To the editor:

A million. Pretty big number. Even a half-million! But that is how many pennies our wonderful elementary students of Columbiana County collected for the Humane Society in the first annual ‘Pennies for Paws” last year. By the way, $5,000, if you’re still moving the decimal point.

This year’s drive is up and running and we’re hoping for even more. Maybe a million, probably not, but as Jerry Lewis used to say in his MD telethon “Just one dollar more.” Depending on the individual schools and their schedules, some campaigns have started while others will start this week, while still others will fill their containers before the end of the school year.

While the event is geared toward the elementary, some schools have had their students ask their older siblings to help out and ask their friends if they would put a collection jar in their room. It became quite a community effort in some schools.

As a result, one of our board members suggested we try to place a container somewhere in a community business with a lot of walk-in traffic to enlist donations in yet another way. Watch for one in your community. These container’s contents will count toward their school’s total as we have some treats and prizes for the winning schools.

Actually, the winners are the dogs, cats, and other animals that have a temporary home at the shelter until they can find their “forever” home with their new parents and siblings.

Costs of caring for these animals, many of which come to the shelter in not the best of shape, is quite expensive. Besides the day-to-day care and the upkeep of their homes, many need to go to the doctor for illness and injuries they may have come to us with.

The Humane Society receives NO funding from taxes, levies, etc. and are 100% dependent on the goodness of the people in our county. We had a tragedy here in our county recently with the East Palestine train wreck. With the risk to the small animals, on the afternoon of the burn, ten animals were brought to the shelter to spend a little time with us while things settled.

Within the next 24 hours our capacity was reached. We are so thankful that their students are bringing in cleaning supplies, feed and many of the everyday items that are used here at the shelter. It is wonderful to see their students giving back for the care the shelter gave during that tumultuous time.

We thank all in advance that donate to the “Pennies for Paws” drive. A list of community businesses will appear in the paper in the next several days or you can mail contributions to the following address. “Sandy” and “Chewy” thank you.

GLEN WINDRAM,

Columbiana County Humane Society

1825 S. Lincoln Ave.

Salem, Ohio 44460