In February, eight students from Pacific Ridge School in Carlsbad partnered with Unleashed by PETCO in Bressi Ranch to host a food and toy drive for two local organizations, Beagle Freedom Project and the Rancho Coastal Humane Society. The students informed PETCO customers about the organizations and solicited much-needed donations.
Beagle Freedom Project (www.beaglefreedomproject.org) rescues beagles used in research laboratory animal experimentation and gives them a chance at life in a loving forever home. The Rancho Coastal Humane Society (www.rchumanesociety.org) provides quality shelter care, adoption services, education programs and an animal safe house program for animals displaced by domestic violence.
The eight students, including Rancho Santa Fe residents Max Jorgensen, Hope Schulman and Christopher Meyer, comprise the Animal Allies service learning group at Pacific Ridge School. Their mission is to educate others and themselves about animal welfare and determine how they can improve the quality of life for animals locally and globally. Animal Allies fulfills its mission by grooming horses and cleaning cages at Green Oak Ranch in Vista, and by working with Animals Asia on letter writing campaigns and fundraisers to help end moonbeam farming and encourage the use of pets as therapy in Asia. The group is one of many that meet during a weekly service learning class period. Service learning integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, encourage lifelong civic engagement, and strengthen communities for the common good.
The Animal Allies group successfully collected a wide variety of pet food, toys and supplies from local community members to benefit Beagle Freedom Project and Rancho Coastal Humane Society.
To learn more about the service learning curriculum at Pacific Ridge School, visit www.pacificridge.org.
