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Dogs' visit brings shelters to school.


Byline: MATT COOPER Matt Cooper may refer to:
  • Matt Cooper (rugby league footballer), the Australian rugby league international player
  • Matt Cooper (Irish journalist)
  • Matthew Cooper, an American journalist associated with the leaking of CIA agent Valerie Plame's name
 The Register-Guard

SPRINGFIELD - A.C. danced at the end of his leash, far more excited to be in Springfield High School Springfield High School may refer to:
  • Springfield High School (Colorado) — Springfield, Colorado
  • Springfield High School (Illinois) — Springfield, Illinois
  • Springfield High School (Louisiana) — Springfield, Louisiana
 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 border collie, breed of medium-sized, sheepherding dog developed in the British Isles. It stands about 18 in. (45.7 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 30 to 45 lb (13.6–20.4 kg).  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 euthanasia (y'thənā`zhə), either painlessly putting to death or failing to prevent death from natural causes in cases of terminal illness or irreversible coma.  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 A humane society is a group that aims to stop animal suffering due to cruelty or other reasons. Examples
Examples of humane societies include: The Humane Society of the United States, Peninsula Humane Society, American Humane which was founded in 1877 as a network of
, 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 du·ti·ful  
adj.
1. Careful to fulfill obligations.

2. Expressing or filled with a sense of obligation.



du
 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 according to
prep.
1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.

2. In keeping with: according to instructions.

3.
 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 har·rumph  
intr.v. har·rumphed, har·rumph·ing, har·rumphs
1. To make a show of clearing one's throat.

2.
" but that was good enough.

Maggie was then led back into the room and up front, moaning moan  
n.
1.
a. A low, sustained, mournful cry, usually indicative of sorrow or pain.

b. A similar sound: the eerie moan of the night wind.

2. Lamentation.

v.
 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 panting

rapid, shallow breathing, a characteristic heat-losing reaction in dogs; represents an increase in dead-space ventilation resulting in heat loss without necessarily increasing oxygen uptake or carbon dioxide loss.
 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 Thomas Boyd may be
  • Thomas Boyd (poet) (1867-1927), Irish poet
  • Thomas Alexander Boyd (July 3, 1898 – January 27, 1935) American novelist
  • Thomas Christopher Boyd (born 1916),was not the British Labour Party politician for the Bristol North West 1955–1959
 / The Register-Guard Erin Renner (left) and Angela Kapalczynski introduce Lane County Animal Regulation's Mike Wellington with his office's mascot, A.C.
COPYRIGHT 2002 The Register Guard
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2002, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Title Annotation:Class project: One successful adoptee and one happy mascot show off as shelter success stories.; Animals
Publication:The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR)
Date:Jan 17, 2002
Words:657
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