Save A Stray

My name is Ava Kathleen Benefield. I am 10 years old and in the fourth grade at O'Rourke elementary.  In 2013 on a trip to a local pet store, my family and I saw cats available for adoption through a local rescue group, Save a Stray. We had just lost our family's beloved cat to cancer few months before and my mom and dad were not sure if it was time. Well it must have been because we adopted a cat and the next day went back and adopted another one. We felt our family was complete. Boy, were we wrong......almost two years 3 cats and 4 dogs later all rescues, we are what my mom calls " Complete with room to love". Every time I see a dog that needs a home I want to adopt it, but sadly my mom and dad say no that we don't have enough hands, but we can continue to help by fostering, so now my family fosters , until a forever home can be found. We teach the dogs what love is and how to get along with cats and other dogs, we make sure they are fed, loved and happy. We have had 5 foster dogs in the last year.  For my birthday last year instead of gifts I asked that my friends bring a donation of food for the local shelter. I know it was not much, but I am only 10. Once a month Save a Stray and Angels' Arms's transports dogs from Alabama to Helping Hounds Rescue in DeWitt New York they have found homes for hundreds of dogs! It is amazing, all of our fosters have been sent there and have great homes now  and I wish more people knew about the program and about fostering shelter dogs.  Last week I was talking to my mom and told her I want to do more to help besides foster and walk dogs on transport day, so I asked if I could make and sell T-shirts and donate the money I make to Save a stray to try to help other dogs looking for their forever home. She agreed and with the help of our veterinarian ( the awesome Dr.Beers ) I have made these shirts with all the profits going to Save a Stray. Thank you for taking the time to hear my family's story.