The Paws for a Cause calender features pets on Choate’s campus.
By Charlotte Flynn ’25
Paws for a Cause, a fundraiser organized by Dana Tan ’25, aims to spread the joy that campus pets bring to Choate while also serving the local community. Tan’s love for animals and her desire to make a positive impact on the community led her to create a calendar that showcases her photos of 13 dogs and two cats on campus.
So far, she has raised over $800 for the Meriden Humane Society, a no-kill animal shelter and rescue facility, through the calendar’s sales.
As an owner of two dogs, Tan was inspired by the joy and comfort animals brought her to create a project that could both celebrate the presence of dogs on campus and contribute to a meaningful cause — the Meriden Humane Society’s operational costs to care for their animals.
Tan felt moved to spread her love for animals to the Choate community after having volunteered at dog shelters in Singapore, which are dwindling in numbers.
Through the project, she also hoped to raise awareness for rescue animals. “Animals are often a very overlooked group. But they are all very close to our hearts, and many families around campus and students back in their own homes have animals themselves,” Tan said.
The calendar only featured campus pets who were rescued because Tan wanted to emphasize the importance of rescuing animals from shelters instead of buying them from pet shops or breeders.
Humanities teacher Mr. Wes Jenkins, whose dogs have all been rescue dogs, appreciated this aspect of the fundraiser. His dog, Loki, is also featured on the calendar. “I think a lot of people don’t always think about the unwanted animals and disregard the large number of them in shelters without a home and a family,” he said.
Organizing Paws for a Cause required meticulous planning. Tan first reached out to faculty members with dogs and requested to feature their pets in a calendar.
“It took around two months to really make this happen,” Tan said. “I had to make sure my photography skills were good during the summer, followed by announcements to find volunteers, and then create the final product.”
After selecting her models, Tan selected scenic spots on campus for the photos and ensured the pets were comfortable throughout the process. Science teacher Dr. Selena Gell was excited about the opportunity to participate in a photoshoot with her dog, Eddie. “It was a very fun event. We took some photos in front of the Student Activity Center, and Eddie even tried on some different outfits,” she said.
The planning process not only reflected Tan’s commitment to the cause but also her deep appreciation for the unique charm each campus animal brought to the project.
