Canton Nine-Year-Old Celebrates Birthday By Giving Back to Animal Shelter

No video games, no dolls, no new clothes. Madeleine Benson may not have celebrated her ninth birthday in the typical way with gifts galore. But she did get a lot of cat food, cat litter and cat toys.

The l third grader asked her friends and family to bring donations for to her February 4 birthday party in lieu of presents.

"I thought the animals would be a little happier if I did that," Madeleine Benson told Patch while at the this week. "I love animals a lot."

Her birthday wish came true, and she was able to donate a huge amount of supplies to the shelter.  Along with her mom, she dropped off 200 cans of cat food, 130 pounds of cat litter, 20 rolls of paper towel, 18 cat toys, 23 towels, $40 in checks and hundreds of plastic grocery bags.

"We contacted the Canton Animal Control Officer) here at the shelter and asked him specifically what items he could use," Karen Benson, Madeleine's mom, said. "We included a wish list in her birthday invites."

Paul Bastable, who runs the shelter on Bolivar Street and is the town's Animal Control Officer, said he was thrilled with the donations.

"How amazing it was to be so young and so interested in helping others," Bastable said.

Karen said her daughter came up with the idea of donating to charity all on her own. Two years ago, for her seventh birthday, the youngster decided to raise donations for a homeless shelter in Dorchester. Mom said she was inspired by television commercials to give back.

The nine-year-old Canton resident has also raised money for Haiti and participated in a cereal collection for the Canton Food Bank, according to Karen."She just likes doing stuff."

Bastable noted that the donation is greatly appreciated and needed at the Animal Shelter. The donations will last the shelter about two to three weeks, he said. "My second biggest expense is to keep the animals going here," Bastable said.

Cash donations to the shelter go to helping with medical care for many of the injured animals that come in. Recently, a cat named Mel had been attacked by a coyote and the shelter was able to get veterinary care for her but using donations, Bastable said.

"A couple of weeks ago, Jack (a cat) had to have an eye removed," the officer said of the sick cat, who was later adopted by a local family.

"Without the donations, we would never have the money to continue" with the animals' care, he said.

When asked how she feels about being able to help the animals in the shelter, Madeleine paused for a moment. "I'm very proud."

For more information on how to adopt a pet or make a donation, contact the at 150r Bolivar St, Canton, MA 02021. Phone: 781-575-6507.