Wauconda High students help homeless dogs

Dozens of homeless dogs were cleaned, cuddled and loved Friday by a group of Wauconda High School students.

About 25 students from Danette Hughes' sociology class spent the day volunteering at the Fortunate Pooches and Lab Rescue shelter in Fox Lake.

They cleaned kennels, painted rooms, bathed, brushed and even clipped the dogs' toenails during the five-hour volunteer effort.

Hughes got the inspiration for the service project after visiting the shelter with her daughter recently.

"These are dogs who were rescued within days of being euthanized," she said. "This shelter is doing wonderful work and can really benefit from volunteer help."

Fortunate Pooches and Lab Rescue has a mission to rescue abused dogs and place them with families who will give them a loving home.

Not only did the shelter receive direct help, but Hughes said her students got back as much as they gave.

"This was a great team-building effort for them," she said. "It opens the door to more volunteerism and it also made them very aware of the need to help abused and neglected dogs."

WHS junior Lauren Carter agreed.

"These dogs are so sweet and gentle. They just want to be loved," Carter said. "If we do this next year, I'll come along. But I'm sure I'll be coming back to help out even before then."