A trio of generous, service-minded animal lovers stopped by the PAWS pet shelter in Chinook on Friday, April 1, to deliver the $400 they raised through a pet sitting service. The fourth member of their group was unable to accompany them, but all four youth played a role in generating the funds.

The initial idea to raise funds for PAWS originated with Hannah and Isabella Van Voast. The sisters, who are the daughters of Shannon and Alan Van Voast, talked with their classmates Piper Fox-daughter of Brian and April Fox-and Savannah Heilig-daughter of Kent and Rachael Heilig-about ideas to fundraise. Together, the quartet of fifth graders determined that a pet sitting service would be ideal.

"This is an idea that the kids cooked up and made happen. Needless to say, I'm quite proud of the initiative and work ethic that they have shown. Their love and compassion for animals is quite evident," Shannon Van Voast explained.

Van Voast went on to say, "Last fall, Isabella started a notebook with ideas for fundraising. Also in the notebook is Izzy's research on dogs that she would like to have, as well as potential names for dogs she would someday adopt. Hannah would like any type of dog that likes to swim and play in the water.

"Alan and I had hoped that the dog sitting would cure the twins' desire to add another pet to our menagerie, but sadly it has only seemed to fuel the fire. Although the 'Van Voast Animal Sanctuary' is currently full, that does not stop the kids from wanting to add more animals to the collection,"

Once the idea for the pet sitting project was solidified, all four girls were enthusiastic about the job, and each contributed an important talent. In February, the group designed and printed flyers that they displayed in Turner. These advertised that they would pet-sit for families and that the funds raised would be donated to PAWS.

Within a short time, the girls received calls for care. Owners brought their dogs to the Van Voast home for the girls to watch. Some even left kennels, food, leashes, and prescribed medications. The dog sitters walked their charges in the mornings before school and again after school.

Soon, cat owners in town asked the girls to provide care for their pets while they were called out of town as well. The entrepreneurs recorded their time invested and their commitments on a calendar, which was organized to record the animal's name and length of stay. They also created intake forms that were completed in consultation with the pet owner to specify care information regarding each pet and to document any items that accompanied the pet-such as a bowl or leash-that would need to return home with the pet. In addition to the flyers, calendar, and record keeping forms, this organized group decorated a funds jar to store their income.

The experience, however, was not without its challenges. During one of the dog-stays, temperatures dipped well below zero. Not to be deterred, the girls found a doggie coat for one pup to wear while they were in charge of him.

On another occasion during one of their walks, the Van Voast girls were charged by a doe and felt compelled to defend the dogs from the deer. Everyone escaped uninjured.

They also used the kitchen sink to bathe and groom a Yorkie they were in charge of. When they tried to get a Mountain Cur into the bathtub, though, their mother put her foot down on that endeavor.

Given that Turner School District functions on a four-day school week, the girls scheduled a Friday for their visit to the dog shelter in Chinook when they could drop off their donation and visit the dogs and staff. According to Van Voast, the trio that travelled enjoyed their time with the critters that were in the kennel.

"They were proud to donate $400 today from their pet sitting. Their next fundraising goal is to be able to give money to a homeless shelter," Van Voast reported.