The Garden City Telegram
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Girl Scouts answer call for cats
Published 4/19/2008 in News : Area coverage
By ELLEN ROCHAU
The Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland
One hundred catnip toys have been donated to homeless cats at the Garden City Animal Shelter, thanks to a community-service project dubbed "Operation Happy Sock."
The Girl Scout troops collected unwanted socks from dozens of friends and family members and transformed them into catnip toys by stuffing them with catnip and fiberfill and then tying a knot at the ankle.
"It was really easy and simple to do. Almost everyone seems to have unwanted socks, and they're happy to have them put to good use," said Ora Swords, leader of Daisy Girl Scout Troop 28. "Making the 'Happy Socks' was lots of fun for the kids."
"Operation Happy Sock" was founded in late 2004 in Fairfax, Va. Thanks to the support of Girl Scouts and other groups around the country, "Operation Happy Sock" is now a popular project nationwide. An estimated 500 groups participated in "Operation Happy Sock" in their communities during 2006, and about 50,000 homeless cats are much happier as a result.
"Homeless cats deserve a little fun, but we learned that many shelters have no budgets for buying toys for the animals," added Tamara Hipp, leader of Junior Girl Scout Troop 80. "By taking unwanted socks and turning them into toys, both the people and the animals benefit."
Catnip toys are more than mere play things, however. For stressed-out cats stuck in strange surroundings, a whiff of catnip can be very therapeutic. A big, fluffy "Happy Sock" can be the feline equivalent of a cuddly teddy bear.
The benefits don't stop there. The Girl Scouts also visited with Marge Williams, who is on the board of directors for the Finney County Humane Society. Williams was given the catnip toys on behalf of the Garden City Animal Shelter and the cats it helps.
"'Happy Socks' made those cats go crazy," said Ibby Swords, a 6-year-old member of Daisy Girl Scout Troop 28. "They loved them. We could tell that we made them happy."
Shelly Smith, an assistant leader for Junior Girl Scout Troop 80 said, "We had a great time. The children learned that the shelter is a great place to adopt a cat or dog as a new family member and what the Finney County Humane Society does for the pets and our community."
Williams told the girls about foster care and volunteer opportunities that the animal shelter and the humane society have to offer. Junior Girl Scout Troop 80 donated $200 of the money it earned from the Girl Scout Cookie Sale to the humane society. On behalf of the animal shelter, Matt Allen, interim Garden City manager, said, "We are thankful for the Girl Scouts and their 'Happy Socks.'"
The Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland serves more than 16,000 girls and 5,000 adults in 80 Kansas counties through its operational headquarters in Wichita, and regional offices in Emporia, Garden City, Hays, Hutchinson and Salina. Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls' healthy development and is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls.
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