Fourth-grade students at Joshua Cowell School were inspired after reading ‘Shiloh.’

Written by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, the book – a reading assignment in the classrooms of Jerri Brown and Will Shallou – is about an abused beagle that runs away from his cruel owner only to encounter young Marty Preston.

“The dog was being abused from a grown hunter named Judd Travers,” said student Isabella Lopez.

Preston secretly takes in the dog and eventually names him Shiloh.

“We were so sad about the dog that we wanted to help abused animals,” said youngster Ryleigh King.

Both classrooms will be conducting a yard sale at the school on Saturday, from 9 a.m. to noon. Proceeds will go to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or ASCAP.

“It is a group that doesn’t put the animal to sleep and helps shelters all over the world,” King added.

The yard sale at the Manteca Unified campus located at 740 Pestana Ave.

Parents and other supporters of the cause have donated items for this benefit. Brown said a representative from ASPCA is scheduled to visit the school on May 16.

Food and refreshments (lemonade) will also be sold.

“There will also be donation boxes everywhere,” said fourth grader Shayla Batterson. “We will give the money to the ASCAP for the abused animals.”

Added Arman: “The real reason we are doing this is because each day a dog suffers.”

The fourth-grade student indicated that a car wash will also be part of this fundraiser.

In addition, donations will be accepted at Joshua Cowell School throughout this week, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, call the school at 209.858.7310.