Students at The Village School of Naples aim to boost humane society adoptions

Since the pandemic, humane societies have struggled to get families in the doors and adopt pets, so a group of students is getting creative to boost dog adoptions.

Meet Giuseppe. He moved to Southwest Florida from Puerto Rico. He likes short walks, water, and he loves his treats.

He’s has a lot of friends at the humane society, especially his roommate Sansa. But because of the pandemic, these dogs haven’t had many visitors.

Jon Foerster is the director of community affairs at the Humane Society of Naples. “Our dog adoptions have dropped down a lot, I think because part of the culture of adopting is coming into the shelter and being excited about meeting a bunch of different animals.”

Now, one group of talented students is looking to change that with art.

Savannah Ouverson, a student at The Village School of Naples, said, “This dog’s name is Josefina and I picked her because she was very happy and smiley in the photo online.”

Savannah and the rest of Miss Flesher’s middle school class each picked a dog to draw.

Their goal is to raise awareness and find them a home.

“The class really thought of a way we could use a creative energy to kind of give back in a way and help those dogs get adopted right here from the classroom,” Flesher explained.

And all her students needed was a pen, paper and a lot of love.

Savannah said, “I think it’s important that other people can find that excitement and love and joy in adopting an animal”

Ariana DeLeo is also a student at The Village School of Naples. She said, “I love my dog and I love that he has a home and I feel bad for other dogs I don’t get to experience that.”

Until then Giuseppe and his furry friends will be waiting to find their forever family.

The humane society has been doing virtual meetings with dogs, something they say helped a lot.

The Village School of Naples is gifting them with the sketches, and once the dogs are adopted, they will be handed off to their new family.