Madisyn Haggard, a 9-year-old Greenwood citizen, sits amongst a few of the contributions she’s gathered to help rescue family pets at Pet Elves, a Franklin not-for-profit organization. Madisyn chose that rather of presents for her birthday, she desired individuals to support her efforts to help animals.
RYAN TRARES | DAILY JOURNAL
The orange and white feline skittishly hid around the corridor.
His name was Nugget, and Madisyn Haggard’s family embraced the cat about 5 years back from Pet Elves, a Franklin-based not-for-profit animal rescue. Nugget does his own thing, chooses not to be troubled and doesn’t like being around other individuals.
“If you try to hold him, he will fight you. He will not tolerate it,” said Madisyn, a third-grader at Southwest Elementary School in Greenwood.
But she has a connection with her cat like nobody else does.
“The two of them have always been buddies. He’s always been her cat,” said Tiffany Haggard, Madisyn’s mother. “He’ll tolerate much more from her than anyone else.”
Madisyn’s love for animals has actually inspired her to do something unique for family pets like Nugget. With her ninth birthday approaching, she is requesting the neighborhood’s help in supporting animals in requirement.
She has actually produced a “wish list” of contributions, consisting of food, treats, cat litter, toys and a lot more, to help the staff of Pet Elves in their objective to rescue cats and dogs.
“It makes me feel good,” she said. “I like animals. They’re friendly.”
The gesture is an extremely generous one, which organizers at Pet Elves appreciate of, said Jessica Underwood, a volunteer with Pet Elves.
“It’s amazing. Knowing that kids will forego birthday gifts from themselves in order to collect items and money for us is great. We’re really grateful for them to do things like that,” she said.
Pet Elves was established in 2014 to rescue, restore and re-home buddy animals. Animals are accepted from shelters in Johnson County and Shelby County, and positioned up for adoption. While waiting, the organization’s network of volunteers foster the animals up until a permanently home can be discovered.
In the previous 9 years, they’ve assisted rescue more than 900 animals.
To achieve success, Pet Elves relies greatly on neighborhood assistance.
“It’s what keeps us going, because we’re all volunteers. Them supporting us and encouraging us makes it all worthwhile,” said Jessica Underwood. “We appreciate everyone who helps us, collecting things or even sharing animals that are up for adoption — that helps us find them a home.”
The Haggard family pertained to Pet Elves when they were searching for a brand-new animal in 2017. They were choosing in between 2 various cats in requirement of adoption, however picked Nugget due to the fact that he has a more calm character, Tiffany Haggard said.
The experience dealing with Pet Elves stuck with Madisyn.
The concept to utilize her birthday as a method to help Pet Elves was motivated by among her schoolmates at Southwest Elementary School. She believed it was imaginative, and understood Pet Elves would be the very best recipient.
“A lot of animals don’t have stuff they need, and I think they should get what they need,” she said.
Tiffany Haggard connected to Pet Elves, explaining what they wished to do and asking what they required most. Using that as a design template, they assemble a list of about 30 products, consisting of dog and cat food, toys, nail clippers, cat litter scoops, leashes and more.
They established a Wishlist on Amazon, and individuals have actually been contributing since. They have a stack of food, boxes of toys and more growing bigger in their living-room.
For Pet Elves, the effort has actually been welcome.
“Our animals benefit from families like them, teaching their children to be good members of the community to volunteer and help. It’s great,” Underwood said.
Madisyn prepares to keep gathering products up until April 7, and after that will drop whatever off at Pet Elves on April 8. She appreciates of individuals who have actually offered up until now, and hopes other individuals in the neighborhood walk with her to benefit a lot more animals.
“I hope they help by donating stuff,” she said.
How to help
Madisyn Haggard, a 9-year-old Greenwood citizen, is looking for contributions to benefit dogs and cats being rescued by Pet Elves, a Franklin not-for-profit.
She has actually produced a Wishlist on Amazon, “Madisyn’s Birthday Wishlist 2023,” that individuals can buy products from, which can be discovered at www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1OWUA2JK0KX4A?ref_=wl_share
Madisyn will be gathering products through April 7.
