More students learn about the ARL

Some fourth grade students in the Southeast Polk school district were writing a newspaper about the Animal Rescue League. They were visited by some ARL staff members. While learning about the animals, they heard about critter camp and wanted to interview our teachers about it. Here are some of the great questions they came up with and some of our answers. 

1) How did you get started with Critter Camp or know that you wanted to do something like this?

Ms. Johnson started Critter Camp last year. I used to visit the rabbits she fostered over my lunch hour. Both my cats are adopted from the ARL so I had to help! Then when Hope, a rabbit with 6 newborn bunnies, arrived, we started working as a team with a couple other teachers. 

2) How do you feel when one of the animals gets adopted?
Usually very excited! We get to meet with the potential adopters which makes me feel comfortable letting the animal go. Mrs. Heemskerk and I took care of degus over the summer, which were our first pets by ourselves so we were a little sad to see the little guys go! The hardest one was when Hope and her babies were adopted in pairs by 3 amazing families. All of us were in tears--we had these animals for over three months and raised the babies! But we were sent pictures from their new homes and they all look wonderful!

3) How much money do you need to take care of the animals? Where do you get the money to take care of them?
We are really lucky that the ARL has a small animal specialist who secures donated veggies, extra towels, and other supplies for us. However, there are things we choose to spend our own money on, like new toys, treats, and the litter we like the most. It's not very expensive when we get so much help from the ARL, especially with pens and cages.  Ms. Johnson and I had to construct a baby rabbit escape proof enclosure last year--we had to buy a lot of wire fencing because somehow the bunnies were squeezing through the pen and hiding in her cupboards!

4) How many years has the Critter Camp been going?
This is our 2nd year. 

5) How many types of animals do you have?
We have had rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, birds, and degus. 

6) How many total animals do you care for?

We currently have 4 birds, 4 rats, a guinea pig, and we just had our rabbit adopted. Our total adoptions have been 12 rabbits, 6 rats, 3 degus, and 3 guinea pigs. 

We hope we get to see the finished project when the students finish it! Good luck guys!