Buckeyes for Canines is a new student group that works within the Columbus community to raise awareness about issues related to dogs and dog ownership. In addition, the group volunteers at local animal shelters.
The club, which was founded last spring by Molly Stancliff, a second-year in animal cognition and ethology, and Alysha Noorani, a third-year in psychology, meets every Tuesday to discuss issues such as puppy mills in Ohio, pit bull discrimination and bad dog food brands.
Each meeting, the group watches different PowerPoint presentations or videos that educate them on the issues so that they can later educate other people, said Morgan Schunn, a first-year in communication.
“We are working on different issues that we want to promote and get the word out about,” Noorani said.
Buckeyes for Canines also welcome students who enjoy volunteering with animals but do not have an interest in advocating issues.
“We realize many people are not comfortable with that,” Stancliff said.
Members volunteer at the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Pets Without Parents. The club organizes training sessions at the shelters, which are required before a student can begin volunteering.
Many members, such as Stancliff, enjoy the time with animals that they get through volunteering, which can be hard to find while living on campus or in off-campus housing that does not allow pets.
“I was involved in volunteering at animal shelters in high school,” Stancliff said. “I had a hard time living in the dorms and not having interactions with dogs after having lived with them my whole life.”
The club is unique because there is no other group on campus that allows members to care for and be involved with animals without being in a specific major, Schunn said.
In addition to raising awareness and volunteering, the club is focusing on their efforts on fundraising. By the end of the year, they hope to assist in successfully fostering out a dog, Noorani said.
Buckeyes for Canines advise people interested in owning a dog to consider fostering before purchasing.
“Through fostering, most shelters will give you the food, medication, crates, and treats,” Noorani said. “They will support the dog. You give the time.”
Many of the dogs that shelters offer for fostering are puppies or dogs that have spent a lot of time living at the shelters, she said. A foster’s role is to socialize the animal. Often, shelters will let fosters adopt the animals afterward.
Purebred lovers who are not interested in adopting animals through
a shelter can find many resources at local purebred rescue centers.
According to Stancliff, Columbus has a lot of purebred rescues — many located on High Street. Stancliff also endorses Web sites, such as Petfinder, to help match pets without homes with interested owners.
Anyone with questions about pet ownership can e-mail the club at [email protected]. Buckeyes for Canines meet on campus every Tuesday at 7 p.m. in room 14 of the Psychology building.
