Gold Award Spotlight: Adogable!
For Girl Scout Ambassador Ash, making a difference in the lives of animals was a clear choice when considering a focus for her Girl Scout Gold Award project. Through research, Ash became aware of some of the negative side effects of living in a shelter for extended periods on animals up for adoption, and knew she could help animals in her community. To make a positive impact, this Girl Scout planned and executed projects within the Chesapeake Humane Society with the intention of helping animals, big and small, find their “FUR”-ever homes. Ash worked with Shoshana Mostoller, the community engagement manager of the Chesapeake Humane Society, to assess the shelter’s needs and opportunities for improvement.
“When isolated in small areas for long periods of time, animals can become frustrated and harder to work with, therefore they may become hard to adopt. Through my project, I ensured the dogs had a fun obstacle course area where they were free to move around, stretch their legs, and build physical and social skills they may need to get adopted. For small animals, the Chin Huts have given each animal a safe place to hide when they feel anxious.”
Ash’s project involved over 80 hours of community service which included constructing the agility course, planning an opening ceremony, building Chin Huts, and making a Chin Hut tutorial video. In addition to helping the animals, Ash also installed a TREX bench for guests to use during visits, made possible by her collection of over 500 pounds of plastic for recycling. The improvements she made will help the shelter increase adoption rates by creating a happier environment for all.
Congratulations, Ash!
