For Immediate Release

ROCKVILLE, MD – Nine Montgomery County school children have been selected as winners in the “Rules to Love By” poster contest recently conducted by the Montgomery County Humane Society. Designed for youth to illustrate what they know about being a responsible pet owner, the contest was organized for MCHS by a team from the 2009 class of Leadership Montgomery.

The winners are:

• Violet R. Barnhart, 2nd grade, Washington Grove ES
• Varya Noelle Mathieu, 4th grade, Arcola ES
• Tirsa B. Quiroz Romero, 4th grade, Arcola ES
• Fares Granados, 4th grade, Arcola ES
• Daniel EW Green, 3rd grade, Arcola ES
• Alberto Navarro, 4th grade, Arcola ES
• Natalie Murray, 3rd grade, St. Peter’s School
• Shayan Baghideznab, 5th grade, Arcola ES
• Seeun Park, Kindergarten, Farmland ES

Winners were chosen from almost 120 entries. The children were asked to illustrate their choice of one of the “Rules to Love By: 10 Commandments of Responsible Pet Ownership”:

1. I’m probably going to live 10 to 15 years. Please keep me my entire life. To be separated from you would be very painful.

2. I’m a slow learner. I need some time to understand what you want of me.

3. Give me food, water and exercise every day. To stay healthy, I need the same kinds of things you need.

4. Please have me spayed (if I’m a girl) or neutered (if I’m a boy). I will be a better pet and you won’t have to find safe homes for all my babies.

5. You are my best friend. Please don’t stay mad at me or lock me up as punishment. I can’t understand why you’re doing that.

6. Talk to me. I like hearing your voice, even if I don’t understand what you’re saying.

7. I don’t hurt you. Please don’t hurt – or hit – me.

8. Before you yell at me for acting lazy or not doing what you say, remember I might be tired, hungry or sick.

9. Take care of me when I get old. One day you’ll need someone to take care of you, too.

10. Stay with me when I’m scared. I feel safe when you’re around.

Winners each received two of the final printed posters featuring their entries. Additional posters will be distributed to community centers, libraries and schools throughout Montgomery County while supplies last.

The Leadership Montgomery team also arranged production of a radio public service announcement using the Rules to Love By theme. Listen at http://www.radiospace.com/mchspsa.htm.

For more information about MCHS education programs for both adults and youth, contact b j Altschul at 240.773.5967 or email bja@mchumane.org.

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Radio Public Service Announcement

Sample Video Public Service Announcement

Rules to Love By Poster Contest Winners

The Montgomery County Humane Society is a 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization that has provided animal sheltering services for Montgomery County since 1958. MCHS receives funds to operate the Montgomery County Animal Shelter under a grant from the Montgomery County government and from private donations. As the only full-service animal shelter in the county, MCHS is open for emergencies daily around the clock and never turns away an animal. In 2008 MCHS handled approximately 9,200 animals, making an impact on the animal-related needs of all of the county’s residents, fostering the human-animal bond, and promoting public health and safety. For information on how to adopt an animal into your family, visit www.mchumane.org.

Leadership Montgomery is a networking and professional development program that brings together current and emerging leaders to make Montgomery County a better place to live and work. Each year’s class meets with top leaders from all sectors of the community -- business, government, nonprofit. One of their assignments each year is to work with selected nonprofits on a Community Impact Project that will have tangible results of benefit to both the participating organization and the community.

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