There were dogs and cats, rabbits and gerbils, mice and even a guinea pig to squeal over when Girl Scouts from Troop 745 in Takoma Park visited the Montgomery County Humane Society Animal Shelter in Rockville Nov. 7.

The scouts were at the shelter as a follow-up from a meeting last spring when the Humane Society’s community relations and education director b j Altschul visited the troop to speak about responsible pet ownership.

When the girls, fourth and fifth grade students from Rolling Terrace, Pinecrest and Oakview elementary schools and Barrie School arrived, they brought blankets, sheets, towels, chew toys, two pet carriers and wood shavings for the shelter.

“These guys are philanthropic, they want to do everything and help everyone,” troop co-leader Meredith Cabe said. “They collected items the animal shelter could use.”

Meredith McLaughlin, 10, a fifth-grader at Barrie School, Silver Spring, even held a bake sale with a friend and earned $30 which she donated to the shelter.

During the shelter tour, Amelia Temenak, 10, a fifth-grader at Rolling Terrace, tried to convince her mother, troop co-leader Carla Temenak, to adopt a bunny.

“It requires a little more research,” her mother said.

Juliana Johnson, 10, also a fifth-grader at Rolling Terrace, said she was hoping to get a golden lab retriever puppy.

But, she added, “I like cats that are black and white, they are so cute.”

Altschul said it is invaluable having young people involved because they are starting a lifetime of responsible pet ownership.