Dogs' visit brings shelters to school.

Byline: MATT COOPER The Register-Guard

SPRINGFIELD - A.C. danced at the end of his leash, far more excited to be in Springfield High School than the vast majority of humans for whom school is a routine, not an adventure.

Every dog has his day, and that day was Wednesday for both the 1-year-old border collie and Maggie, a yellow Lab mix with a decidedly full-bodied figure. They were the guest stars of a student presentation on Lane County's animal shelters.

A.C. sported a forest-green vest identifying him as a member of Lane County Animal Regulation Authority. He'd gone from the killing table to the classroom in just months, dodging the euthanasia needle after animal control officers saw the gleam in his eye and made him the shelter mascot.

Maggie, a 4-year-old in a pink-splashed collar and black harness, arrived at the hand of her owner, 18-year-old Erin Renner. You could count Maggie's ribs when Renner's family adopted her a few years ago from the Greenhill Humane Society, but those days are long gone.

A.C. and Maggie met one another outside the classroom, sniffing and tails wagging, polite as any tea party. English teacher Pat Albright emerged and said, "Hey, this place is going to the dogs."

He had no one to blame but himself, having challenged his students to get off the Internet and into the community in researching their class presentations. It wasn't the first time Albright had had a dog in his classroom and if it helps students think outside the box, fine.

While Renner and her partner, 17-year-old Angela Kapalczynski, set up their presentation at the front of the classroom, A.C. and Maggie likewise prepared at the back:

A.C. sat dutifully at the hand of handler Mike Wellington while Maggie rolled to her back and accepted a belly scratch from student Jon Matthews, a family friend and, according to Renner, the object of Maggie's affection.

Renner and Kapalczynski began their talk by dismissing the negative stereotypes of animal control while the dogs - just one desk between them - looked each other over curiously.

Despite the students' best efforts to engage their audience, Maggie lasted only a few minutes before boredom set in: She moaned loudly, prompting laughs and throwing Renner briefly off-balance.

"I knew that was coming," she said later, laughing. "She does that. We go on walks and she talks to dogs."

As Kapalczynski detailed adoption prices for cats, A.C. sighed and flopped to the floor, beginning the slow fade to sleep.

Maggie moaned again, loudly, rose to her feet and was escorted from the classroom, drawing A.C.'s attention and - judging from his eyes - a hint of envy.

Then A.C. was "on": Wellington led him up front and recounted his escape from death and rebirth as the LCARA mascot. The dog greets visitors and opens cash registers and cozies up to children with mental difficulties, Wellington said.

A.C., meanwhile, sat at attention, awaiting his chance to speak. When Wellington ordered him to rise on his hind quarters he did so, but he wouldn't bark for a treat - he gave only a "harrumph" but that was good enough.

Maggie was then led back into the room and up front, moaning and whining, tail wagging.

As the presentation ended, Renner and Kapalczynski fielded questions while A.C. rested his head on crossed paws and Maggie watched the door.

Soon the two were free to go. A.C. pulled Wellington merrily down the hallway and Maggie side-stepped around a boy who had sprawled on the floor and tried to meet the dog's gaze, panting with his tongue out.

Renner and Kapalczynski declared themselves happy with the presentation - and indebted to their canine companions.

"We'll do better," Kapalczynski said, smiling, ` 'cause we had props."

CAPTION(S):

THOMAS BOYD / The Register-Guard Erin Renner (left) and Angela Kapalczynski introduce Lane County Animal Regulation's Mike Wellington with his office's mascot, A.C.