Students at Virginia Tech are combining their love for fashion design and shelter dogs to create a unique platform for pet adoption. The upcoming Struttin’ for PAWS adoption fashion show will feature student models walking the runway with local shelter dogs in hopes of finding them forever homes.
Karlee Angel, the founder of Hokie Designers, initiated the PAWS platform during her homecoming campaign, driven by her lifelong commitment to pet adoption. The event aims to raise awareness about the importance of adopting pets and the impact they can have on people’s lives.
For the show, students from Hokie Designers have been creatively restyling “adopt me” vests for the shelter dogs, using materials like paint and jewels to make the dogs more appealing to potential adopters. The student models will be dressed in earth tones during the show to symbolize the warmth of a loving home.
The dogs participating in the fashion show come from various shelters, including the Montgomery County Animal Care and Adoption Center, Franklin County Animal Shelter, and Roanoke Regional Center for Animal Care and Protection. Students from the School of Animal Sciences are providing training and enrichment classes to prepare the dogs for the runway.
Eva Giguere, a graduate student in the School of Animal Sciences, has been working closely with the dogs, teaching them basic commands and skills to improve their adoptability and mental well-being. The training aims to ensure that the dogs feel comfortable and confident during the fashion show.
Roya Cranford, a junior majoring in animal and poultry sciences, will be assisting with directing the models and dogs during the show. Her experience working with shelter dogs has equipped her to handle the unique needs of the canine participants and ensure a successful event.
This adoption fashion show is a creative way to showcase shelter dogs and increase their chances of finding loving homes. Lisa Gunter, an assistant professor in the School of Animal Sciences, emphasizes the importance of community support in helping these dogs transition to forever homes.
After the show, the adoption vests created for the event will be donated to local animal shelters, continuing the mission of promoting pet adoption and supporting shelter animals. The combination of fashion and compassion is not only raising awareness but also making a tangible difference in the lives of these deserving animals.
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