News Archive

The Puppy Project

Published April 25, 2018

Emily Teator ‘19 loves animals, whether they are puppies from the shelter, or bunnies from the local pet store. She has made it her mission to make that love contagious and remove the stigma surrounding rescue animals. That is why, when her Visual Communication Design (VCD) Transmedia class was required to pitch a public service project, she got the idea to host the first annual Rescue Animal Awareness Week at Nazareth College.

“I mean, I saw the opportunity to bring puppies to campus for a grade,” Teator recalls, “I figured, what’s not to love?” The project involved extensive planning and marketing efforts including a website, social media content, and a pitch to a panel of Visual Communication and Design professors who selected Teator’s project as one of two that would come to fruition. After getting approval, she was named project leader and spent the next two months contacting local animal shelters, finding event space on campus, and planning a week of events to raise awareness for rescues.

“I guess the biggest lesson I learned was that putting on an event of this size requires a lot more behind-the-scenes work than I anticipated,” says Teator. “Up front, you think you’ll just be emailing a few local shelters and asking them to bring their animals by for an adoption fair, then you realize you need proof of insurance, approval from a number of different departments on campus, and you need to make sure people show up on top of all of that.”

People did show up. Rescue Animal Awareness Week took place on campus from Monday, April 2 until Friday, April 6, and was a huge success. The headliner events included visits from pet therapy dogs in the library, Rabbit Resource (a local rabbit shelter) visited with some shelter pets, and on Friday, there was an adoption fair that took place in Colie’s Cafe.  

In the end, the project turned out to be much more work than just “bringing puppies to campus for a grade,” however, the success of the week was evident in the amount of campus participation the events heralded. Teator’s love for animals was contagious and not only did students get the chance to meet a number of furry friends throughout the week, they also took the first step towards removing the stigma surrounding rescue animals.

For More Information

Julie Long | Nazareth Chief Public Relations Officer | (585) 389-2456 | jlong2@naz.edu

Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.

Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.

Emily with a four-legged friend on campus.