Thousand Palms, CA – May 10, 2012: Jake Freedman, a 15-year-old student from Palm Desert High School, will soon join an exclusive group of highly driven individuals that includes Astronaut Neil Armstrong, director Steven Spielberg, and former President Gerald R. Ford: America’s Eagle Scouts.
Freedman is currently a Life Scout, the second-highest ranking achievable. Before he advances to Eagle Scout, a distinction achieved by only 2% of all Scouts according to Freedman, the high school freshmen must “plan, develop and give leadership to others in a service project” to a local church, school, or our desert community. Freedman, who has two dogs and two cats at home, will be helping the community by helping Animal Samaritans.
“I spoke to Leslie [Cyphers], your volunteer coordinator,” said Freedman. “I told her I wanted a project that would help the animals, and together we found one.” That project is to improve the outside dog kennels at Animal Samaritans’ no-kill animal shelter in Thousand Palms.
Freedman will be leading 10 to 15 fellow scouts from Troop 707 in the project. He and his team will replace the kennels’ torn and weathered shade tarps with new, commercial grade cloth that will keep the dogs cool while protecting them from the sun’s intense UV rays. In addition, Freedman and his crew will repair the kennel area’s misting system, which has not functioned properly in years. The project is appropriately timed to help cool the dogs and allow them more time outside during the coming summer months.
Freedman and his fellow scouts will be at Animal Samaritans shelter (72-307 Ramon Road) on Friday, May 18, to tear down and clear out the dog kennel tarps and assess the cooling system. The following Saturday Morning, May 19, they will work to replace the kennel shading and fix the misters. In addition to providing his vision, manual labor, and leadership to the project, Freedman must also raise funds to pay for project materials, which he estimates will cost around $1,200.
Fred Saunders, Executive Director for Animal Samaritans’ was impressed by Freedman’s maturity and purpose. “It is refreshing to know responsible and caring young people like this one,” said Saunders.
Animal Samaritans SPCA, a 501 (c) non-profit organization founded in 1978, is committed to improving the lives of animals and people. As the Coachella Valley’s most comprehensive animal welfare organization, they strive to one day eliminate the needless suffering and abuse of homeless and unwanted animals. Programs and services in place to save the lives of healthy and treatable animals include prevention through humane education, affordable spay and neuter, vaccinations, and other veterinary care, animal sheltering, animal rescue, pet fostering and pet adoptions. In addition, more than one hundred volunteers from their Pet Therapy programs visit special needs classrooms, nursing homes, local hospitals, and residents at Juvenile Hall. More information is available by calling 760-343-4908 and by visiting www.animalsamaritans.org
