When this boy noticed a problem with homeless animals in the Philippines, he started a no-kill animal shelter there.
At the tender age of 9, Ken would set out on a path that led to opening Happy Animals Club, and by the end of that year, his no-kill animal shelter was ready. In addition to caring for the animals at his shelter, Ken has a rescue dog and two rescue cats, according to the shelter’s website.
Opening a shelter was always his dream, Ken explained on the website:
“Ever since I can remember I wanted to open an animal shelter to help the stray dogs and cats on the streets.”
Unfortunately, practicality got in the way for a while.
“My dad told me it would take a lot of money and 20 years for me to get an animal shelter. He said only grown ups can raise enough money to start an animal shelter.”
While Ken’s father was correct about needing money for a shelter, he underestimated his son’s capabilities, which was good news for animals.
A shelter started to seem possible in February 2014 when pictures of Ken feeding stray dogs on the street went viral.
In addition to being inspired by what they saw, strangers around the world wanted to help Ken. They donated money to help him care for the animals and according to the shelter’s website:
“We got enough money to get the dogs I was feeding off the street, feed them high quality canned food, and provide them with veterinary care. They gained a LOT of weight, their open wounds healed, and their fur grew back. They also learned not to be scared of humans.”
Ken even received enough money to open a shelter.
By May 1 of that year, he leased a 1,000-square-meter lot for a year. Other money was spent on tin roofing, cement, electrical wiring, wood, and other necessities. After lots of work,
“The shelter now has 2 large pens, 2 apartments, and an annex. The dogs are not kept in cages unless they are ill or there is some other good reason. The cats have a very big living area solely for them.”
Unsurprisingly, news of a 9-year-old starting his own no-kill animal shelter spread far and wide, with the Huffington Post even doing an article on it.
Happy Animals Club’s website keeps an updates page with news related to the shelter, highlights, and stories, as well as a page dedicated to the animals up for adoption.
For the latest updates and dozens of adorable photos, you should take a look at the group’s Facebook page. In addition to posting information about adoptable pets on this page, it also keeps followers updated about related things, such as free spaying and neutering for pets.
A post from July shared this photo of Tina, a recent rescue who the caption calls a “happy kitten.”
Other photos show the transformations of animals at the shelter.
That collage bears the caption:
“This is Frappuccino! He was rescued as a skinny, mangy puppy. Now he is chubby and happy. A big thank you to our supporters for making it possible for us to take care of dogs like Frappuccino at the shelter/sanctuary!”
Since Happy Animals Club is a nonprofit and run by Ken, with some help from his dad, it is always looking for donations and appreciates any amount.
The shelter is constantly growing. As of July, it grew enough to hire animal attendants.
Next time you doubt whether you can do something, just think about all the amazing things a 9-year-old was able to do, and all the canine and feline lives he has saved through his efforts. Age and money aren’t limits as long as you are determined; just ask Ken and the animals at Happy Animals Club.
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