Upper Saddle River October 10, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 5 Girl Scout Gold Award candidate Clare Hynes of Upper Saddle River invites the community to discover her “pet project.” On Oct. 13, this Senior Girl Scout from Troop 899 will host a Pet Adoption and Pet Outdoor Safety Expo from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Reynolds School in Upper Saddle River. The public is invited to this outdoor expo, which Hynes organized as her Gold Award project. Those who are thinking about adopting a pet, and current pet owners who would like to know more about how to keep pets safe will benefit from the planned activities. “We are increasingly seeing deer, wild turkeys, hawks, coyotes, owls, and other animals in our woodsy suburban area,” Hynes to host pet adoption and safety event Hynes said. “These wild animals can pose a threat to our pets unless we take precautions.” Hynes noted that pets can also pose a threat to wildlife, especially wild birds. She pointed out that over 2,000 wild birds are killed or hurt by cats in New Jersey each summer. The expo will include information about how pet owners can keep cats indoors to protect wild animals. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn and requires the completion of a leadership project of at least 80 hours. Each prospective Gold Award recipient must discover an issue in the community, connect with experts and community members, and take action to effect positive change. Hynes said she got the idea for the expo after her family adopted a four-year old standard poodle in February. “Our dog, Tobie, is so much fun that I want to let other families know that adopting a dog or cat is a great alternative to going to a breeder or pet shop,” she said. Pets from the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, Inc. will be available for adoption at the event. Even those who do not want to adopt a pet can still help pets in shelters. “People can become foster families for pets, taking them in temporarily, or they can donate toys or blankets for a particular pet and visit them in the shelter,” Hynes said. The expo will provide more information about these programs. Families are encouraged to attend the expo with their dogs. All dogs must be on a leash no longer than six feet. Experts will be on hand to speak about pet-related issues, including Hillsdale Animal Hospital veterinarian Dr. Kenneth Fischer, pet psychic Susan Squittieri, and dog behaviorist Kathy Santo, author of “Kathy Santo’s Dog Sense.” The day-long event will also feature music, refreshments, crafts, vendors, and appearances by pet shelters and rescue groups. Attendees are encouraged to bring a donation of dog or cat food for Community Animal Advocates, a nonprofit group that focuses on keeping pets in their homes. Donations of small boxes of Milk Bones, flea and tick collars, grooming tools, and K9 toothbrushes and toothpaste will be collected for U.S. Army dogs overseas. Reynolds School is located at 391 West Saddle River Road in Upper Saddle River. Within Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey, 12 percent of eligible girls earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, compared to the national average of six percent.