Peters Township resident puts together Hound Health Fair
Anyone who wants to help pooches in peril should head to the Hound Health Fair this weekend.
Peters Township resident Keira Sipe is organizing the free event, scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Upper St. Clair Community and Recreation Center. It will help her in her quest for the Silver Award, the highest honor for Girl Scout Cadettes.
“I knew I wanted to do something with animals, because I’m really into biology and animals in general,” the Seton-La Salle High School freshman said about her Silver Award requirement to develop a “Take Action” project.
One of the Hound Health Fair’s features is pet first aid class. Dr. Amanda Della Penna, chief of staff at University Veterinary Specialists, will provide information about how to address the likes of injury, choking, accidental poisoning and heatstroke.
Also, Washington Area Humane Society kennel manager Mandy Coombs will be on hand with a rescue dog and information about adopting animals that are housed at the no-kill shelter in North Strabane Township.
Keira has planned a children’s activity in which they can create bandanas for dogs using stencils she made.
“They can color it with fabric markers however they want,” she said. “They can make one for if they have a pet at home and one to donate.”
And paying a visit will be Max the Mutt, the event’s mascot. Youngsters are welcome to have their photos taken with Max, whose secret identity is one of Keira’s friends wearing a suitably canine outfit from Spotlight Costumes in Pittsburgh’s West End.
The fair’s format coalesced with the assistance of Amy Kerman, facility rentals coordinator at the community and recreation center, who is serving as Keira’s project adviser.
She also provided plenty of contacts, and so Keira sent out plenty of emails. In response, Pet Supplies Plus and Pet Valu agreed to donate healthy treats for dogs and coupons for grooming, and Brush Run and Pleasant Valley veterinary clinics in Peters also are making contributions. Keira is assembling the items to put into gift bags for visitors to the fair.
Her mother, Sharon, explained one of the requirements of the Silver Award project.
“It has to be something that’s sustainable. That is a huge element,” she said. “That’s why, it being an awareness program, anything that has an educational element is going to be considered sustainable. It’s going to keep going because you’re teaching people.”