RHS ECHO staff donate times, funds at Rolla Animal Shelter

Members of the Rolla High School ECHO newspaper staff, which consists of Rolla High School students,  generously donated their time and funds Saturday, Jan. 19 at the Rolla Animal Shelter where they visited and socialized with some of the puppies and dogs. The students also donated dog shampoo and toys prior to arriving for their two-hour visit.

“The Rolla Animal Shelter does so much for the Rolla community,” said Lacey Raper, Copy Editor for the ECHO newspaper. “And there are so many citizens who don’t realize the needs of the animals at the Shelter.” 

(Pictured above: Members of the Rolla High School ECHO Newspaper staff spend time visiting with a female American Staffordshire Terrier at the Rolla Animal Shelter, located at 1915 Sharp Road. Pictured front row (l to r) are: Katie Williams, Editor; Lea Ahrens, Feature Editor; (second row, l to r): Sarah Grahl, Staff Writer; Gage Strulock, Opinion Editor and Lacey Raper, Copy Editor; (back row, l-r): Wilson Bryan, Sports Editor and Maggie Duncan, Staff Writer) (Scott Grahl, City of Rolla Photo)

 One of the animals they spent a lot of time with was a golden brown female American Staffordshire Terrier, which has a pink nose, plenty of energy, lots of affections, and is estimated to be about one to two-years-old. She is also available for adoption.

“It doesn’t take that much to help out the animals – and spending time with them, playing with them, is beneficial not only to the animals and the employees at the Rolla Animal Shelter, but it’s also very rewarding for all of us,” said Katie Williams, Editor of the ECHO. Mary Gillis, who is the students’ advisor for ECHO, and was very supportive of their visit to the shelter, teaches Journalism and other writing classes at Rolla High School.

Over the past month, the Rolla Animal Shelter staff has seen several youth in the Rolla community spend their Christmas and birthday gift money on items for the Rolla Animal Shelter.

“We are all amazed and proud of the youth of our community for their generous contributions and concern for the animals at the Rolla Animal Shelter,” said Roy Taylor, Animal Control Officer. The hours at the shelter are Monday thru Saturday, from 12-noon to 4 p.m.
For more information about adopting a pet, please call 364-6995.