Long Meadow Elementary School Holds Second Annual “Teacher’s Pet” Photo Contest to Raise Funds for Animals for Life 

  Staff and students at Long Meadow Elementary School (LMES) recently participated in the school’s second annual “Teacher’s Pet” photo contest.  Animals that is, not students! 

  The contest was held as a fundraiser for Animals for Life a rescue shelter in Middlebury, dedicated to furthering the well being and quality of life for stray animals in our area.    

  The staff at LMES paid a $5 fee for each entry photo of their pets.  Students and staff members voted for their favorite pets in three categories, cutest, most funny looking and best dressed, making a .50 donation per vote. 

  While the contest raised $300, teachers and staff added $200 from their contributions to the “Friday Charity Dress Down Days” kitty (no pun intended), bringing the total donation to $500. 

  LMES Administrative Assistant, Carol Walsh, said she began the contest last year to bring a sense of fun to staff and students and, “to help our homeless furry friends,” she said. 

  To show appreciation, Susan Lydem, Director of Animals for Life, a volunteer, non-profit organization, visited students on the playground with six, ten week old, lab mix breed puppies. 

  Ms. Lydem delivered the puppies in her home after Animal Control asked her to take in the homeless mother.  Three of the pups will be going to good homes while the other three await adoption.  “We have lovable animals of all ages, sizes and colors just waiting to find their new families,” she said.   

 In addition to dogs, they have cats, kittens and house rabbits in foster homes throughout the region.  Animals for Life works with many town shelters throughout the state to help save animals that otherwise would have been euthanized. 

  “Every man, woman and child would have to adopt six dogs and cats to put us out of business,” she said.  According to Ms. Lydem, spaying and neutering cats and dogs will help control over population while making careful choices about the type of pet you bring into your home, will decrease the number of unwanted pets. 

 Ms. Lydem said Animals for Life saved over 3,000 homeless cats and dogs from the area in the past ten years.  They are, however, in need of donations to run the shelter: $25 will provide litter for one cat for one month and $75 will support a dog in a shelter for one month.

 You can visit the shelter located with the Town of Middlebury’s Canine Facility, across from Maggie McFly’s Restaurant at the intersection of Route 63 and Woodside Avenue, during public hours.  For further information please telephone (203) 267-6777 or view their web site at www.animalsforlifect.org.

  The LMES winning pets belonged to fourth grade teacher Stacey Waterbury, whose cat Morris won “Cutest” pet,  while part-time music teacher, Traci Galla’s cat Quincy, took the prize for “Most Funny Looking”. 

  For the second year running, 5^th grade teacher, Beverly Poulin’s golden retriever, Riley won for “Best Outfit”.  Rumor has it that Riley’s owner helped stuff the ballot box.  “It was worth it,” said Ms. Poulin.  “It’s all for a very good cause”.