal overpopulation under control. People unfortunately will adopt cute kittens and puppies, but once they get bigger, quite often they lose interest. And if they don't spay or neuter the animal, that just contributes to the overpopulation that exists."

Students also learned about the work of Animal Alliance, which has altered more than 8,000 pets since the clinic opened in 2005.

Barb Allison, a volunteer for the Cape May County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center who walks the shelter dogs weekly, said the goal of the courtyard is to bring in people who wouldn't otherwise visit the shelter.

"It's amazing to us that people will lose a dog or cat, then see it on Petfinder and say that's my dog, yet they don't know that dog has been at the local shelter for months," Allison said. "I think the students came away with a better understanding that these are living creatures. Hopefully, they will come back to the shelter to adopt, volunteer or just tell their friends about us. At the least, they understand how they can help prevent animals from being killed by spaying or neutering their own pets."

The courtyard consists of agility equipment built by a local Boy Scout where the dogs are also taken for exercise. Students will now create a poster in their classroom with the winning art to be used on the Animal Alliance holiday card.

One of the students, Breann McGovern, of North Wildwood, has two dogs and did know the shelter existed, but most of the other students did not know.

"These dogs just need love and someone to show they care," McGovern said. "A lot were abandoned, and they need a loving home. It's important for people to see that."

Memorial bricks for the walkway or to take home can be purchased for $35 each or three for $100. For more information about low cost spaying and neutering and bringing a class to the courtyard, call Animal Alliance at 465-6388 or e-mail: joanbob1@comcast.net. For information on the Cape May County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, call 465-8923. Donations can be sent to Animal Alliance of Cape May County, P.O. Box 172, Cape May 08204.

Contact Debra Rech:

609-463-6719

DRech@pressofac.com

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