LaGRANGE – Local animals are set to have a pawsitively wonderful Christmas this year thanks to the efforts of LaGrange Academy students.

Members of the Pet Warriors club at LaGrange Academy collected donations for local dogs and cats during their last full week of school and presented the results of their hard work to the LaGrange-Troup County Humane Society on Monday.

The Pet Warriors collected more than 600 pounds of dry food, more than 80 cans of food, about 80 pet toys and about 60 bags of treats with the project. They also donated $350 that the club had raised with a cutest pet contest at LaGrange Academy’s fall festival.

The school’s National Honor Society also donated half its funds raised so far this year to the Humane Society, resulting in a total monetary donation of $850 on top of the supplies.

“The little club got started last year and it was primarily sixth-graders (then),” said club advisor Steve Cole. “… It has really snowballed, and it just grew this year.”

The club has grown since it first got started, though that core group of now seventh graders still leads it.  They are organizing more projects this year, but this was their first really big project.

Donations like the one from the Pet Warriors make it possible for the humane society to continue programs like the Pet Food Voucher program through LaGrange Personal Aid, which helps people who are having financial trouble feed their pets using vouchers for 20 pounds of dog food or 10 lbs. of cat food.

“It’s amazing,” said LaGrange-Troup County Humane Society Administrative Assistant Linda Cuto. “We absolutely love LaGrange Academy. …They were wonderful with the dogs.”

Cole hopes that the club will continue to grow as more kids see how much of a difference the club can make and is already excited for a spring drive to collect shampoo, towels and other care items for animals at the humane society. He also hopes to arrange for club members to volunteer with the humane society to assist with adoptions.

“They have adoptions at Tractor Supply and other places,” said Cole. “We will actually give each of the students three opportunities to go and help with adoptions.”

Vouchers for the Pet Food Voucher program can be applied for at LaGrange Personal Aid at 416 Pierce St.  A current rabies vaccine certificate is required in the owner’s name to receive food.

Other schools who would like to participate in the LaGrange-Troup County Humane Society’s education programs or volunteer opportunities should contact the humane society at 706-298-3608.

Reach Alicia B. Hill at alicia.hill@lagrangenews.com or at 706-884-7311, Ext. 2154.