Our next generation is 'alright'

By Jessica Coleman

Staff Writer

Last Wednesday I, accompanied by my dog Murphy and my foster dog Sport, loaded up in my car to meet with the second grade classes at Industrial Elementary East. We were to represent Happy Tails Animal Shelter  at the school, and collect a Christmas gift from students to the animals in our shelter. The class had decided that this year, instead of a gift exchange, that they would collect dog toys, collars, food, treats, and anything else a dog might need or want, and donate it to our shelter. Sport and Murphy came along as representatives of our Happy Tails “alumni,” and our current adoptable dogs. 

This experience has me thinking. We adults often see the school age generation as selfish and entitled, always wanting to take, but never thinking to give. I wonder how much of that is true, and how much of that is our own perception. These kids, seven and eight year olds, could have easily said “no, I want to get a present,” but instead they decided to give this Christmas Season. I picked up huge boxes of Milk Bones, squeaky slipper toys, and  rawhide chews from the school, with a warm, happy heart. I felt joy right down into my bones.

  I cannot thank these children enough, and I am so grateful for their kind little hearts, as well Mrs. Tomanek, Mrs. Bowers, Mrs. Wolter, and Industrial ISD for allowing us to visit them during the school day.

Many of our shelter dogs have not had easy lives. Before they came to us, several of them were strays, pound dogs for months, or in homes where food, water, and shelter were not readily available, let alone a squeak toy or a bacon-flavored biscuit. It means so much to me that these kids thought of them this Christmas, before they thought of themselves.

I am not often at a loss for words (I am a writer, after all), but I cannot describe the feelings that have coursed through me. Sport has already chosen a favorite toy, a purple  hippo toy, and I am sure the other Happy Tails dogs will choose favorites as well.

I am in awe of these amazing kids. I am proud to be the mother of one of them, and I would love to shake the hands of the parents who are obviously raising these kids to be generous, compassionate individuals. As a good friend of mine says often, “the kids are all right”.