Pets on wheels: SETA club hosts a mobile pet adoption event

While most students were either marching in or enjoying the Lancer Day Parade on Sept. 20, members of SETA club were hard at work finding homes for shelter animals.

CHS's SETA club stands for Students for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and was founded in 2012 by senior Sophie Blake. The club works to promote the ethical treatment of animals and awareness for animal welfare through shelter supply drives, volunteering at local animal shelters and putting on various events.

"[We} wanted the students at Carlsbad to have the opportunity to volunteer and to be more aware about animal welfare," Blake said. “I think a lot of kids have the idea that they can help but they don’t know how, which is where we come in.”

Though the club is only in its second year of existence, it has high ambitions for the year, beginning with the pet adoption drive. Blake contacted Brianne Miller, the community engagement coordinator from the San Diego Humane Society, to set up the adoption drive which was held in downtown Carlsbad, during the Lancer Day parade.

“We go out with our adoptable animals and try to find them loving homes out in the community,” Miller said. “A lot of times people don’t know about our hidden animals that we don’t have room on the adoption floor to show off so events like these are good opportunities for these pets to be seen.”

Right now, the San Diego Humane Society has over 1000 animals in their care who are in need of homes. The realization that some of the worst cases of animal cruelty occur to domestic animals played a crucial role in Miller’s involvement with the Humane Society.

“I started out in the zoo industry, informing kids about conservation but after doing that for two years I realized that there is a greater need to pay attention to that animals in our own homes,” Miller said.

To continue the success of the adoption event, SETA will be introducing a new segment on CHSTV called PAW ( Pet A Week) in which they promote a different animal from the San Diego Humane Society each week. Additionally, SETA hopes to offer volunteer and informational opportunities throughout the year and possibly hold another adoption event later in the year.To get involved with SETA club and share a passion for animals, come to room 5102 on odd Thursdays during lunch.

“I think people don’t realize how a very small contribution such as going to one event or volunteering at a shelter for one day can make a huge difference in these animals’ lives,” Blake said.