The Animal Outreach Club is making [moo]ves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Akbar Reid

Staff Writer

The Animal Outreach Club gives Hudson Valley Community College’s animal-loving students the opportunity to make a difference through eye-opening experiences and inspiring discussions.

“The purpose [of the club] is to gather students who care about animals and to increase awareness about the plight of animals in our society,” Valerie Waldin, Associate Professor at Hudson Valley Community College and adviser of the Animal Outreach Student Club, said. “It’s a combination of humane education but also about having some fun.”

“[In the club] you’re experiencing something that’s good for social dynamics and at the same time you’re doing something good for animals,” Robert Young, biochemistry major, said.

Waldin feels strongly that this is a meaningful and essential student club. “The thing that’s different about our club is that the [animals] we represent can’t do it for themselves, they have no voice in legislatures, courts of law, schools,” she said. “The more we learn about how animals are abused in our society, through clothing, food and entertainment, the more people want to do something about it.”

Deanna Carr, a public administration major and animal policy certificate student, always loved animals and joined the club to better understand the issues with animals that are going on and how to be a voice to the voiceless.

“Last semester we worked with HUGS USA to collect items for homeless people’s dogs,” Carr said.

The Animal Outreach Club offers enjoyable experiences for its members, including a recent trip to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society.

“[The field trip] was just great,” Waldin said. “People love seeing the animals first hand.”

Student members have also enjoyed hosting guest speakers, bake sales and planning future activities for the club.

“We have guest speakers that are very eye-opening and inspiring,” Waldin said. “We had a guy from Berkshire Bird Sanctuary and he was talking about not just birds, but all wildlife.” She said. “The students were just wide-eyed like ‘Oh my god, I can do something like this with my life.’”

Lastly, Waldin highlighted the service learning aspect of the club available to students. With service learning, she explained you can get academic credit while enrolled in college for volunteering at specific sites dedicated to working with animals.

Waldin is also a lawyer, where her passion grew extensively after doing research and discovering how little is known about the mistreatment of animals. Since them, her experience and knowledge have grown to help the club’s mission.

“As a lawyer, I was instrumental in creating the animal law classes and the animal policy program [at Hudson Valley Community College],” she said

Waldin has worked with numerous local organizations, including the board of directors at Mohawk Hudson Humane Society. She also worked alongside WTEN’s Steve Caporizzo and New York State Senator Jim Tedisco.

She also received recognition from Bob Barker, from “The Price is Right,” who contributed money to Hudson Valley Community College to foster programs focusing on animal outreach.

Among all the student clubs available at Hudson Valley Community College, the Animal Outreach Club is one that has been consistently growing, attracting students and receiving great recognition.