Service Calls Students to Work with Rural Animals

2/21/2023

by Michelle Andrade

Ensworth’s high school students have been helping at Cheatham County Animal Control during Service Days for more than twelve years. Mathematics teacher Walter Schultz initially started this partnership. Mathematics teacher Karen Boles joined Mr. Schultz several years later. Director of Ceramics and Studio Art Cati Blitz joined in 2021, having some of her Studio Art students design and paint several murals.

Cheatham County Animal Control is the government animal control facility for all of Cheatham County. They respond to many calls in the community regarding animal welfare, and they are an adoption center as well. One of the biggest challenges for CCAC is the rural location, which results in low foot traffic and few adopters.

INSERT — The Adoption Mural and the Story Trail were finished and installed last fall. Ms. Blitz came up with the idea for the Adoption Mural, with hearts and animals. Mei Mei Dellinger ’23 was the lead artist and designer, far exceeding her Senior Service hours finishing it. Also helping was Sophia Frist ’23 with the initial illustration. Alea Clark ’22, LiLi Dellinger ’22, Katherine Groomes ’23, Kenzi Robinson ’24, Noah Sparrow ’24, and Alexa Williams ’24 all helped Mei Mei with the painting.

Robin Lapre, Lead Volunteer at Cheatham County Animal Control (CCAC) and parent of Ensworth alumni Anna ’21 and Luke Lapre ’19, spends a good deal of her time at the shelter working directly with the animals and providing leadership and training for volunteers.

She shares, “Cheatham County is a rural county, and as is often the case, the government funding is insufficient to meet all the needs of the animals, particularly for medical care.” In 2021, Robin started the nonprofit Saving Cheatham Animals Mission PAWSible (SCAMP) to counter the need. As a top priority, SCAMP collects donations to pay for surgeries, medical care, and facility improvements.

“As an Ensworth parent, I really appreciated Ensworth’s incorporation of service into the curriculum,” she recalls. “Having heard about service experiences from my children, I had a good feel for how much a Service Day can have a meaningful impact on students.” Robin integrated Ensworth’s already established Service Day into her role at the shelter. She says, “I tell students I want them to enjoy their experience so much that they come back to volunteer with us as seniors or whenever time allows.”

When students volunteer at CCAC, they stay busy with hands-on, direct time with the animals. The center also teaches volunteers about animal welfare and the responsibility required to own a pet. “This is the right age to educate them so they can be responsible pet owners and hopefully be advocates in their community for animal welfare,” she observes

CCAC has enjoyed and benefited from the relationship with Ensworth. Students can work directly with the animals, as well as support the needs of the facility. Some students blaze walking trails or do physical work, while others use their artistic talents to the fullest. Students have completed art projects that have added curb appeal, including a storybook trail and mural.

CCAC had a fantastic group of Ensworth Seniors join them for the 2022-2023 school year. Eight Seniors fulfilled their service requirements at CCAC, with over half of them doing Service Scholar projects. Ensworth students are welcome to volunteer during the summer!

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