Bark for barkers

It’s a simple matter of cause and effect.

Cause: Rain.

Effect: Muddy paws.

Oregon’s climate provides plenty of moisture to nurture a gloriously green landscape, but rainy days can roil up a muddy mess in the outdoor animal pens at the Willamette Humane Society. So the area’s Kiwanis family took up the cause for cleaner paws.

This story originated from the Circle K In Action section of Circle K International’s Web site. To submit Kiwanis stories and photos, visit Kiwanis In Action.

“The Capital, Salem Kiwanis club has been working with the Willamette Humane Society for some time,” says Steve Sanchez, the club’s sponsored youth chairman. “We help out with the building and maintenance of their outdoor exercise pens and walking paths.”

Bark chips cover the pens and paths, providing a comfortable, mud-free walking surface for the animals. Community businesses donate the chips, but someone needs to spread it. Equipped with wheelbarrows, rakes, and shovels, Capital City Kiwanians, Willamette University Circle K’ers, and South Salem High School Key Clubbers spent several hours over two weekends to complete the task.

“We arrived at 9:30 a.m., gathered supplies, and divided into three groups,” reports Willamette Circle K’er Kei Otawa. “The first group shoveled the bark. The second group transported the bark, and the third group spread the bark. We rearranged the groups halfway through so individuals were not continuing to do the same task.”

“We had a wonderful, hardworking crew from all three clubs,” Steve says. “And the humane society was very grateful again for the job we did.”