A group of eight students recently took an after school field trip on Friday, February 3 to Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary and 9 Lives of Norton Feline Rescue Shelter INC. Ms. Deborah Jordan, the library specialist, was one of the volunteers who accompanied the students on the trip to visit the shelters and the animals.
Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary contains over 300 animals and the entire shelter is run by just one woman. Junior Danielle Cotton, who played a large role in organizing the field trip, said, “My favorite part of the trip was visiting the Winslow animal farm. All the animals were surprisingly friendly for the things they went through.” The farm has all kinds of animals that can roam around the area freely: horses, donkeys, llamas, pigs, goats, dogs, chickens,turkeys, ducks and 62 cats. A cat named Turtle had only three legs and some of the Great Danes were taller than most of the students there. The students took the time during the trip to not only get to know the Sanctuary, but getting to know the animals on the farm, too.
9 Lives of Norton Feline Rescue Shelter INC serves as a home to over 200 abandoned cats. The cats were dropped off by owners who got tired of them, left them at doorsteps in boxes, or even worse—threw them over their fences. When the students went to 9 Lives there was an outbreak of FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus). Cotton said, “Even though the cats were sick they still wanted to play and cuddle with you. It was sad and touching that these animals who have gone through such terrible things caused by humans still find a way to trust humans.”
The students witnessed what life is like for animals in shelters. Ms. Jordan said, “When you learn about shelters you find out that there is so much need out there, that awareness is created.” Mostly all the animals in both shelters had been rescued. Goats, pigs and horses were saved from slaughter factories and the rest of the animals were taken from abusive homes. Cotton said, “Every time I reached out to pet one of the animals, they would flinch.” Both Winslow Farm and 9 Lives are non-killing shelters, meaning that they will not kill an animal if it gets sick or injured.
The students had an afternoon committed to roaming around and socializing with the animals they came across. Cotton said, “We mostly spent time with the animals. Holding them and petting them because they like human contact, but with them living in a shelter and all, they do not often get it.” At 9 Lives all of the cats are mostly in their cages so while the students visit it gives the cats a chance to be free and loved.
The students raised money to donate to both shelters through a bake sale at the recent school play, raising $150 for each shelter. Ms. Jordan said, “the field trip was about taking animal lovers to fantastic places.” Boxes have now been placed around the school where students and staff can donate certain items (puppy and kitten toys, laundry detergent, bleach, paper towels, animal food, postage stamps, clean towels, and blankets) that will be given to the Medfield Animal Shelter and the Pine Ridge Animal Shelter. The group of students who found this field trip beneficial hope that these boxes, and their trip itself, will help to raise awareness for the animals in local shelters.
