Chicago Ag Students Help Shelter Pets Find Loving Homes

By Andi Anderson

Students from an agricultural high school in Chicago played an active role in helping shelter animals find homes during a special adoption event. The event, organized in partnership with PAWS Chicago, brought families and animals together while showcasing student learning and skills.

The school, known for its urban agriculture program, hosted an adoption day where several families adopted dogs, and others showed interest in fostering. Students assisted visitors by guiding them through the process and helping them interact with the animals.

Alongside the adoption drive, students also sold pet-friendly products they had prepared themselves. These included homemade dog treats, goat milk lotion, and honey. The sale of these items added value to the event and demonstrated practical learning.

Special education students worked together to prepare the dog treats. They were involved in every step, from mixing ingredients to baking and packaging. “This is a nice activity because there is always a job for everyone,” Brown said. These activities helped students develop important life skills and encouraged independence.

Students from the animal science pathway contributed by preparing other products like goat milk lotion. They gained hands-on experience by working with ingredients and understanding production processes. This group of students also studies animal care, health, and nutrition.

The school manages a large farm within the city where students care for various animals, including goats, pigs, chickens, cows, and alpacas. Through this experience, students learn how to manage animals and observe their behavior closely.

“I have learned a lot about animal nutrition and animal health working with cows, pigs, chickens and goats. We also have learned how to find signs when they are sick and how to treat them,” Buikema said.

Students also form strong connections with the animals they care for. “That one is crazy. He’s funny crazy but also kind of shy,” Banks said while pointing to one of the goats. “This one likes people. He likes everyone.”

The event also inspired volunteers to support animal welfare. Overall, the program highlights how agriculture education can combine learning with community service, helping both students and animals thrive.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-poike