Marian Addison, Guli Lahkani, Agnes Hemsen, Jean Lyon, Marion Vento, Sarah Vaillencourt and Julie Turnes visited the Michigan Humane Society's Rochester Hills branch to donate dog sweaters.
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Combining their love of animals with their passion for knitting and crocheting, the Animal Lovers Club at the Inn at Cass Lake in Waterford recently got together and decided to make and donate several sweaters for dogs waiting to be adopted.
The group traveled to the Rochester Hills branch of the Michigan Humane Society to present their handmade dog sweaters. They also donated dog food and dog biscuits to the organization, said Julie Turnes, life enrichment coordinator at Inn at Cass Lake.
The club, comprised of about 10 members who love animals, meets weekly, said Turnes. They were looking for a volunteer service project that would help them fulfill the Inn at Cass Lake's motto of "Seniors Serving Seniors and Seniors Serving Society," she said.
Member Jean Lyon found a pattern on the Internet and the group began making the sweaters in various sizes to fit small, medium and large dogs.
The yarn and knitting needles for the project were donated by the Golden Age Club of Waterford Parks and Recreation, said Turnes.
Club members visited the Rochester branch of the Michigan Humane Society recently to donate the dog sweaters. The group made seven sweaters and donated several more that were purchased.
Club member Guli Lahkani said she has always appreciated the unconditional love that pets have given her throughout the years.
Margaret Sanford, an experienced knitter and another of the club's members, said it took her about two days to make a medium-sized dog sweater. She has been knitting since she was 7 or 8 years old.
This isn't the only volunteer activity the Animal Lovers Club has planned.
Next, club members plan to create a couple dozen "kitty forts." These are decorative, sturdy cardboard boxes with a door cut out where cats can do perhaps what cats do best - relax and take a nap.
Once the cats rise and shine, they can keep themselves entertained by playing with a cat toy that will dangle from the door of each fort, said Turnes.
Members are also looking at creating handmade blankets to line the bottom of cat cages. This will provide the felines with a place to comfortably curl up while they wait for a family to adopt them.
The Animal Lovers Club at the Inn at Cass Lake will continue to explore other volunteer service opportunities as well, said Turnes.
The Inn at Cass Lake is an independent living community for people ages 55 and older.
Contact Jane Peterson at (248) 745-4573 or jane.peterson@oakpress.com.
