It’s been well documented that children trained to love and be kind to animals grow into kind and compassionate adults.  It’s therefore heartening to see organizations such as the American Humane Society recognize children who go "above and beyond" by dedicating their free time volunteering or organizing events that help animals. In conjunction with this year’s Be Kind to Animals Week (observed May 3-9 this year), the American Humane Society awarded two kind kids, Annie Lee Vankleeck and Abby Jungers as the grand prize winners of their  Be Kind to AnimalsTM Kid Contest.

And here they are:

 

Grand-Prize Winner (ages 6 to 12)

Annie Lee Vankleeck, age 6, Shokan, N.Y., daughter of Sharon McInerney and Ralph Vankleeck

Wanting to do something to help animals, Annie and her family went online to look at their local shelters’ websites. After finding out that Out of the Pits, a nonprofit pit bull rescue in Albany, needed gently used blankets and towels, Annie made it her mission to fulfill that need. Annie applied for a spot at the town’s annual Olive Day festival, and sat there all day, collecting used blankets and towels. She went to yard sales and persuaded people to donate their blankets, or she bought them. She collected blankets and towels at school. And she is still going strong. For her upcoming 7th birthday party, she is asking her guests to forego bringing her gifts, and bring towels and blankets for "the doggies" instead.

 

Grand-Prize Winner (ages 13 to 17)

Abby Jungers, age 13, St. Peters, Mo., daughter of Michelle Jungers

Abby has clocked over 700 volunteer hours at the St. Charles Humane Society. Abby is there every day and can hardly be pulled away. At the shelter, Abby can and will jump in anywhere. She cleans kennels, walks dogs, feeds and waters animals, sets up beds and helps with heartworm tests. She goes to new volunteer orientations and helps train the new recruits. She even fills in for staff members when they call in sick. And outside of the shelter, she goes to shelter events and fundraisers, distributes fliers about the shelter and participates in mobile adoptions. Abby will take on even the least desirable tasks at the shelter, all in the name of helping animals.

Get ready for next year’s event (May 2-8, 2010) the 2010 Be Kind to Animals Kid Contest will begin accepting nominations in March 2010 and will announce the winners during Be Kind to Animals Week in early May 2010.

For more information on Be Kind to Animals Week and for tips on what you can do to show kindness to animals, go to www.americanhumane.org/bkaw.