SHREWSBURY – As part of her Silver Award project, Shrewsbury Girl Scout Preethi Sivashankar shared how to care for rescue dogs.
The Silver Award is the highest award that a Girl Scout Cadette can earn, and it requires 50 hours of community service. Sivashankar, an incoming ninth grader, has been working with veterinarians at Putnam Veterinary Clinic to put together a presentation entitled “Rescue Dog Care for New Owners.”
“My main goal was that people maintain a strong relationship with their dogs and avoid sending their dog back to the rescue center, which can add to the dog’s trauma,” Sivashankar said.
After watching a YouTube video about a family returning a rescue dog due to a misunderstanding of how to properly care for it, Sivashankar further developed her passion for animal welfare.
“I’ve always really liked animals, and when I wanted to do my Silver Award project I was drawn towards dogs, and I thought specifically about rescue dogs because of their struggles,” Sivashankar said.
The presentation included three different sections: introducing your dog, what makes a rescue dog different and the needs of a dog. Each contained information that can be useful for rescue and non-rescue owners alike.
The presentation was the first of three. In addition to her presentation, Sivashankar is creating informative booklets and care items for shelters and developing a website that will serve as a hub of information for rescue dog owners.
