As part of my Kid Heroes Series, today’s Kid Hero features one amazing boy who sacrificed to help our less fortunate furry friends.
Most kids want presents for their birthday, but not seven-year-old Mason. He wanted dog food. When Mason heard about a litter of puppies left outside his local animal shelter he knew he had to help. He came up with the generous idea to have his friends and family bring dog food instead of presents for his upcoming birthday party.
Mason with all of his gifts to donate!
The Emanuel County Animal Shelter in Swainsboro, Georgia, is a small dog pound with limited staff and a very limited budget. Many dogs need medical care just so they can be adoptable and 6 out of 10 dogs here will have to be euthanized. Food donations can help these dogs last just awhile longer – maybe long enough to find a family to adopt them.
Mason understood that it was a lot to ask people to bring both dog food and presents to his party, but he felt he already had enough toys and that these dogs could benefit more from food than he could from presents. With his family, he personally delivered the food to the stunned shelter employees.
See Mason as a Kid Hero on the news!
With his act of kindness, Kid Hero Mason is changing the world – and restoring faith in people that folks out there are willing to sacrifice to help others in need. His own town of Swainsboro even recognized him as May’s Our Town Hero!
For his seventh birthday Mason may have given his gifts away, but he did receive one special gift. His own rescue buy provigil dog! He named him Spanky.
Mason with his special birthday day gift, Spanky
Mason plans to do the same event for his 8th birthday. Why? So people can be inspired to help others too.
I was lucky to interview Mason and here is what this kind-hearted boy had to say:
Congratulations on being named an Our Town Hero for Swainsboro. You are a real hero to many people, Mason! Do you see yourself as a hero?
Yeah, maybe, but other kids could do it too.
Did you expect so many people to help you with your idea to help the shelter and animals?
I was surprised when I saw the dog food fill the back of Papa’s truck!
What was it like being in the news?
Really cool. I was excited to see myself on TV.
Is this something you would like to do again?
Yeah I want to do it again for my next birthday.
What a great surprise gift that you received in adopting your dog, Spanky! What kinds of things do you and Spanky like to do together?
I am teaching him to play ball. He likes to go get the ball but he still has to learn to give it back so I can throw it again. He sleeps in my bed sometimes too.
You made such a difference in your community with your kindness. What kinds of things have people shared with you about what you did?
Everyone says they are really proud of me. And the dogs at the animal shelter loved the treats.
Mason, you are a true Kid Hero!
Would you like to nominate a child to be featured as a Kid Hero? Visit my Kid Heroes page to find out how!
