MERCERVILLE — Fourth grade students at Hannan Trace Elementary School recently received a special visit from Gallia County Dog Warden/Shelter Manager Jean Daniels, who taught them about the importance of treating dogs humanely.

Hannan Trace students in Mrs. Stutes’ and Mrs. Hineman’s classes are currently reading the 1992 novel Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. The book is about a young boy’s plight to rescue a mistreated beagle from its abusive owner in the small town of Friendly, W.Va.

Daniels visited both classes earlier this week to answer some of their questions and tell the stories of some of the real life “Shilohs” that find themselves at the Gallia County Animal Shelter.

Students listened intently as Daniels answered their questions about the scope of the dog warden’s job, the laws they have to follow, the limitations they encounter and some of the reasons that so many dogs end up at the shelter.

She explained the importance of spaying and neutering pets, vaccinations and purchasing dog tags, which in turn provide funding for the shelter.

One young man seemed to grasp the concept well as he raised his hand and asked, “Are we probably the future for dogs, helping them stay healthy and keeping them safe?”

Daniels said that according to her records, 963 dogs have come into the animal shelter since May. Of that number, 72 dogs have been adopted, 53 have been reclaimed by their owners, 58 have died of natural causes such as Parvo, 348 have been euthanized, and 417 dogs have been rescued. In addition, 111 dogs have been put into foster care and some of those have been rescued without ever checking into the shelter.

“When I look at the number of dogs we’ve euthanized compared to how many dogs we’ve had, it’s less than half and much better than before,” Daniels said.

Approximately 750 dogs were euthanized at the animal shelter in 2007; the number was around 850 in 2008.

“Spaying and neutering is the best thing you can do to keep dogs out of the shelter,” she told the fourth graders, adding that getting dogs fixed can also keep them healthier.

One young lady said she thought it was expensive to get dogs fixed, to which Daniels replied that puppies are also expensive.

Daniels has linked up with rescue shelters located throughout the eastern half of the United States and Canada, networking volunteer dog transports via both plane and automobile. She is now working with animal lovers around the county to educate the public, especially youth, in an attempt to cut down on the number of dogs coming into the shelter.

One story about two real life Gallia County “Shilohs” was not recounted during Daniels’ visit to the elementary school, but should be told. It happened back in November of this year, when two basset hound mixes, estimated to be four or five months old, were injured after being thrown from a moving vehicle.

Luckily, a puppy was getting ready to be flown by Pilots N Paws, a network of general aviation pilots that facilitate rescue transports, to Kids to the Rescue, a shelter in Pennsylvania run by Michelle Baldwin that has taken in dozens of Gallia County dogs. Baldwin agreed to take the two injured dogs along with the third, a blind puppy that had recently been left in the shelter’s drop box.

Baldwin took the two injured pups to her local veterinarian where one was diagnosed as having suffered a broken leg and the other a dislocated neck.

During Daniels’ visit to Hannan Trace, she explained to students that dogs can be abused in different ways, whether it be physical mistreatment or neglecting them by not providing adequate food, clean water or shelter. She essentially told them that the future is in their hands and if their enthusiasm this week is any indication of what lies ahead, that future will be bright.

The Gallia County Animal Shelter is located at 186 Shawnee Lane and can be reached by phone at 441-0207. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment.