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 fund-raisers, ranging from bake sales to haunted houses 
to babysitting jobs; Wildthings has raised more than $6,000 over 
this past year alone, and members 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

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 687 was adopted by the House on May 
15, 2006, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House