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Highlands Today

Paws For A Cause

Marc Valero/Highlands Today

From left: Lake Placid High School Student Government Association members Silvia Monroy, Emily Lundy and Amanda Nicolai spearheaded the SGA's effort to raise 500 to help the Highlands County Sheriff's Office with the cost of a new K-9. Lundy is holding an example of the paws the SGA made and then sold to fellow students for 1.

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By MARC VALERO

Highlands Today

Published: December 2, 2008

LAKE PLACID - Face to face with a German shepherd with 600 students looking on, Lake Placid High School Principal Michael Haley felt a little a fear as he puckered up to plant a kiss on the dog.

"There's always fear when you are kissing a working dog," he noted Monday.

Haley's canine encounter at a pep rally recently was part of the Student Government Association's (SGA) "Coins for Canines" effort to raise money for a new K-9 for the Highlands County Sheriff's Office.

During the two-week effort, senior Silvia Monroy and sophomore Emily Lundy took turns wearing a McGruff the Crime Dog costume during lunchtime to spur donations.

"I think it went really well and we had a lot of effort," said Lundy

Junior Amanda Nicolai said, "There was a lot of prep work involved and there was a lot of planning, but I think it turned out really good."

SGA members made paper cutout dog paws that were sold for $1. Students put their names or a message on the paws, which were posted on a banner in the school. More than 100 were sold.

For the "Kiss the Dog" fundraiser, students voted for one of four teachers/administrators with their spare change during lunchtime. Students contributed the most into Haley's jug, giving the principal the dubious honor of kissing the dog.

"It's awesome," Haley said of the students efforts. "You always see the negative all the time. This is the positive - you don't see much of that."

Sheriff Susan Benton visited the school Monday to meet the SGA members and accept a $500 check.

Benton commended the students.

"What you've done in terms of the contribution and the fundraising for the dog shows that government takes community involvement," she said.

The newest K-9 in the sheriff's office is a Belgian shepherd (malinois) named Kane.

The dog costs $9,000.

He's already trained, but is currently in Volusia County with his handler to receive state certification, Sheriff's Capt. Paul Blackman said.

The sheriff's office has four bloodhounds and four patrol dogs including the new malinois.

Marc Valero can be reached at 386-5826 or mvalero@highlandstoday.com

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