The State of Texas

House of Representatives

                                                                         H.R. No. 687

R E S O L U T I O N

        WHEREAS, For four years, a group of young girls from Austin have dedicated themselves to animal protection and rescue, and their efforts have helped countless injured, abused, and hungry animals throughout Texas and beyond; and

        WHEREAS, Founded by Barbara Attwell Ritter in 2002, Wildthings was created as a way for students at West Ridge Middle School to assist animals in whatever way possible, including feeding pelicans and seagulls, tossing vitamin meatballs into wolf pens, and cleaning turtle tanks; the club's eight members have since graduated to Westlake High School, and they are Katherine Kloc, Savannah Ritter, Alex North, Micaela Lacy, Mindy Martin, Leslie Reynolds, Christina Hooks, and Katie Pipkin; former members include Haley Jenkins, Nina Beachum, and Summer Morgan; and

        WHEREAS, These remarkable teenagers have provided innumerable hours of volunteer service to rescue organizations such as the Candy Kitchen Rescue Ranch near Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mission: Wolf, in Silver Cliff, Colorado, the Animal Rehabilitation Keep at the Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, and the Shield Ranch near Austin; these organizations have also received financial contributions from Wildthings, money that has been earned from a variety of fundraisers, ranging from bake sales to haunted houses to babysitting jobs; Wildthings has raised more than $6,000 over this past year alone, and member plan to use these funds to travel to the Big Sur area to aid in habitat restoration; and

        WHEREAS, The members of Wildthings are a tremendous source of pride to their families, school, and community, and they set an inspiring example to people of all ages of what hard work, perseverance, and a generous spirit can accomplish; now, therefore, be it

        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby commend Barbara Attwell Ritter and the members of Wildthings for their work in behalf of animals and extend to them best wishes for success with all their future endeavors; and, be it further

        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                            Howard of Travis

We came, we saw, we helped.