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Monday, November 23, 2009

Edison Academy Animal Science Students Provide Community Service for Local Animal Rescues

Edison Academy students in the Animal Science program donate bathing and grooming services in their professional-grade grooming facility one Saturday per month to dogs who are in foster care from local rescue organizations and shelters in hopes of helping them find adoptive homes. Edison Academy is one of six high school academies in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).

Among the services that the students provide are cutting nails, cleaning ears, trimming coats, and bathing and brushing the dogs in order to help the animals present a healthier and happier countenance to prospective adopters. The students are skilled and competent handlers and groomers who exhibit the utmost care and respect for these animals who are in need of a permanent home. Animal Science student Emily Patnode says, “It’s a pleasure to help these pets. Cats are welcome, too.”

Students initially took on the community service project to compete in a SkillsUSA student organization competition in 2008, but the project has been so popular that it has continued now for two years. This year, students are looking to expand to serve even more rescue organizations in Northern Virginia and in the greater Washington metropolitan area. Some of the rescues and shelters the students have helped in the past are the DC Area Weimaraner Rescue, the Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue, the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, and Pups 2 Luv. The students have heard from rescue organization volunteers that they have seen a high rate of successful adoptions for animals who have been given a little bit of extra care by the students.

Other animal rescue organizations that would like to refer their affiliated foster parents for this service are invited to contact the Edison Academy Animal Science instructor, Karen Nestlerode, at 703-924-8110 or kenestlerode@fcps.edu to make arrangements for grooming at one of these Saturday events.

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Note: For more information, contact Eugenia Williford at 703-924-8154 or ecwilliford@fcps.edu or Karen Nestlerode, Animal Science instructor, at 703- 924-8110 or kenestlerode@fcps.edu.