Local 4-H’ers collect a few playthings for Shiner’s pound pups (and kittens, too)

It’s not every day Teena Davis says she gets a visit from your average fifth grader.

Admittedly, working as Shiner’s lone animal control officer in a town that’s had, at best, intermittent animal controls over the past decade or so, her post can often be a lonely one with little more than the erstwhile wayward strays to keep her company.

And apart from occasional Bob Barker-esque speaking engagements—the game show host would remind his viewers to “help control the pet populations and get your pets spayed or neutered at the close of nearly every episode of “The Price is Right” that he ever appeared on, and that was right at 35 years’ worth of episodes to be exact—Teena’s path doesn’t often cross with those of your average school kids much anymore these days.

Thankfully, Jake Good, a local fifth grader at St. Ludmila Elementary, is anything but average.

Still, you can well imagine her surprise when, just last Friday, he appeared at the local shelter and began explaining the purpose of his call that day.

You see, in addition to his studies at St. Ludmila, Good is also treasurer of the Half Moon 4-H Club, and it was in that capacity he paid her a visit on that particular day, he explained.

For it was in that role he and a few fellow club members had gathered up a few playthings for the shelter at their last meeting.

Good informed her that he’d stopped by presently to see that those items were now delivered and put to good use at her facility.

Impressed, undoubtedly, by the young man’s poise and the kindness of his gesture, Davis did what any good animal control officer would have done at that moment.

“Wanna play with ’em for a bit?” she asked.

And just like that, young Jake turned into the schoolboy she imagined he might be, first frolicking with the new batch of kittens who were born just days before, then running around with Illa the Cannan Dog mix and even rolling about with Bowser, the pit mix.

“Everyone got lots of love,” she said. “And Jake probably had lots of explaining to do once he got back home to his own four-legged family members. Because he sure got his fair share of kisses from the pups.”

Young Jake didn’t seem to mind a lick, though. In fact, it looked like he rather enjoyed himself.

But like all good things, his stay would soon come to an end when his mom wheeled up to signal it was time to depart.

Still, Davis said she was moved by the efforts he and his friends had gone to on behalf of the critters she keeps here in Shiner.

“We cannot express how grateful we are to the members of the Half Moon 4-H Club,” Davis said of their collected items.

“The toys donated will bring so much happiness to the shelter animals during their stay,” she added. “If you see these kids around town, be sure to congratulate them on being so thoughtful and generous.”