By Fritz Klug
Western Herald
(Sarah Randall/Western Herald) Western Michigan University student Vincent Kwok participated in Rent-a-Puppy. This fundraiser was put sponsored by Phi Sigma Pi and Southwest Michigan branch of the Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and took place at Goldsworth Valley Pond on campus.
Most Western Michigan University students could not resist the sight of a puppy at Goldsworth Valley Pond this Wednesday at the second annual Rent-a-Puppy fundraiser put on by Phi Sigma Pi and the Southwest Michigan branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
“Most people can’t say no to a puppy,” said Josie Berridge, fundraising chair of Phi Sigma Pi.
Last year the SPCA brought 12 dogs; this year there were 20.
“Now they can have a chance to rest,” Berridge said.
Included in the pack were black labs, Pomeranians, shitzus, and mutts.
All of the puppies were bussed from the SPCA kennel on Peekstock Road in Kalamazoo.
“It gives people a chance to play with the puppies and gives them a chance for some much needed socialization,” Jane King, a volunteer with SPCA, said.
SPCA rescues dogs from local shelters and pounds to try and find homes for them; many of whom would have otherwise been euthanized.
“It is excellent for them to be with different people,” King said. “They will be better pets.”
Every Saturday, SPCA holds adaption events at 5036 S. Westnedge Ave. for dogs and at 5230 S. Westnedge Ave., for cats. SPCA allows college students to adopt that are over 21 years old and live in a stable household.
Katie Hall, a jazz studies major, and Sydney Small rented Yukon and Cataline, who wrapped themselves together in their leashes.
“I have a dog back home in Iowa,” Hall said. “I haven’t been home yet and really miss him.”
Half of the proceeds are to go to SPCA and the other to Phi Sigma Pi, a national honors fraternity at WMU.
“This shows that you don’t have to go to a breeder to get a dog,” said junior Mike Jahncke.
About Fritz