As South Decatur Elementary School students began their day, Friday, they received gratitude from the Greensburg Decatur County Animal Shelter for their generous donation.

The young philanthropists are currently in the midst of raising funds for Doctors Without Borders to assist the people of Haiti. The two-week fundraiser had a goal of $500, but the first week brought in more than $300, making it quite possible for the students to top the goal, Principal Nita McNealy noted.

The students had already finished one successful fundraiser for the Greensburg Decatur County Animal Shelter, in which they raised $275.10. Funds were raised through voting on a bulletin board of pets vying to be declared the cutest, teacher Lisa Bennett explained. It began with Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. Scaggs’ classes, who were planning to match the pictures of teachers with those of their pets. From there, the teachers realized the project could be made into a fundraiser for the shelter.

For just over one week, the students dropped funds into the can for the pet they considered the cutest. With their efforts combined, the youngsters created a donation that Animal Control Officer Mike Wenning said could make a big difference in the lives of the county’s pets.

“Animals just want love and attention,” he told the students.

He explained that his job puts him in the position to help keep the people and animals of the county safe. He noted that the shelter takes in a variety of animals, and that he works to improve conditions at area residents’ homes that enable them to keep their pets. The funds donated, he noted, will help purchase supplies to meet this goal.

He thanked the young donors and offered them a chance to ask questions on their minds. One young lady asked what a person should do when a cat climbs into a tree and a person can’t get them to come down. Wenning explained that cats usually climb into trees because they are frightened and trying to get away from something. Once they feel safe, they will come back down, he noted.

“If a cat can climb up a tree,” he said, “it can get back down.”