Hi, my name is Kayla. I am eleven years old and I love animals! It all started when my friend invited me to see her ride. After that I helped clean stalls and take care of the horses. Every weekend I would go to help out and earn free lessons. About a month later the barn dog got pregnant and had four puppies!!! I cared for them, after I cleaned the stalls and bathe the horses.

About a year later I was on my way to my first horse show! At the warm-up I was trotting around when my pony started bucking and rearing, then he started galloping around the ring. I was very scared, so I pulled on the reins hard. He quickly stopped, bucked me up in the air. My mom said I did a summersault and hit my head on the jump. I don’t remember that part. Four days later, I was shoveling shavings, when my legs went numb. So my mom and I went to the doctors. It ends up that I fractured my L4 vertebra in my back. They told me that I would not be able to ride and work with horses for a long time!

My mom knew I loved working with animals, so we volunteered to be a dog walker at the RISPCA! When I go there, I walk the dogs and teach them to sit, lay down, and no jumping! I also teach the cats not to scratch, bite, and to be kind and gentle. After Hurricane Katrina, my friend and I went door to door asking for donations for all the animals that were left behind. We raised $206.56. Liz the volunteer coordinator asked if I would like to help put a bulletin board together for the upcoming events. I photo copied all the animals that are ready for adoption and put them on hearts. I also made three large hearts and put them around the top of the bulletin board. They read “Take me home, Love me, And I will love you forever.” I know animals love you no matter what. Now we are working on finding homes for the holidays. I am asking all TV reporters and the newspapers to help in advertising our animals at the shelter. I feel the more people see and hear about these animals, maybe the more they will realize how many good adoptable animals we have at the shelter. Most of their stories are very sad and I would like to give each and every one of them a happy ending. That’s why I love to help and play with each and every one of them every day.

I feel that since I’ve been volunteering at the RISPCA, that I have seen what a different and difficult world this is “for the animals that can’t speak for themselves”. Now I understand just what that saying means. Even though puppies and kittens are cute, there are dogs and cats that show just as much love and playfulness as kittens and puppies. Many people love to adopt or buy puppies and kittens and when they become older they are no longer wanted. I think that’s wrong and sad. Animals love you even though you do not pay attention to them. They will always wag their tails, and meow when they see you. That’s why I love working with the animals!!

Kayla E. Levasseur

 ‘Donations to the RISPCA would be greatly appreciated.  Rhode Island SPCA, 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, RI 02915, or visit our website at www.RISPCA.com’

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