River had a rough upbringing … owner Kylie Champion says the Great Dane-cross she adopted in November had been seized from a property in country New South Wales. The dog was then put up for adoption through animal rescue group Pawsome Friends, before joining the Champion family. “She was quite a sick girl, but they fed her up and made her into the dog she is now,” Ms Champion says. The Sunshine Primary School assistant principal was so impressed with the rescue group and its network of volunteer foster carers that she decided the school should help out. Now the drive is on to collect cat litter, animal bedding and pet food from the school community, to donate back to the shelter. Donations can be left at the school’s office. … Alexandra Laskie