This week, Seal Sitters was invited to make a presentation to two local West Seattle Schools - Madison Middle School and Schmitz Park Elementary. Each year, students across the country collect pennies in a Penny Harvest Drive, with each school typically raising $1000. A panel of students is selected to nominate local non-profits and follow up with interviews and final recommendations for distribution of funds. We are so grateful and honored to be nominated for such an award. These dedicated young people are a true inspiration - we hope they join Seal Sitters at our upcoming May training (to be announced). Yesterday at Schmitz Park school in addition to Seal Sitters, a feral cat rescue group talked about their work fostering feral cats and kittens and neuter/spay program. They brought in 5 adorable black kittens to show the kids. Laughing, we said that NOAA won’t let us bring seal pups into the classroom and that we never get to touch or snuggle with our fuzzy friends - and the kids were shocked to hear that people actually pick up pups from the beach, mistakenly thinking a seal is better off in their bathtub. We stressed the importance of keeping people and dogs away for the safety of both the public and the pup - they are wild animals and can bite - and, of course, dogs can injure and kill seal pups.

Many thanks to the kids for being so passionate about our many animal friends and nominating us for a possible grant! Last year, we were the benefactor of a generous Penny Harvest Grant from Schmitz Park which paid the costs for many months of Seal Sitters’ dedicated phone hotline. With no Federal or State funding, we depend on donations to cover the many expenses to continue our work.