Our project aims to help raise awareness for shelter animals in our city. We will host multiple events this season that involve creativity and learning for patrons to get inspired and help our cause. Although I have never had a pet of my own, I believe all pets should end up in a forever home that truly loves them. Continuing our mission of helping shelter animals by educating our community, our team has planned and prepped for various upcoming events. I look forward to seeing the changes we make to our mission and hope our message is heard. Our BARK Dogs and Crafts event was a great success. To prepare, our TLC group carefully curated a range of books for children to read with the pups and made sample dog puppet crafts for participants to take inspiration from. We also designed a presentation for parents, which covered the basics of hosting a shelter dog and the responsibilities—and fun!—that it comes with.

Before getting a pet, knowing where they're coming from is important to make ethical and smart decisions. "Adopt don't shop" is a phrase meant to discourage people looking for pets to adopt from a shelter rather than buying one from a breeder. By adopting, you're promising a safe space for a dog or cat that would otherwise not find one. On the other hand, puppy mills often look to make a quick buck rather than prioritizing the health and well-being of the pups in their care. This can lead to inadequate living conditions and health conditions caused by inbreeding. Platt's Paw Protectors urges you to understand the subject and make life-changing choices thoroughly.

For further reading, some great books to read about pet adoption, which you can find through the Los Angeles Public Library, include Adopting Pets: How to Choose Your New Best Friend by Bill Gutman, Mutual Rescue: How Adopting a Homeless Animal Can Save You, Too by Carol Novello, and Project PAWsome: Saving Shelter Pets One Bow Tie at a Time by Sir Darius Brown. We look forward to fulfilling our goal to educate our neighborhood on the importance of finding a forever home for all animals seeking one.

—Written by Chaitra Doddi

Chaitra is a volunteer at the Platt Branch and a 10th-grade student at Taft High School.

—Jennifer Watson, Young Adult Librarian, Platt Branch Library

The Teens Leading Change initiative has funded and launched 52 projects across 60 branches with over 600 participants, including 9 projects across 10 branches that are happening now! Go to lapl.org/teens/tlc for more information.