MONTGOMERY-The Auburn University at Montgomery softball team teamed with the Montgomery Humane Society to host the first "Commerce for Canines Dog Parade" through the downtown Montgomery entertainment district on Friday, Nov. 13.

Local businesses donated money to help in the cost of taking care of these animals and they sponsored a dog to walk in the parade and allow them to be seen in hopes of being adopted.

Members of the softball team along with the Humane Society helped to get the dogs ready for the parade and to walk with them in the parade.

"This is an event to bring awareness of the animals to the community and to try and help these animals be adopted," head coach Christina Wilcoxson said. "This is a big event for the Humane Society to help the dogs get noticed."

Sophomore outfielder Stacin Halverson is a pre-vet major and regularly volunteers at the Humane Society. "I want to make a difference in these animals' lives," Halverson said. "Volunteering is good for me because I get to see lots of different animals, but it also gives me experience that I will need to get into vet school one day."

Several members of the softball team are dog owners and this was a project many of them wanted to be involved with. Sophomore Joanne Reynolds was one of those. "I really enjoyed working with these dogs and I know they need lots of love and attention," Reynolds said. "I hope the little bit we did will help these animals find good homes."

The softball team has plans to do some more volunteer work with the Humane Society as the society has plans to hold other events in the upcoming months to help get some more animals adopted.

-AUM-