Teaming up to help shelter animals

By Hilary Dickinson
hdickinson@beloitdailynews.com
Published: Monday, December 28, 2009 3:44 PM CST
ROCKFORD — Not long ago at the Winnebago County Animal Shelter, many of the animals sat on concrete with not much to do.

Then 12-year-old Corey Lawson teamed up with Backyard Grill & Bar to earn $600 and two truckloads of food and toys.

“It was a big success. I loved going over to the shelter and seeing how they really put (the donations) to good use,” Lawson said. “All the dogs and cats had new beds and new toys in their cages. It was really nice to see.”

Now Lawson has teamed up again with the restaurant to this time collect items for the PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving) Humane Society in Rockford.

Running until Thursday, Backyard Grill & Bar will collect supplies and donations at all three locations (Roscoe, Loves Park and Cherry Valley).

Customers can bring in supplies for the animals or color in a paw to give a monetary donation. The colored-in paw will then be hung up in the restaurant. The restaurant will in turn give out one of four coupons for these customers.

“Since I had so much fun last year and it was such a success, why not keep doing it?” Lawson asked.

Lawson originally decided to start this fundraiser last year as part of a community service project in his sixth grade social studies class at Roscoe Middle School.

“I love animals, and I wanted to help the homeless animals,” he said. He added that his first thought was to volunteer at the Winnebago County Animal Shelter, but was not old enough. “So, I thought about it and decided to help out homeless animals in another way.”

In addition to the $600, toys, beds, blankets and food, the animal shelter also was able to purchase more land to extend the runs, he said.

“They were also able to use the money we got to go to a spaying and neutering fund, so fewer animals are going to be on the street getting run over and whatnot,” Lawson said.

This year, however, he decided to donate to the PAWs Humane Society because he said he wants to give good donations to every place that helps animals.

Though not quite a teenager, Lawson said he wants to help shelters because he knows donations are down because of the economic downturn.

When he grows up, Lawson said he still wants to help animals by becoming a scientist who develops medicine for people and animals.

In the meantime, however, he is focused on helping the PAWS Humane Society.

“The place is kind of overflowing with animals right now and adoptions would be good,” Lawson said. “If you’re looking for some sort of pet or animal or some sort of friend, this is the place to go.”