This year, Thanksgiving is going to the dogs.

After a long and stressful first semester, fall break is quickly approaching. For some students, fall break means going home to see friends and family, and even their favorite furry friends. However, while students may have a lot to be thankful for this season, some are not as fortunate.

University of Illinois students had the opportunity to change that at the Pennies for Puppies event on the Quad on Wednesday.

Despite the cold weather, UI students stopped by and paid $3 to feed the dogs treats and watch them catch Frisbees. One dog that was getting a lot of attention was 10-year-old Lucy, a Dalmatian and poodle mix.

“Lucy is a therapy dog and helps out with agility, but because she sheds, she was put up for adoption,” Judy Van Cleeff, Urbana resident and Lucy’s owner, said. “But she really loves being out here and playing with the kids.”

As many as 10 dogs were at the event, with some brought in from the Champaign County Humane Society.

“We hoped to publicize the event better and have an even greater turnout since last year, when we first held the event,” Jordan Hughes, sophomore in media and Shi-Ai philanthropy chair, said. “We wanted to make sure students get their allotted amount of time with the dogs.”

All of the proceeds went to the Champaign County Humane Society, Shi-Ai’s philanthropy. Last year, the organization raised $2,000, but this year, Hughes hopes to exceed that by raising $2,500.

The dogs that were present at the event, including an Australian shepherd, a Norwegian elkhound and a golden doodle, were all rescue dogs, and each had their own unique story.

Misty, a 14-year-old Pomeranian, was brought to the shelter because her previous owner was put in a nursing home and couldn’t take care of the dog. Misty is deaf, and months passed before the button-nosed pooch found a new home.

“I could tell she was really lonely, and she just looked so sad,” owner Hattie Leiss of Champaign said. “I knew I had to take her home.”

Leiss, who works part time at the Champaign County Humane Society, said the shelter provides lots of dogs that need homes, and students often don’t think about going to a shelter before buying a new dog. In fact, she said Misty only cost her $100.

“Dogs are getting expensive, and shelters house dogs from many different breeds,” she said. “Those who don’t have the money should consider going to a shelter, and those who have a relative who passed away who had a pet should bring their pet to a shelter. There will always be someone who is willing to adopt a new pet.”

Leiss thought the event was a great way to bring a piece of home to the students.

“I think people get homesick when they see the dogs out here, especially because it’s so close to Thanksgiving, and they miss their dogs,” Allison Canty, sophomore in LAS and president of Shi-Ai, said. “The event gives students that little extra push to think about going to the shelter to get a dog instead of buying it from a breeder.”

Camron Iannalfo, junior in LAS, said he couldn’t be more excited to see his dogs when he goes home for fall break.

“I’m from Boston, so I haven’t seen my dogs since I left for school in August,” he said. “I have two dogs — a miniature sheltie and an Australian shepherd — who were little when I left, so I’m sure they’ve grown a lot.”

Shi-Ai came up with the idea for “Pennies for Puppies” last year, and had a similar event, “Donuts for Dogs” in the spring, which also sold breakfast foods while students played with the dogs. Canty was pleased with this year’s turnout.

“A lot of people heard about the event through word of mouth, and I was happy that a lot of people stopped by after their classes to play with the dogs,” she said. “I know the dogs were happy, too.”

Trainers from the Dog Club from the Humane Society were also present throughout the afternoon to monitor the dogs and make sure the event ran smoothly.

“This is my first time at the event, and I think it’s great that the organization is promoting dog shelters,” Paige Tieman, freshman in LAS, said. “I know I miss my dogs, and this is a great way to be thinking of them before I go home.”

“As a Greek philanthropy organization composed of girls from each Panhellenic sorority on campus, it’s always encouraging to see girls from different chapters working together toward a common cause,” Marta Hitchcock, senior in AHS and vice president of service for Panhellenic Council and advisor to Shi-Ai, said. “We did a really great job working hard to raise money for the event.”