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Foothills Human Society, through a grant provided by the Polk County Community Foundation, hired two summer interns which provided the community with two knowledgeable “ambassadors” to educate and influence others concerning responsible pet ownership and the problem of overpopulation of cats and dogs.

The intern applicants went through a full application and interview process to provide them with experience in their future job application processes. Ashley Alonso-Mejia and Ben Korzelius, both rising seniors at Polk County High School, were chosen from numerous applicants to participate in the eight-week summer program.

Foothills Humane Society’s goal was to provide two high school students the opportunity to learn about animal rescue and sheltering. The objectives include providing the interns an overview of animal sheltering in the United States; education about the standard of care/best practices of animal shelters; experience in directly caring for cats and dogs; a basic understanding of animal behavior and environmental enrichment; and experience in assisting our veterinary technicians with medical treatments. We hope these experiences will create a life-long passion for animal welfare.

The primary beneficiaries were the interns and the animals at the shelter.  The interns gained work experience and knowledge of animal care and sheltering. The cats and dogs benefited from the additional attention from the interns.

Foothills Humane Society would like to thank both Ashley and Ben for a job well done as well as the Polk County Community Foundation for making this program possible.

 

Submitted by Pat Staggs