Friends of Rescue (FOR) Student Council at Bob Jones High School will help homeless animals, like Solomon shown here. Sponsor Nicole Coker said Solomon, in the ‘before’ photo at left, was found in a field. Solomon’s ‘after’ photo proves the benefits of fostering. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Rescued dogs needing a home have a new club working ‘FOR’ them at Bob Jones High School.

Friends of Rescue (FOR) Student Council will help homeless animals.

FOR will support Friends of Rescue, a local nonprofit organization that identifies foster homes for dogs currently held in Athens, Huntsville and Scottsboro animal shelters, organizer and sponsor Nicole Coker said. Coker teaches chemistry, physical science and genetics at Bob Jones.

“To my knowledge, this is the only student rescue club in North Alabama,” Coker said. “Getting students out there and volunteering in the community is a very important thing — no matter what it is.”

Students will learn about adoption’s importance and “the overall process of how easy and important fostering is,” Coker said. Many people are not aware of the number of animals in these shelters and “how overwhelming it is for shelters to try and care for them.”

FOR will meet once monthly. Coker will distribute a list of available volunteer opportunities. “We also plan to have an education topic. For instance, in October we plan on discussing the importance of heartworm prevention,” she said.

Other topics will concern benefits of spaying/neutering and animal health.

On “FOR Fridays,” club members can visit Friends of Rescue, organize supplies and interact with foster animals. “They can volunteer at adoption events and local shelters, donate supplies and plan fundraisers to support FOR,” Coker said. With parental approval, a member can apply as a FOR foster home for a dog.

FOR is open to any Bob Jones student willing to complete two service hours monthly. Madison residents interested in animal rescue and fostering also are welcome to join.

“Caring for animals can be very rewarding. For some students, this is an opportunity to be a part of something they are really passionate about,” Coker said.

Coker owns Sinbad, a rescue dog, and has fostered two dogs for Friends of Rescue: Bonnie the beagle, adopted by Coker’s former student, and Katy, a Labrador mix, awaiting adoption in Connecticut.

For more information, call Coker at 256-772-2547.