In an effort to help the Cass County Animal Shelter, two teens organized a raffle that raised more than $270 and sent a pet owner home with a basket full of treats.

Friends Jami Suseland and Jayna Locke, both incoming eighth-graders in Cassopolis schools, spent the first days of their summer break selling radishes they had grown and iris bulbs to accrue funds for the raffle prize. After gathering the basket items, which included a pet collar, treats and toys, the girls then spent many days posted outside of Suseland’s mother’s business, Clipper Creations Pet Salon. As clients came and went, the girls raised money by selling raffle tickets, picking the winner June 27.

“I think it went really well considering we did it all on our own,” Suseland said.

“They (the shelter) knew we were doing a raffle, but I don’t think we’ve old them how much we raised yet,” Suseland said.

By simply drawing a ticket from the bucket they had pooled over a few weeks, the girls awarded Dwayne Curry, of Cassopolis, with the basket of pet goodies.

“We kept entering people right up until the end,” Suseland said.

Besides a quick trip to the bank, the two girls said they hope to present the shelter with their money sometime this week.

“I feel really good about it,” Suseland said. “I’m glad we could help.”