Greater River Valley, Inc.
It was a sound that any Arkansan --- even the furry, four-legged variety --- could easily identify.
The pickup truck climbing the gravel road toward the Humane Society of the Greater River Valley location was driven by Lisa Anderson, president of the Arkansas Tech University Pre-Vet Club.
Chris Laughlin, a Tech senior from Little Rock, was her passenger.
Courtney Fisher, a Fort Smith native, Arkansas Tech junior and treasurer of the Tech Pre-Vet Club, followed close behind in her car.
They were greeted by a dozen or so dogs of every shape, size and background on Monday afternoon.
Those canines didn’t know it, but their holiday season was about to get much brighter thanks to the hard work and generosity of a group of Arkansas Tech students.
“I think I’m going to cry,” confessed Jan Plant, director of the Humane Society of the Greater River Valley, as the Tech students began to unload the bounty from Anderson’s truck.
By the time they were done, there were 700 pounds of dog food and a $120 donation to aid the approximately 100 dogs under the care of the Humane Society of the Greater River Valley.
“I was astounded by how much food we collected,” said Fisher (photographed, left). “This will feed the dogs for about a week, which isn’t long, but it’s a week that the dogs don’t have to worry about going hungry and it’s a week that Jan doesn’t have to worry about scraping it together.”
The Arkansas Tech Pre-Vet Club collected the food over a period of two weeks. Faculty, staff and students from across campus contributed to the effort.
It was the second time that the Pre-Vet Club, which is in its first semester at Tech, came to the aid of the Humane Society of the Greater River Valley. Club members participated in a work day at the location just south of Hector on Nov. 14.
“When we came and saw how many dogs they had, we wanted to help as much as we could,” said Anderson (photographed, center). “They don’t have a lot of funding, and it seemed like a natural choice as something we should get involved with.”
Plant said that the Humane Society of the Greater River Valley serves an area that stretches from Fort Smith to Little Rock and from Dover to Danville. She purchased the property in February, and she moved there in April.
“I relate to them,” said Plant of the animals under her care. “I know exactly what the looks on their faces mean. Animals should not be treated the way some of these dogs have been treated. If people put themselves in the place of the animal they were abusing, they couldn’t do it.”
The dogs at the Greater Humane Society of the River Valley have a space of 40 acres to explore, but most of them seem to prefer to stay close to Plant as she goes about the daily chores of caring for them.
“I can’t believe it,” said Plant when asked about the generosity shown by the Tech students. “These kids are just wonderful. We train our children, we educate them and we hope they do right. It makes you feel good and makes you feel like we’ve done something right when you meet people like these who want to help.”
Fisher said that working with the Humane Society of the Greater River Valley has helped drive home a point in animal care.
“It really shows the need to get our animals spayed and neutered,” said Fisher. “Some of these animals are here because they were abandoned, but a lot of them come from puppy mills. It’s a shame.”
Anderson, a senior from Russellville, said that the experience has strengthened her resolve to aid the less fortunate once she is accepted to and completes veterinary school.
“My goal is to come back to this area and work with shelters like this one,” said Anderson. “Basic vaccinations, spaying and neutering should be attainable. I hope this experience will show all of our Pre-Vet Club members the importance of giving back and helping these animals once they become vets.”
Plant said that among the items that the organization currently needs are blankets, dog beds, leashes, collars, bleach, laundry detergent and the ever-present need of dog food.
For more information about how you can aid the Humane Society of the Greater River Valley, call Jan at (479) 284-2222 or Judy at479) 495-0603.
