Arlington School & Family Magazine April 2017 | Page 12

Animal Essay Winners
By Kenneth Perkins
How will animal shelters be different in 2060 than they
are today? Ella T. has an idea. The Ditto Elementary
sixth grader wrote in a 500-word essay about how
shelters in the future will be more like hotels with
flexibility galore, giving pet owners far more leeway in
how and when they board their pets.
Her ideas were sound and her writing style crisp and
clear, which is why her essay was picked tops among all
sixth-grade entries in the City of Arlington’s 16 th annual
Animal Essay Contest.
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Ella, who has three dogs at home, has always been
an animal lover and jumped at the chance to write the
essay, even though, at first, she couldn’t quite come up
with what life would be like in 2060, when she’ll be
well into her 50s.
“I just had to use my imagination,” Ella said. “And just
think about what I would want right now.”
Joining Ella in placing among the top three in their
grade level was Fabio T. of Butler Elementary (second
place, sixth grade), Madelyn H. of Duff Elementary
(second place, third grade), Hayden B. of Little
Elementary (third place, fourth grade), Makai S. of
Moore Elementary (third place, fifth grade) and Colleen G. of Butler (third place, sixth grade).
The contest is open to students in grades three through six who live within the Arlington city limits. Each grade level
had a different essay prompt. Grade 3 was: If you had wings what animal or insect would you be and why? Grade 4
was: Our pets need food, water and shelter, but what more do they need? For grade 5, the prompt was: What things
should be done to improve the lives of animals?
We’ve rolled out a new online registration system
allowing you to register and pay for programs, sign up for
memberships and view facility reservation availability
all from your computer, tablet or smartphone at your
own convenience. Search for your favorite programs by
keyword, age, day, time, location and more! Winners, who receive a $100 savings account, were surprised with the news in their classrooms by city
representatives. Approximately 1,320 students who attend public, charter and home schools participated in the contest,
which is designed to promote responsible pet ownership. Winners also received an invitation to tour Arlington’s state-
of-the-art Animal Services Center and read their essays during a special event March 11. The Arlington City Council
formally recognized the winners at its March 7 meeting.
Visit NaturallyFun.org for more information. “The excitement from each school visit is a full day of joy and extreme delight,” said Chris Huff, Animal Services
Manager. “We’re always proud of not only how the essays are written but how these kids have a knowledge of
animal care.”
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