There were German Shepherds and Great Pyrenees; Bulldogs, Great Danes and Jack Russell terriers. By the time the last had been bathed, brushed and blow dried, members of the Bridgeport High School Humane Society Club had groomed several dozen canines.

 

And this Sunday, they are going to do it all again.

 

“We held the last dog wash during the fall semester of this school year,” said BHS Humane Society Club President Imoni Saab. “It was last-minute and amazing. In four hours, we raised almost $900.”

 

As they did in October, the students are charging $10 per dog – regardless of size. For an additional $5, a nail trimming service will be added.

 

Fundraiser proceeds will be split: Half donated directly to the Humane Society of Harrison County and the other half benefiting the school club, which was brand new for the 2016-17 school year. Saab said the club uses proceeds for various projects – all which in some way benefit area pets.

 

Since the club formed, members have implemented projects including “Dimes for Dogs.”

 

“We placed water bottles in each homeroom and homerooms competed to fill them up with dimes,” Saab said. “A bottle filled with dimes is $100. All proceeds went to the Humane Society.”

 

As an incentive for homeroom teachers, gift cards were up for grabs for the three homerooms which raised the most.

 

Students had incentive too.

 

“The class that raised the most got three days without silent reading. Second place got two days and third place got one day,” Saab said.

 

The club also made and sold organic dog treats, created homemade dog toys, participated in the Paws for Dogs Holiday Pet Bazaar at Meadowbrook Mall and walked with adoptable pets in the Bridgeport Christmas Parade.

 

A very important project, Saab said, was lobbying for animals at the West Virginia Legislative Session in Charleston.

 

“We helped pass House Bill 4201 which basically makes the penalty for animal fighting stricter,” Saab said. “This year, we lobbied for House Bill 2664 which requires that shelters for dogs have certain standards. It passed too.”

 

Joining Saab in Charleston this year were Joplin Kehrer, Avery Tomes, Courtney Dillow, Lucas Slisz, Shannon Dettori and Cheyenne King.

 

Looking ahead to next year, the club plans to host a carnival, possibly at Bridgeport City Park, which in addition to games for kids will include hands-on learning and information about pets and their care. The event will also feature adoptable pets.

 

“Robert C. Byrd did one and it was very successful, so we hope to either collaborate with them or get some tips,” Saab said.

 

Also in the works is a dog bed-making project, utilizing PVC pipes and mesh netting.

 

The club’s dog wash will be held 12-4 p.m. Sunday in the parking lot in front of BHS. The BHS Key Club will be selling baked goods too.

In addition to taking advantage of the service, community members can help by donating towels. If the event draws as many pooches as the club hopes, they will need a lot of towels, Saab said. It would be very helpful if the towels could be dropped off prior to 12 p.m., she said.