It was this realization that prompted 15-year-old Willow Glen resident Becca Raabe to launch a community service-oriented program called Got Leashes?

"I love dogs and wanted to help protect then," says Becca, who has two dogs of her own.

Becca came up with the idea while researching projects for her Girl Scout Gold Award.

The Gold Award in Girl Scouts is similar to the Eagle Scout award in the Boy Scouts. Both are the highest achievement awards obtainable. Girl Scouts between the ages 14 to 17 years old can earn the award.

For most, the leadership, organizational skills and sense of community and commitment that come from "going for the gold" set the foundation for a lifetime of active citizenship. In addition, an increasing number of colleges and universities have recognized the achievements and leadership abilities of Girl Scout Gold Award recipients by establishing scholarship programs for them.

Becca, a sophomore at Valley Christian High School and a senior Girl Scout with Troop 175, had to complete a series of project prerequisites before embarking on her Gold Award project. Areas such as personal interest investigation, career exploration, leadership activities and meeting personal challenges laid the foundation for her quest. Once completed, she filled out a lengthy application where she outlined the details of her venture including project logistics, timeline, rationale for her idea, issues the project will address, what she hopes to achieve and how the community will benefit.

This application was submitted for review to the national Girl Scout Council. After receiving initial approval, Becca met for an in-person interview with two local representatives.

"They interviewed me for two hours," says Becca, who was not nervous during the process. "I had to fix a couple of things like putting together an information booklet about how to license a dog, but they liked my idea. I am proud of myself for doing it."

Once she received approval, Becca set out to secure leash and collar drop off locations as well as identify and contact the non-profit animal rescue and adoption agencies that would receive and distribute the donations.

"Some of the organizations I contacted couldn't accept them, but I kept trying and found three that could," Becca says.

Raabe is accepting new leashes and collars (no choke chains) until January 31 at which point she will divide them between the Milo Foundation, Hopalong Animal Rescue and the Humane Society.

Becca hopes to collect 100 leashes and collars for each organization. And with the monetary donations she receives, Becca will purchase additional leashes and collars. She says, the Internet has turned out to be a great resource for this part of the project.

"We have found them for as little as 80 cents per piece, which is a lot cheaper than retail," Becca's mother, Teresa, notes.

Yet, no matter what the final tally is on the leashes and collars she collects, the entire process has been a growing experience for Becca.

"At some points it was hard and I wanted to stop," she says, "but I decided I had to keep going and not give up."

Leash and collar donations can be made at Blossom Floral Shop, 386 S. First St.; Suzie's Skin and Beauty Center, 1555 Meridian Ave.; and Willow Glen Dental Arts, 1087 Meridian Ave. Or by calling 408.293.7107. In addition to leashes and collars, all locations accept monetary donations.