With plans to start this year off with a bang, SETA Club (Students for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) wants to increase involvement between the community and local animal organizations through many exciting events and diverse volunteer opportunities. Only a year-old, the club has high aspirations to help local animal organizations through student involvement.

“We have a lot of new and exciting events for this year,” senior SETA club secretary  Nirali Patel said. “We’re trying to plan one for each month to keep the club active in the community.”

Starting Sept. 12, SETA club will team up with the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA to incorporate a weekly broadcasting announcement of an animal in need of adoption on CHSTV. PAW (Pet of the Week) provides the pet’s back story and a direct link on screen so that those who want to adopt can easily access information.

“It’ll be a great way to connect the community as well as our school with animals in need of adoption,” senior SETA club president Sophie Blake said.

SETA plans on providing many more volunteer opportunities involving club members with local shelters and animal organizations. Club members and others interested can attend the Pawsitive Service Day at the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA: Central Campus in San Diego on Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Participants will receive community service hours while learning how to give back to the community and local animals.

“The shelter animals could really use some extra love and attention,” Blake said. “If we were all to get involved, we could definitely help to provide that.”

On Oct. 13, SETA plans an exclusive tour of the San Diego Humane Society and SPCA: Northern Campus in Oceanside. Members and others interested can get a “behind the scenes” tour of the shelter where they can learn about their local shelter and volunteer opportunities.

“The tour is a really great way for people to see how their volunteer service directly affects the shelter animals,” senior SETA club vice president Laura Vasse said. “It’s also a really cool opportunity not everyone gets.”

The club will also host a Halloween-themed event that allows the community’s pet owners to interact. Community members can pay a small fee to enter their pets in SETA Club’s Halloween Costume Contest and pick up goodie bags with treats and toys from sponsors. SETA will donate the collected entrance fees to a local shelter.

“Our Halloween event is a fun way to help our community gain more awareness towards our cause,” Vasse said.

Since many shelters don’t have enough bedding for many cats and dogs, SETA will also host a Blanket Drive at the school from Dec. 4 – 20. The club encourages students drop off their used blankets or towels at their English class. The club will donate the collection to the Humane Society in Oceanside and the class that collected the most will receive a class party.

“A lot of pets that are in the shelter systems, they get the bare minimum of what they need to survive and stay healthy,” Blake said.

With many other plans still under wraps, the club encourages everyone interested in giving a helpless animal a voice to stop by room 5102 every odd Wednesday. Those who want to participate in any volunteer events should contact SETA Club President, Sophie Blake.

“The best part about the club is knowing that we are working to make local animal’s lives better,” Patel said. “It feels amazing to know that we are making a change in our community.”