GSEM Bronze Award Project Catalog

Paws for Hearts

Project Details: Troop 884 wanted to support a local animal shelter for their Bronze Award project. The Juniors organized a donation drive where they collected laundry detergent, paper towels, and peanut butter. In addition to the donated supplies, the team made cat toys out of old socks, and toys and blankets from fleece. The Juniors donated more than 200 items of supplies and toys to the shelter. When planning their project, the Girl Scouts participated in a program focused on understanding anxiety in dogs and techniques to help calm them. Inspired by what they learned, they visited a local animal shelter to read to the dogs, helping ease the stress and anxiety many animals experience in shelter environments.

Bronze Award Team: Troop 884

Issue: Animals in shelters are often very anxious.

Root Cause: Animal shelters can be stressful and overwhelming environments for pets, with unfamiliar people, new surroundings, and many other animals. When animals experience anxiety, it can make them appear fearful or withdrawn—sometimes reducing their chances of being adopted. Target Audience: The project benefited dogs and cats at the Humane Society.