Ask a member of the Salem Cares About Animals Club what their favorite part of the 10-week after-school program was, and you’ll get a flurry of answers ranging from fluffy chinchillas to a pit bull in a pumpkin costume.

The new club, which was held on Wednesdays from October to mid-December, introduced 16 fifth- and sixth-graders to responsible pet ownership, careers with animals, and ways to help animals in need. Jenn Kayser, advisor for the club and executive assistant to the Salem schools superintendent, said the club was one of a handful funded by a $10,000 enrichment fund from the Salem school board.

During the fall, students met a local dog trainer, a groomer, a state police K9 from Troop K in Colchester, and animal rehabilitators from Waterford Country School. Sixth-grader Patrick Gorman said he liked meeting Ariel, the pit bull donning a pumpkin suit to teach the kids about stigmatized breeds. Sixth-grader Anna Limburg said she liked seeing a white dove from the Waterford Country School that flew around the library.

The last four weeks of the club, students brought in fabric to make bandanas, dog beds and blankets to give to Friday’s Rescue Foundation in Groton. They also collected money in jars around the school to donate to the organization, with a daily school announcement starting in November to remind students to bring in “coins for critters.”

“I thought it would be good if they learned about outreach to a local shelter,” Kayser said. “We always do food drives and stuff like that here, but we never really do anything for animals.”

If funding is approved for the 2017-2018 budget, the school will likely offer the club again next school year and open it to third- and fourth-graders, she said.

a.hutchinson@theday.com