 Home | Table of Contents Volume 4 Issue 1 
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In a day and age when so much publicity targets troubled young people, AHA is proud to honor the wonderful kids who respect and care about the furred and feathered! In 1997, winners of the Be Kind to Animals Kid contest volunteered their time and talent in many ways. From countless volunteer hours grooming and exercising confined animals at local animal shelters, to rehabilitating injured birds, to raising funds and even saving the life of an injured kitten, the outstanding efforts of these kids are an example for all children (an adults) to follow. Thirteen-year-old Shanin Paige Leeming of Merritt Island, Florida, was selected as the 1997 Be Kind to Animals Kid for her outstanding record of helping animals. At the young age of seven, Shanin was the youngest volunteer ever accepted at the central Brevard Humane Society in Coco, Florida. In third grade, she organized class members to form the Divine Mercy Pet Club. In the fourth grade, she had her dad build an aviary so she could nurse injured birds back to health. In the following years, she became a foster mother to abandoned puppies and she is currently training her second Seeing Eye dog. One of the national finalists, twelve-year-old Sandra Bledsoe from San Antonio, Texas, is an active volunteer with her local humane society. When she was eleven, she saved the life of a three-month-old kitten who impaled himself on a two-foot long steel rod that was bolted to the bottom of a dining room table for the insertion of a table leaf. Sandra called 911 and convinced them to respond. Once "Duke" was unbolted by the fire department and treated by a veterinarian, he was nursed back to health for several weeks by Sandra. |
Twelve-year-old Patrick Monahan from Moreno Valley, California each year uses his own money to take toys and treats to all of the animals at the animal shelter for Christmas. This young vegetarian also organized a fan club for the "Living Free Sanctuary" in Iddlewild, California where he and club members volunteer their time helping the animals. Another finalist, Carlas Frances Ochoa, age 13, from Milbrae, California, has for the past two years volunteered for the Benicia Vallejo Humane Society, raising funds, exercising confined animals and assisting visitors in becoming personally acquainted with adoption animals. An animal advocate, she personally filed a written complaint and notified the county's humane society when she suspected a bay area pet shop of animal abuse. AHA's Joyce Briggs, who manages the contest, said, "Through this contest, AHA knows of countless kids across the country making a big difference for animals. It makes us hopeful for a better tomorrow for animals of all kinds!" Animal shelters or individuals interested in nominating a child for this award can contact the American Humane Association for more details by writing AHA at 63 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, Colorado 80112 or calling (303) 792-9900 or visiting our web site at http://www.amerhumane.org/aha The American Humane Association is a national leader in identifying and preventing the causes of child and animal abuse and neglect, and provides advocacy, training, research, technical assistance and other service in the area of child and animal protection. Its national constituency is both agencies and individuals. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, AHA has regional offices in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. | |
