Article published February 13, 2008 by the Daily News, Batavia, NY.

"Students' sweet fundraiser will benefit a dog with Spirit"

by Joanne Beck (jbeck@batavianews.com)

"... Spirit, a black Labrador retriever who is going blind from an ocular disorder."

BATAVIA — When students at the state School for the Blind heard about a local dog in need, they came up with a tasty idea.

They decided to have a bake sale to help Spirit, a black Labrador retriever who is going blind from an ocular disorder.

There was something kind of neat about School for the Blind students assisting a visually impaired dog, faculty adviser Bethany Burgess said.

"It's good for them not only to relate to their peers but to those outside the school. It has opened their eyes that animals have some of the same problems they do," she said. "They're normal teenagers who are usually thinking about dances and other activities ... It's nice for them to reach out."

The bake sale proceeds will go toward Spirit's medical treatment. He had eye surgery for a progressive disease that will eventually leave him blind. Volunteers For Animals stepped in to help last fall when Spirit was at a high-kill shelter, which regularly euthanized stray animals, with little hope to live, President Wendy Castleman said. Volunteers brought him to Genesee County, where he was taken care of at a foster home.

He was taken to an animal eye specialist and diagnosed with ocular skeletal disorder, volunteer Brenda Cromwell said. The dog is blind in one eye and will likely go completely blind, she said. That hasn't stifled his demeanor.

"He's a very active dog; he likes playing with tennis balls and riding in the car," she said. "It's great they wanted to help Spirit. Dogs have been so much use to people with visual problems. I couldn't imagine not treating him. He's a regular dog; he's got a lot to offer."

The group paid for Spirit's surgery, which cost $3,000. About $1,300 has been donated to help defray costs, Cromwell said. School for the Blind faculty is encouraging people to donate money to the cause while the school runs its on-site bake sale. Posters of raised letters and photos of the 2-year-old dog are displayed throughout the halls. Students hope to add another $1,000 to the pot.

That has meant a lot of baking for the group, said Student Council member Kyle, who asked that his last name not to be used.

"That's a lot of cupcakes," he said Monday at the school's kitchen. "Hopefully I get to eat one."

The kids had wanted to do a fundraiser and were considering something to help Hurricane Katrina victims. But then a retiree from the school e-mailed Burgess about a local dog in need.

While Burgess admits that $1,000 is quite a lofty goal, the students are committed to the cause. Early Monday morning they were mixing sweet-smelling batter for cupcakes with peanut butter frosting. Staff has been encouraged to bring in their own edibles for the sale.

While the effort will help defray expenses for Spirit's eye surgery, it will also help the students with everyday life, Burgess said.

"It helps them out with activities of daily living skills," she said. "They'll do the prep work, cooking and clean-up."

She joked that laundry will be next on their list, to get the flour and other ingredients off their clothes. That wasn't the hardest part of the experience, Kyle said.

"Not eating it before selling it," he said. "That's the hardest part."

Staff at School for the Blind will collect monetary donations and/or pet toys for Volunteers For Animals Wednesday at the school, 2 Richmond Ave.

*To read more about the follow-up story go click here.