Students at James H. Boyd Intermediate School collected $765 for Huntington’s Little Shelter, a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter. The money donated to the organization was used to help pay the medical bills for a two-year old Lhasa Apso dog named Demi. Demi required a life-saving surgery to treat a liver shunt, a malfunctioning blood vessel in the liver.

Students in Ms. Friend’s class presented the school’s donation to Arlene Leone, special programs manager for the shelter, in mid-May. Leone talked with students about the Little Shelter’s mission and expressed her gratitude for their donation. “Without this surgery, Demi would have passed away,” Leone said. “You saved her life.” Students even had the opportunity to greet Leone’s dog, Charlotte, who was rescued from the shelter and now serves as a therapy dog at Northport VA Medical Center.

Jennifer Satchell, a representative from Councilman Eugene Cook’s office, was also on-hand to present students with a special proclamation for their efforts. “Councilman Cook hopes that as you get older, you continue to help homeless dogs and cats,” she said. “Sometimes, they need a champion.”’