A brown-and-white pitbull named Apple greeted passersby on Bruin Walk Wednesday with slobbery smiles and sloppy kisses as a part of Pet Advocacy Day.
The Undergraduate Students Association Council Community Service Commission organized the event in collaboration with animal shelters in Los Angeles, such as Karma Rescue and No-Kill Los Angeles. The commission plans to hold similar events throughout the year, said Kelly Chen, a third-year biology student and member of the external programming committee for the Community Service Commission.
Chen said she organized the event to educate students about the animal initiatives happening in Los Angeles and to tell students how they can help.
Two years ago, Apple was found in a park in a bad condition after being abandoned by a backyard dog breeder, said Susie Yoo, a lawyer for Karma Rescue and Apple’s owner.
Every day, more than 9,000 healthy and adoptable pets are killed in American shelters, according to the Best Friends Animal Society.
Chen said she is in the process of trying to establish Pet Advocacy as an independent UCLA club.
Compiled by Chandini Soni, Bruin senior staff.