Kent State Trumbull's Veterinary Technology Student Club (VTSC) kicked off National Pet Month by committing more than $2,000 in donations to three local animal rescue shelters and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to support pet owners in Ukraine.
Students offered ink paw prints and sold Kent State Trumbull Veterinary Technology apparel at Mosquito Lake Dog Park's annual Howl-O-Ween to raise most of the money.
"It may be obvious because of the career paths we have chosen, but we have a great group of students and faculty who love animals and want to do whatever they can to help those in need," senior student Emily Young said.
Donations will be presented this month to Birds In Flight Sanctuary (Warren), Parrot Hope Rescue (Mantua), Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary, Inc (Ravenna), and IAFW.
Along with their donation at the Birds In Flight Sanctuary on Monday, students volunteered to clean up trails and cages on the new property, fed baby squirrels, helped with paperwork, and aided an injured eagle patient.
The next in-person donations are at Parrot Hope Rescue on April 18 and Happy Trails on April 27.
Pictured (front row, left-right) Tiffany Ellsworth, Emily Young, Shelby Lamar, Heather Merritt (Birds in Flight Sanctuary Founder), Alexis Wilson, Summer Marcis, (back row, left-right) Dr. Kelly, Kaleigh Miller, Haley Bisson, Esther Brown, and Cameron Merritt (Birds in Flight Sanctuary.