When the terrier’s tired, you know you’ve done your job

Oscar was yapping and jumping and yapping and jumping. Climbing the fence. Yipping his little lungs out. You had never seen a Jack Russell terrier with so much nonstop energy when the Anna’s Kindness volunteers from Forsythe Middle School arrived Friday afternoon.

But by the time the middle school students left 90 minutes later, Oscar was exhausted, docile, and ready for a nap.

Those were some effective volunteers.

Anna’s Kindness volunteer came straight from school Friday afternoon to help walk and care for the rescued dogs at Mikey & Me, a foster care facility in Chelsea which helps place dogs in forever homes.

In fact, several of the dogs Friday were soon to be checking out. Oscar, Drake, and George were all scheduled to be picked up by their new adopting families within the week. But before they left, they got to experience the love and affection of the Anna’s Kindness volunteers. And vice versa.

George crawled all over Bailey Edison, a 7th grader at Forsythe, seemingly fascinated by his ski cap. Once Oscar settled down, he didn’t mind being held by 8th grader Natalie Walsh, 7th grader Cameron Cook, and 6th grader Stuart Knight. Drake curled up with several volunteers, including 8th graders Ryan Thomas-Palmer and Sarah Dehlin.

The Forsythe students were all new to Mikey & Me, but so was Priscilla, a coonhound mix who had just arrived to the farm an hour before the students. That’s why Priscilla was a bit of a handful as she was wound up about her new temporary home. It took the strong guidance of 7th grader Lincoln Kowalk and Bailey to handle her on a run to the woods and back.

Friday’s visit was also the first time Anna’s Kindness volunteers got to see the new fenced-in run area for the dogs. Stuart and fellow 6th grader Jayden Shaw were among the first to take George off leash in the pen and let him run through and around the obstacles.

It was the volunteers’ first visit to Daniel Depew’s farm, and their first opportunity to see the newly furnished Mikey & Me meet & greet room. Anna’s Kindness volunteers helped paint the former milkhouse over the summer, and it is now being used as a quiet place for prospective families to meet with a dog they’re considering adopting.

Thank you to Mikey & Me owner Dan for allowing Anna’s Kindness volunteers to help Friday afternoon, and to Forsythe teacher Mrs. Raupp for helping host the event.

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