An East Carolina University professor was honored with a service award for her impactful, decade-old health walking course for dogs, ECU News Services stories.
It’s now been ten years since Professor Melanie Sartore-Baldwin — with the assistance of different professionals — applied the course. Over the years, dogs on the Pitt County Animal Shelter have benefited from health walks led by Sartore-Baldwin. Other ECU college students and volunteers additionally walk the dogs.
This mixed effort has largely contributed to the course’s total success.
“Those who are invested are really invested,” Sartore-Baldwin shared. “Without these students and without these volunteers, these dogs would not get the mile or two walk they get on a daily basis, which is so incredibly important for enrichment and their mental health and physical health.”
Sartore-Baldwin — who obtained the award in Dec. 2023 throughout a gathering held by the Pitt County Board of Commissioners — stated she began the course in 2014 with a small group of scholars. A decade later, she sees about 20 college students per semester enrolling for the course.
According to the professor, the course has additionally been of nice assist to college students so far as aiding them in maintaining match is worried. She said, “We did one study that students were getting upwards of 4,000 steps before 10 a.m.”
Shelter director commends professor for impactful dog-walking class
Chad Singleton is the director of the Pitt County Animal Shelter. He was current when the Board of Commissioners honored Sartore-Baldwin with the award.
Singleton shared he is aware of of “no one more deserving for this award.” He additional said, “We truly consider her part of our team and know we can depend on her to spread our message, help us educate the community and recruit volunteers who last long after the semester is over.”
Concluding, an impressed Singleton shared: “Because of all her efforts and countless hours of service, Melanie has earned not only this award, but also the respect and gratitude of all those who work and volunteer at the Pitt County Animal Shelter.”
Professor Sartore-Baldwin stated she’s proud that there are former ECU college students who nonetheless go to the shelter to walk the canines regardless of having different commitments.
“I’m very grateful that there are students going out into their everyday lives, after they graduate, who have taken this class and they are advocates for sheltering animals,” she said. “That is my biggest takeaway, and that is going to happen for years to come.”
