ANDERSON­ — If Emma Simer has her way, students across Anderson Community Schools will spare their pennies and change the lives of dogs and cats in need.

The fifth-grader at Tenth Street Elementary School is spreading the word about the “Pennies for Pets” program her school began last year. She’s also hoping the fundraiser expands to other city schools.

“They ought to respect animals,” Emma said in making her pitch for students in other local schools to join the effort. “There are many reasons (pets are) put on this Earth ... they’re for us to love.”

Emma was joined by her principal, Karen Thompson, and Jan Ault, host of the WHBU-1240 AM radio show “Critter Conversations with Animal Lover Jan” at a kickoff event last week in the office of ACS interim Superintendent Lennon Brown. Madison County Sheriff Ron Richardson and Richard Chandler, director of the Humane Society of Madison County, also attended.

“This is to help the kids direct their energies and put money toward a good cause instead of it maybe going to a candy bar or the snack bar,” Ault said.

Thompson said there were plenty of animal lovers in Anderson schools who could come up with creative ways to collect money that will go to the Humane Society and Anderson Animal Care and Control.

“You just have to ask, and I’m not shy,” Thompson said.

Last year, students at Tenth Street brought in their pennies and raised $700 that was split between the Anderson Humane Society and Anderson Animal Care and Control. The school also sold paw prints for $1 that were posted around the school with the purchaser’s name.

While it was not a large amount, it makes a big difference to pets in need and the agencies that care for them.

“We’re on the verge of closing, really,” said Chandler. The local Humane Society suffered a theft of $65,000 by a volunteer treasurer who since has been sentenced for the crime. “It’s hard trying to recoup from that. ... Every little bit helps.”

Richardson was involved in the first Pennies for Pets effort last year at Tenth Street Elementary. “The message was how important it is to take care of animals,” he said.

He challenged Emma to try to expand the effort beyond ACS and into all area schools.

“We have a lot of animals that are dropped off in the county,” Richardson said.

Emma said she had ideas for new ways students could raise money, but told Brown that she hadn’t worked up the nerve to approach the person at the school who would have to approve the effort.

“Emma,” Brown told her, “Go for it.”