Students looking to be an advocate for animals in need now have an opportunity to do so through a brand new student organization, Animal Care for a Cause.
ACC was founded and registered as a student organization at the beginning of the 2017 fall semester. The club caters to the needs of abandoned and neglected animals in the community.
“Back home, I was always really involved in these kind of things,” said ACC founder and president Katie Gatewood. “I worked at the St. Tammany Parish Humane Society for years, and I’m just an animal lover. All of my pets are rescues, so I just wanted to get involved on campus, but kind of in my own little way.”
Membership chair Bailee Pipes creates and manages membership development plans and recruits club members.
“I [became] involved because Peyton, the secretary, actually [asked] me to be in the organization, because she knew my major and my love for animals, and they needed one more officer,” Pipes said. “I’m so excited for this organization to raise money for non-profitable organizations. I’m excited to help rescue tons of animals and to make lifelong friends and have fun while doing it.”
ACC plans to extend its passion for aiding animals in need to the local community.
“I met with the owner of Friends of the Animals, actually right here on Highland [Road],” Gatewood said. “She’s going to let us know whenever she has events and stuff going on for us to volunteer at.”
Although only registered since the start of the semester, ACC has gained members who have a passion for helping animals and are excited about the organization’s goals.
“Although we have only had one meeting, everyone is very friendly and seems passionate about our cause: helping animals in need,” said club member Anna Dupre. “I am really looking forward to spending my free time helping these animals around the Baton Rouge area and fundraising for our cause. I also can’t wait to see the impact the club has on the community by helping those animals that need our help.”
ACC is an organization open to anyone with a love for animals. Gatewood hopes her organization will be an enjoyable place for people with the same passion.
“A big part of the club for me is I want everybody to meet each other,” Gatewood said. “I just want it to be something everybody can really enjoy. We just have a really good cause. Animal lovers all over the place and all these organizations that we’re going to try to be helping out, they just really need the help.”
Due to being a new club on campus, ACC has not scheduled set dates for its club meetings.
Animal care for a Cause can be found on Tigerlink for more information.