Girl Scouts donate to homeless pets

ANIMAL LOVERS- Girl Scout Troop 688 of Thousand Oaks gather pet treats, toys and money to donate to the Agoura Animal Shelter. The gifts were part of the troop's service project for the scouting Bronze Award. The Agoura Animal Shelter is open six days a week, with a variety of dogs and cats available for adoption. Through the SAVE program, adoption costs are reduced. Girl Scout Troop 688 of the Tres Condados Girl Scout Council has been working to earn its Bronze Award, the highest honor a Junior Girl Scout can earn. The award requires her to learn the leadership and planning skills necessary to follow through on a project that makes a positive impact on her community.

Troop 688 agreed on "Animals" as the topic for the Bronze Award project. The troop set out to earn money to donate to a local animal shelter. The Scouts made "doggie biscuits" and sold them as holiday gifts at their school, Pinecrest Elementary in Thousand Oaks. The Scouts earned more than $150.

The troop then chose the Agoura Animal Shelter as the donation recipient. Troop leader Andrea Foster scheduled a tour of the animal shelter in February.

In addition to money donations, the troop collected towels to be used for warm bedding for the animals and various animal treats, food and toys.

At the shelter, the troop was given a tour and learned about animal care and safety, animal adoption, scent dogs and how they are used to find missing people, wild animals and what to do when confronted by one, and care of pets.

The Scouts received their Bronze Awards at their meeting on Sat., June 3.