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11-year-old girl raises $500 for animal shelter with cute petting booth

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  • Haleigh Flowers DeCesare, 11 years old, has come up with a bright idea to help a local animal shelter.
  • She put up a petting booth for her pup Edith, where people could pet her and donate at the same time.
  • In just a few months, Haleigh was able to raise more than $500!

It seems that kids never run out of brilliant ideas.

Haleigh Flowers DeCesare had a eureka moment out of her dad’s joke over so many people wanting to pet their dog during their walks: “You could make $1 million if you charged everyone a dollar.”

That moment, Haleigh came up with a plan.

The 11-year-old girl decided to organize a fundraiser for a local animal shelter, which she set for the Warren Walkabout, a six-week-long small business and art festival on fall weekends in Warren, Rhode Island. All she needed was her lovely four-year-old schnauzer-terrier pet Edith, a petting booth, and her overloaded cuteness!

“You see those really, really sad commercials and it kind of puts you in a sad mood. But to know that you’re able to help those pets, it really feels nice,” she told Daily Paws.

Haleigh teamed up with her artist neighbor for Edith’s petting booth sign, which she set up outside their house. It looked so welcoming with the pup’s very own portrait in it.

Photo Credit: Jason DeCesare/Daily Paws

Only hoping to make $20 the first day, the father-daughter pair was so astonished that they raised about $160, which was an “unbelievable” start. “The generosity of people really came out since we’ve been out there,” Jason, Haleigh’s dad, said.

Since its start in October, the petting booth has now raised more than $500, which will all be donated to the Potter League for Animals, Newport County’s primary animal shelter. The center provides animal shelter, adoption, training, and veterinary services.

Potter League CEO Brad Shear said that the money Haleigh has raised is “fantastic for us to support the work we do” as the shelter runs mostly through donations. “This girl put a smile on a lot of people’s faces. That’s really making a difference,” Brad added.

This credit is something Haleigh shares with Edith, who for her is the one who really “puts a smile on everyone’s faces.”

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Photo Credit: Jason DeCesare/Daily Paws

Surely, this little girl has not only taken the initiative to help. She has brought some cheer to the community, especially in a time the people need it the most.

“Edith is an amazing dog,” Haleigh says. “Honestly, she makes you happy.”

She sure does.

Source: Daily Paws

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