Glads for Wags is barking up the right tree

By: Foyinkemi Olalere

According to a 2025 study conducted by the American Veterinary Medical Association, 43 percent of U.S. households own a dog and 33 percent own a cat. Including other pets such as reptiles, birds, fish, and gerbils, about 62 percent of Americans own some kind of pet.

Roughly 6.5 million animals enter shelters each year, but only 3.2 million are adopted, leaving the remaining 3.3 million to either stay in shelters for ages, or be put down. The national move towards no-kill shelters has seen the national save rate climb to 83 percent, a 77 percent reduction in euthanasia rates since 2016. This progress is driven by education on the issue, with various organizations working to improve conditions for pets in need of homes. 

One of those organizations? Glenelg’s newest club: Glads for Wags, whose mission is to spread awareness about the needs of man’s best friend in shelters around the area.

The club was started by junior Addie Tracy, the club’s president, who said it was puppy yoga that served as inspiration for the club’s founding.

“I came across a viral video of sheltered dogs and thought it would be great for animals in need to get that kind of exposure,” Tracy said. “Shelters are always looking for help and are always trying to defeat the stigma of sheltered animals, so I wanted to help with that. From there, I called Tyler Mathias and Lily Smith and we started throwing ideas around.” 

Mathias, a junior and the club’s social media manager, was entirely on board with the idea when Tracy introduced it to him. Having fostered and adopted dogs himself, Mathias said he understands firsthand the stigma that typically surrounds fostered dogs, and wanted to help them improve their public perception. 

“It can definitely be difficult with how they’re not as trained or ‘well-behaved’ as breeded dogs,” Mathias said. “Still, I wouldn’t say that I’ve ever had a bad experience.”

Unlike clubs such as HOSA, Speech and Debate, or SAGA, there’s no national organization for high school students dedicated to helping animals, but several schools have clubs with the goal of assisting nearby shelters in their mission to rescue and raise awareness for abandoned and homeless animals. 

The club works closely with CHARM (Chesapeake Animal Rescue Mission) Rescue, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming animals at risk for euthanasia. Glads for Wags shares the same mission as the organization, and the projects that they work on during club hours are donated to the branch. There are many shelters around Glenelg; however, many people still choose to buy dogs from breeders. 

“We want to show people that the dog they’re looking for likely already exists in a shelter,” Tracy said. 

It’s a mission, however, that is easier said than done, especially considering the group’s biggest struggle: raising money and adhering to regulations. The club, so far, has been entirely self-funded, and while they work on projects such as assembling treat bags and making  homemade toys, treats, and blankets, most shelters prefer to receive monetary donations as opposed to handmade ones. Additionally, some of the dogs are allergic to certain foods, so the club has to be extremely careful when they consider how they go about achieving their goals. 

According to Tracy, the leadership team is well aware that hands-on experiences are much more effective in driving action, but as much as they’d love to bring some furry friends to the Glenelg campus, it’s difficult to do so within school and county regulations. 

Animal rescue initiatives have grown tremendously over the past decades, but there are still countless animals across the country who face the threat of euthanization simply because they’re unable to find a home. Glads for Wags may still be a small club, but its initiatives are larger than life. 

“It’s refreshing,” Mathias added. “We’re all here for the same goal – we are trying to make life in the shelters better because, in reality, most dogs won’t get adopted once they enter a shelter.”

Moving forward, the executive team hopes to expand and garner more interest for the club and the cause. 

If you care about animals and are looking for a laid back environment where you can contribute to the animals in shelters around Glenelg, stop by Glads for Wags in room 158, usually once a month after school, and help make a difference. 

“It’s quick. It’s simple. And it’s meaningful,” said junior treasurer Maddie Kirkpatrick. “You can walk out knowing you helped.”