Connection Center shows ‘puppy love’ by making treats for WCHS

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Members of Bowling Green’s Connection Center showed their "puppy love" during a treat making
event this month to benefit the animals of the Wood County Humane Society.
The event was part of a service project aiming to promote independence among the center’s members while
also helping the community, said Sarah Greenberg, community advocate intern at the center.
"Part of my job is to empower members to take control of their own lives," she said. "It
seems as though too often people with mental illnesses are approached only about their illness. I wanted
to celebrate and appreciate other aspects of their lives, and part of their identity is this love of
pets."
Greenberg came up with the idea of a service project after talking to members about their pets and
realizing how much their pets meant to them.
"The animals (provided) a good way for us to bond and talk with one another," Greenberg said.
"It only made sense for me to make a project about that."
Activities in the service project included pet pride, where members told stories about and drew pictures
of their past and present pets, and pet education, a presentation about pet care and dog training
facilitated by the Wood County Humane Society.
The project ended with the dog and cat treat making event.
The center donated the treats to the humane society to thank them for their hand in the project,
Greenberg said.
Members of BGSU’s Omega Phi Alpha, a national service sorority, helped members make the treats.
Jerry Meiring, a member of the Connection Center, said he enjoyed making treats for the humane society
and the social interaction that came with it.
"I liked talking about my dogs and helping the animals," he said. "I’d like to do it
again."
Greenberg said it’s possible the center will host the event annually.
"(I’m really proud of) the fact that so many members were willing to give up their evening purely
for the sake of doing something good for the community, for the sake of the animals," she said.
"This was something everyone thought was important."

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