Like many educators, Trisha Sharp, a second-grade teacher at Shawnee Heights Elementary School in Topeka, Kansas, understands how big of an impact she can make on kids’ lives.
While her class was reading the book “Sheepdog in the Snow”, which is about an abandoned dog that was rescued by a little girl, they heard about the story of Ryker, an abandoned dog with a broken leg.
The Helping Hands Society Facebook post said that Ryker needed surgery and foster care immediately, which could cost a total of about $400.
Yesterday, this 6-month-old Aussie mix puppy came to HHHS with an injured leg, possibly from being hit by a car. We gave him some pain meds, then took X-rays and discovered that his femur is broken. Because of the displacement of the bone (how it is broken), amputation is the best option. He is still currently a stray, meaning he is does not yet belong to HHHS. If you recognize this sweet boy or think you might know who he belongs to, please spread the word! We would love for him to go back home. If he isn't claimed by his previous family, however, we will take him to get surgery on Friday and will put him into a loving foster care home to recover. While receiving lots of attention and care in his foster home, he'll get to eat yummy, nutritious food for growing puppies from Hill’s Pet Nutrition to not only help him become a healthy adult, but to assist in the healing process as well. #HillsFoodShelterLoveFor now, we are calling him "Ryker," which means strength. The cost to cover his surgery, medical expenses, and foster care is about $400. If you would like to contribute to Ryker's recovery, you can donate online via our website here: http://www.hhhstopeka.org/donate/donate-online/ (please type "Ryker" in the special instructions box), in person in our gift shop, or you can call us at 785-233-7325 to donate over the phone. Any amount helps! If we raise over $400 for Ryker, the additional donations will go into our Emergency Care Fund for other pets in need who come through our doors. Thank you for your continued support of our mission to care for the homeless pets in our community!
Posted by Helping Hands Humane Society on Wednesday, January 18, 2017
After watching the video, Sharp’s students felt the need to help Ryker in any way they can, so she sent each home with a note to their parents.
The next day, the kids came back and raised well over $450, and some even wrote cards for Ryker for his recovery.
Ryker has since undergone his surgery, and has also received the cards that the second graders wrote.
Ms. Sharp can definitely take some pride and be proud of what her students had accomplished.