While some kids Raven's age are bullies, others, like Raven and her sister, are compassionate, loving individuals who are willing to give up a lot to make someone else's dreams come true. In this case, that "someone else" was Kaylee, an 11-year-old pitbull nearing the end of her life.
Actually, Kaylee is older than her hero, nine-year-old Raven Davis, who lives in Maryland. Her mom, Melissa, entered the Petco Foundation Holiday Wishes campaign and came out the winner for 2017.
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Young Raven wanted a dog. But not just any dog; she wanted one that no one else would take. In fact, she told her mom, "I want to adopt an old dog. One that no one else wants.” Melissa was proud of her compassionate heart but warned her that a senior dog might only be around for a short time. Raven's answer? “I know, but I don’t want them to die in the shelter. They don’t deserve to die alone.”
The staff of the BARCS Animal Shelter in Baltimore was delighted that Kaylee, who had been surrendered by her previous owners when they couldn't afford her care, would get to live out her days with a family that obviously put compassion high on their list of virtues. Kaylee's new family knew she had some health issues: a torn CCL, early kidney disease, and a urinary tract infection. So right away, they took her to the vet. The news was bad. Kaylee had pancreatic cancer that had spread to her lungs. Kaylee's health was terminal.
In order to pay the veterinary bills, the Davis family had to give up a planned trip to Disney World. The sisters said, “That’s ok. We wouldn’t want to go without her anyway.” This incredibly compassionate family has created a bucket list for Kaylee and are doing all they can to make her last days happy. Melissa said, “On top of the joy she’s brought to our home, Kaylee has reminded us of the good in the world. We created a bucket list for her to ensure the end of her life is the best part of it, and through that, we’ve connected with so many incredible, giving, kind people. She’s developed a following around the world and has shown others the immense value of adopting senior pets.”
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It's obvious that some kids have hearts of gold. What's the condition of your own heart? Would you be willing to devote yourself to making a senior dog happy for the short time it has left? If so, there's an animal shelter near you with an old dog just waiting for a compassionate person to rescue it. Are you that person?