OXFORD, Mich. – After learning about charity in school, a four-year-old boy from Oxford was inspired to give back to his local animal shelter.
For the past month, four-year-old Easton Peterson has been collecting donations, even returning pop cans, all to help support K9 Stray Rescue League.
“At his school, each month they pick a virtue of the month and back in September the virtue was charity,” said Alexandra Peterson, Easton’s mother. “We had some conversations with Easton about what that meant and how we could show charity and give to our community, and after looking at a couple of different options he decided he wanted to help out the dogs.”
The shelter has been operating in Oxford for more than 30 years. The organization primarily rescues dogs from Detroit Animal Care and Control and typically adopts out around 300 dogs a year.
Lead evaluator and trainer Kelly Barker said Easton’s fundraiser came as an unexpected surprise.
“I love when kids get involved and I love, especially a four-year-old, that is going to have such empathy and compassion and an interest in helping dogs at such a young age,” Barker said.
The non-profit is currently caring for around 30 dogs at the shelter and several more that have been placed in foster homes.
Barker said all the donations Easton is raising will help pay for food and medical care for the dogs they take in.
“Any donations, especially since we’re funded strictly by donations, is very helpful and keeps our doors open,” Barker said.
Peterson took to social media to help her son raise donations and received an outpouring of support.
So far, Easton has raised more than $300 and collected more than 30 items from the shelter’s Amazon wishlist.
“He just absolutely loves animals in particular, so it’s so great that the shelter that we’re helping is right here in Oxford,” Peterson said.
“It’s beautiful to see that innocence in the world and to see him so excited about it and also carry this forward in his life,” said Chad Peterson, Easton’s father.
Donations can be made to K9 Stray Rescue League on the organization’s website.
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