Hampden-Sydney fraternity helps shelter dogs

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY -- A college fraternity's community-service collaboration with a Prince Edward County animal shelter has evolved into a life-saving project.

Looking to get involved in the community, members of Hampden-Sydney College's Sigma Nu fraternity started working with the shelter in October. Twice a week, the brothers play with dogs so that they can get exercise and be socialized, and they take pictures of the animals to put on PetFinder.com.

But in February, when the fraternity members learned that some of the dogs were to be euthanized, the students decided to save them by providing foster care for five dogs and working with them to make them more adoptable.

"We had to do something," said Rob Love, a sophomore. "It wasn't just a random dog. It was a dog we saw every week."

The students hope to continue the effort beyond this year and even expand it at Hampden-Sydney and share the program with other colleges and universities.

Three of the dogs have been adopted, and two others are in foster homes while they await adoption.

Broken into teams, the students spend part of the day with the dogs and even take them to class so that they can interact with humans. Because dogs are not allowed in the dorms, they stay with volunteers off-campus in the evening.

"If there are a team of people taking care of the dog, you are not solely responsible," said Julia Palmer, an assistant professor of Spanish at the college who works with the students. "This program lets them get their dog fix without getting in trouble."

C.J. Bauman, a political-science major from Norfolk, has a rescued beagle at home and joined the effort after seeing the dogs on campus with other students.

"I couldn't stand seeing all these dogs and not taking care of them," he said. "I just don't like to see hunting dogs go by the wayside."

Will Crutchfield, an economics major from Charlottesville, took Jack to Chesapeake Bay for the family's Easter trip. "He stayed by my side and paid no attention to my family."

Vicki Horn, the local deputy animal-control officer, said the students' efforts have been successful.

The shelter can usually hold 24 dogs, though it has 28 right now. The animals are held for 12 days if they have a collar and seven days if they do not.

"I don't like euthanizing dogs, so we do what we can," Horn said.

Contact Jamie C. Ruff at (434) 223-3678 or .