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CARE Volunteers Honored

Tribune photo by LOIS KINDLE

These are some of the teenagers honored recently by the Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort animal shelter in Ruskin. From left are Heather Superdock, Jennifer Johnson, Travis Muehl, Mary Rocha, Amanda Bowen, Patricia Valdez, Ivanyris Perez, Sasha Schemel and Karen Phillips.

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By LOIS KINDLE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 6, 2008

RUSKIN - The Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort recently honored 12 students for their volunteer efforts in working with CARE's homeless animals during the 2007-08 school year.

Those honored were: Heather Superdock, Jennifer Johnson, Travis Muehl, Mary Rocha, Amanda Bowen, Patricia Valdez, Ivanyris Perez, Sasha Schemel, Keren Phillips, Ellany Green, Wilda Torres and Zach Talbott.

"Some of the volunteers work to gain school credit for potential scholarships," said Don Hinderliter, CARE president. "Some volunteer for the experience and to help decide about a possible career in animal welfare. And some volunteer solely out of their love for animals.

"All of the students have shown a compassion and commitment far beyond their youthful ages and have been a tremendous help in caring for the 50 or so homeless dogs and cats in our facility."

Representing Rodgers Middle, Lennard High and East Bay High schools, many of the students volunteered on Saturdays and worked throughout the school year, including Schemel, who is home-schooled in Riverview. As a group, they worked about 60 hours a month.

Their duties included feeding the cats, cleaning and readying the cat facility for the public, socializing kittens and puppies and exercising the dogs. The students also introduced animals to visitors wanting to adopt pets, and helped maintain the facility by cutting grass, painting and doing other odd jobs.

CARE's board of directors expressed its personal appreciation to the students during last month's ceremony and provided many of the longest-serving volunteers with gift cards to honor their compassion and commitment. All received a certificate of appreciation for their service.

"First I went as a school project, but I stayed because I loved it," Schemel, 13, said. "It's fun working with the animals and knowing that I'm helping them. I like running with the dogs and cuddling the cats best."

During the upcoming summer months, several volunteer positions, which are from 8 to 10 a.m., are available for students ages 16 and older who are interested in completing some of their community service requirements. For information, call the shelter at (813) 645-2273.

CARE is a nonprofit, no-kill shelter for abused and abandoned dogs and cats that is operated solely by volunteers. The shelter also provides low-cost spay-neuter services for low- to moderate income residents.

CARE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT: Don Hinderliter

VICE PRESIDENT: Chris Stiles

SECRETARY: Linda Earles

TREASURER: Lori Bruno

MEMBERS: Priscilla Mixon, Tim Otte, Kelly Mariskanish

FIRST-QUARTER NUMBERS

DOG ADOPTIONS: 37

CAT ADOPTIONS: 29

SPAY-NEUTERS: 150

VOLUNTEER HOURS: 3, 444

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

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