By Nettie Hoagland

Dogs are not unusual companions to the majority of window shoppers, farm-stand goers, slow-moving tourists and college students that occupy the Church street Marketplace: trotting alongside their owner and stopping for attention. On Sept. 30 an unusual parade of dogs and their owners, some dressed in animal-related costumes, marched down Church Street. The clatter of cowbells and waving of signs during the parade announced a larger mission than weekend shopping.

Marching in the parade was St. Michael’s college student, Sarah Iandoli 19’, a current intern for the Green Mountain Animal Defenders (GMAD). “It felt great to walk with the Defenders, not only as an intern, but as a person who really cares about animals and their rights,” said Iandoli.

Two years ago, Cause for Paws, a St. Michael’s animal justice program that operates through MOVE, incorporated GMAD into their program, but last year was the first year that Cause for Paws participated in the walk. Both programs, Cause for Paws and GMAD are shifting the objective of animal rights away from caring for and adopting companion animals, and toward the recognition of all animals and their worth.

President of GMAD, Sharon McNair led activists down Church Street in their annual Walk For All Animals to raise awareness and funds for animal rights on farms, in the meat industry, and cosmetic industry. As Vermont’s largest all volunteer based animal rights group, GMAD organizes statewide action.

“Seeing everyone in the community get together and walk, while defending animals together was a great thing to be involved in,” Iandoli said.

“We are here to help the animals that no one else is helping,” McNair said. GMAD strives to aid all animals, such as rescuing wild birds that were sick or injured. “We rescued a total of 19 goats from death and encouraged farmers to practice more humane practices in the future,” said McNair.

“We don’t deal with adoption or rehoming because shelters are already facing an overpopulation of companion animals,” said Jill Jacobelli, secretary of GMAD. McNair said that their biggest success has been their spaying and neutering program. “The program prevents litters that wouldn’t have homes from being born,” said McNair.

McNair, who said she has been an animal rights activist all her life said, “Social consciousness toward animal rights is growing.” GMADs statewide activism has inspired people to boycott businesses that promote factory farming and animal testing said McNair. “They inspired Ben and Jerry’s to only purchase certified cage free eggs,” said Jessica Langton, GMAD’s newest volunteer. “Purchasing cage free eggs is better for the laying hens,” said Langton. “It means they live in healthier conditions.”

Jacobelli and McNair’s sentiment toward animal justice is one widely shared by Cause for Paws “In the past, we used to only work with the All Breed animal shelter,” said Megan McCauley ‘18, president of Cause for Paws, “But now we’re partnering with the Green Mountain Animal Defenders and Chittenden Humane society.”

Cause for Paws also organizes three trips per semester at the Champlain Adaptive Mounted Program (CHAMP) in South Hero, Vermont where students volunteer to work with therapy horses, which assist children and adults with special needs. “The volunteers at CHAMP love having student volunteers, and the students love going,” said McCauley, “the program allows students to become more aware of animal’s sociability”

“Any work we do with animals shows us they have personalities,” said McCauley. MOVE also sponsored a service trip to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah last year. Best Friends gives 1,600 homeless animals a place to live. The week long service trip in January involved caring for homeless horses, pigs, hogs, rabbits, birds, dogs, cats and wildlife on the sprawling 1,400 acre sanctuary.

Brian Shearer, ‘18, went on the service trip last year. While Shearer had done service with various groups in the past, it was his first non-human related service trip. “It was unlike any trip I’ve taken before,” said Shearer, “Going on the service trip connected with me spiritually to other forms of life.” Shearer said that caring for the animals humbled his spirit and influenced his beliefs.

The animals at Best Friend’s Animal Sanctuary received physical, psychological, and emotional care from the students. Shearer, said his experience at Best Friend’s was “eye opening” to consider the personalities of non-human animals. “It was humbling to care for something you’d think of as less than you,” said Shearer.

As Shearer and McCauley graduate from St. Michael’s and move into the world, they hope that the recognition of animal rights will grow