Students in Jamie Barrett’s Content Textual Reading Class at Clanton Middle School spent Tuesday afternoon learning about the Chilton County Humane Society and how to properly care for animals.

“We spent some time exploring the topic of animal rights and read different articles related to the topic,” Barrett said. “We discussed one article talking about Ringling Brothers freeing the elephants, and then we talked about how the animals were treated.”

Chilton County Humane Society Director Mandy Reiter came to talk to Barrett’s classes about different topics the students discussed in class and brought the conversation to a more local level.

“I think it is good for the students to be able to learn more about their local shelter and find out how the animals are doing,” Barrett said. “When we discussed all of this in class, there were a lot of questions about different rules for hunting and how animals should be treated.”

Reiter talked to the students about a “typical” day at the shelter, which often involves a morning filled with activities for both volunteers and the animals.

“We make sure that all of the animals are taken care of, we clean the cages and get rid of the germs and we open the shelter to the public at 11 a.m. each day except for Wednesday and Sunday when the shelter is closed.”

While Reiter spoke to the students, a slideshow of animals available for adoption played in the classroom.

Reiter spoke about properly caring for animals and the importance of understanding that adopting an animal is a decision that should not be taken lightly.

“When you decide you want an animal to come live with you, you are agreeing to take care of that animal,” Reiter said. “It shouldn’t be something that you decide on a whim and then decide a week later that you don’t want the animal anymore.”

Reiter also encouraged the students to volunteer at the shelter with a parent or guardian’s consent.

“If you like animals, we are always in need of volunteers,” Reiter said. “If you are under 18, you have to have a parent or a guardian accompany you, but you can come and spend time with the animals. If it is a pretty day outside, we will often let you walk the dogs or you can spend time with the cats because they love interacting with other people.”

One student asked if it was a myth that a dog could get dehydrated by having ice cubes in the dog’s water bowl.

“A dog can’t get dehydrated with ice cubes, but it is important to remember that with the warm temperatures, a dog that stays outside will need more than just ice cubes in their water bowls,” Reiter said. “They will need a place where they can get out of the sun.”

Reiter also spoke to the students about the importance of speaking up if they see that an animal has been neglected or abused.

“It is very important that if you see an animal that is not being treated correctly to call us and let us know,” Reiter said.

At the end of the class, Barrett asked each student to sign a pledge to end animal neglect with students saying they will “set a good example to others by being kind to their own pets and provide them with proper food and water, shelter and veterinary care.”