Members of the Cave Canem Dog Club
Kendra Garcia needed to cull out some of her daughter’s, stuffed animals. Anne Marie needed stuffed animals to give out as Bingo prizes at the Inn at Silver Lake nursing home.
Miss Lapointe, Cave Canem Leader, with her dog, Clover
The conversation occurred during the weekly meeting of the Cave Canem 4H dog obedience club. The club meets in the basement of the nursing home. While Abbe Garcia practiced with her dog. Kendra was passing the time talking with her friend at the front desk. Thus, from a simple conversation an annual 4H community service project was created.
The day before Easter, club members and their dogs passed out over 300 stuffed animals to the residents. “They like the dogs stuffed animals the best,” said Kendra. This year they had over 300 stuffed animals. Which meant there was plenty left over for Bingo prizes.
Older 4H club members “give up” their old stuffed animals and the younger ones can part with only some of them. Kendra also finds them at yard sales (she offers to take them after the sale is over) and from neighbors. “Some days I get home and there is a bag of stuffed animals outside my door.” She cleans them up and they are good to go. “I am known as the stuffed animal lady.”
Choosing the perfect friend...
“I think its nice to help, my friend, Trey came too,” said Marshall Smith, one of the youngest members of the Cave Canem club.
The afternoon is fun. The 4Hers enjoy talking to the nursing home residents and the residents enjoy the interaction and the gifts. The parents have fun as well.
It’s a win-win situation for everybody, even the dogs!
Cave Canem 4-H Dog Club 