Wagging tails have wishes too

As children finalize their holiday wish lists, the furry cats and canines at Mazon’s Just Animals Shelter also have a few items they are wishing for this holiday season.
The biggest wish of all is for all of the animals at the shelter to find a forever home, but knowing some wait longer than others there are a few everyday necessities the shelter needs to keep them happy and healthy.
This holiday season a staff member had an idea to get local children involved in a wish list project to aid the shelter. She enlisted fourth and fifth grade students from Coal City Intermediate School to lend a hand.
According to the shelter, having children help out pets in need also teaches empathy and gives a voice to the voiceless. Through simple involvement, children gain rewards and feelings of accomplishment that come with helping animals.
The fourth and fifth grade students have been busy making paper ornament donation tags that hang on trees located in a variety of locations in Grundy and Will counties.
Individuals are encouraged to take an ornament from a tree and purchase the item printed on the back to donate to the shelter.
Donations can be delivered to the shelter or be made at the various businesses hosting a tree. Those locations are: Nails & Tails Pet Grooming, 100 W. Commercial Dr., Morris, open Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Forepaws Pet Store, 829 S. Ridge Road, Minooka, open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Trinity Barkery, 240 W. Baltimore St., Wilmington, open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Also, Benson Insurance, 155 S. Broadway, Coal City, open Monday to Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 9 a.m. to noon and Saturday 9 to 10:30 a.m. and Just Animals Shelter, 516 Depot St., Mazon, open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday from 2 to 6 p.m.