October 12, 2005
Bray comes to the rescue
Nine-year-old aids pets displaced by Hurricane Katrina
By
Herald staff writer
When nine-year-old Crystal Bray heard about the displaced pets that were being relocated to northern Michigan following Hurricane Katrina, she knew she wanted to do something to help.
"Crystal came home with a Petsafe flyer and said 'this is what is going on and we need to do something about it,'" said Crystal's mom, Pam Morgan.
Petsafe Rescue Alliance, a local pet rescue group, was preparing to bring rescued cats and dogs to northern Michigan where they would receive medical treatment and lots of tender loving care before being adopted by new families.
Crystal was more than willing to provide some TLC, but she wasn't afraid to work hard and get her hands dirty too.
"She has been at the barns cleaning, bleaching crates and everything else that the adult volunteers have been doing. She even wanted to be here at 2 a.m. when the animals arrived, but it was a school night," Morgan said.
When the 52 dogs and 38 cats arrived, Crystal pitched right in doing whatever needed to be done.
"I walk the dogs and play with the cats," said Crystal, who says she has wanted to be a veterinarian since she was five.
"I love being with them," she noted.
While Crystal was loving the time she spent with the animals, she still wasn't satisfied. She decided to start a pet food drive at her school, Glenn Loomis Elementary. The fourth-grader went to the principal with a hand-made flyer, encouraging her schoolmates to bring in pet food, litter, beds and anything else that the animals might require.
"She went to the principal on her own, I didn't know anything about it," said Morgan who was surprised when Crystal started bringing home bags of pet food in her backpack.
In just a few days, Crystal had managed to accumulate quite more than she had ever expected.
"The bags filled the trunk, back seat and front seat of the car when our president went to pick it up" said Petsafe volunteer, April Lenz.
Even though most of the pets have been placed in new homes, the need for volunteers and supplies continues.
"We will be getting another load of pets this weekend, about 140 animals. Our target date to leave for down there is Thursday," said Lenz, noting that the group is working to get a new location, near the state hospital barns, ready for the animals.
"We'll be ready for them when they get here," Lenz noted.
Crystal will be ready, too - to offer more hugs and belly rubs to any pet in need of a loving touch.
"She has got me hooked. As soon as she gets off the bus, she wants to head to the barn," said Morgan, noting that she couldn't be more proud of her daughter.
For more information on Petsafe Rescue Alliance, to volunteer, or for adoption information call 392-3125.