The Arab Tribune: News

Girls donate party gifts to the animal shelter

By DAVID MOORE - The Arab Tribune

Bailey Calvert and Kaitlyn Dendy both turned 11 years old recently. The good friends say it was the best birthday they've had - even if they forfeited all their gifts at the party they had together.

Instead of gifts for themselves, they asked their friends to bring a contribution to the Arab animal shelter.

They collected $150 that was donated to the shelter. And one friend also brought a bag of dog food.

"I think it was awesome what they did," said animal control officer Gary Humphries, who met the girls Monday evening at the shelter. "It takes a lot to give up presents for your birthday to do something like this.

"I know if I was a kid I would have thought twice about doing it."

Bailey is the daughter of Mary and Roger Calvert. Kaitlyn is the daughter of Tammy and Scott Dendy. The Arab girls became friends two years ago in the third grade.

Kaitlyn said they thought a combined birthday party would be a lot of fun.

"We got together and were thinking about what to do," she said. "We both came up with the idea to help the animals. One idea led to another."

"We thought we had enough gifts, enough toys, enough stuff," Bailey said. "And we decided to give all the other animals our birthday wish.

"We asked for money. That's what we felt like we needed to do and that was the way we needed to go," she adds.

Kaitlyn's birthday was Sunday. Bailey's was Oct. 3, and they had their party Oct. 24. It was at the Arab Community Center, and about 30 friends attended.

Not surprisingly, the girls and their families have and love pets.

Bailey said they have three dogs. Two of them, Macy and Zeke, came from the Arab shelter. They "rescued" Callie, one of their two cats, from Arab City Park, while they got their second cat, Hallie, from a veterinarian in Guntersville.

In addition to a horse, fish and the rest of the zoo Kaitlyn and her family have, they also have dogs.

"I have got two dogs, and they are real sweet and part of the family," Kaitlyn said. "I want other animals to have a good home."

Mabel came off the street, an orphan they gave a home. Major, their other dog, was a present from her dad when they had to give away a previous pet.

The girls' parents are proud of what they did for the shelter.

"I thought it was sweet," Tammy Dendy said. "They both love animals. I can't tell you the times we have picked up dogs off the street."

She said Kaitlyn got $60 for her birthday outside of the donations at the party, and used it to buy food for the animals at the shelter.

"I can't believe she didn't spend it on something else," Dendy said. "But that's what she wanted to do."

Bailey got a gift of money from her grandparents and put part of that into the $150 pot.

"I think it is wonderful," Mary Calvert said. "I was always involved in rescuing pets, and I think she is taking after momma."

Kaitlyn's brother, Blake, accompanied her and her mom to the shelter Monday. When the brother and sister saw puppies - surprise, surprise - both clamored for one. Dendy said they'll have to decide on a single, compromise puppy and return for it later.

Bailey wanted a white puppy in one of the cages. Calvert said she's going to have to work on her daddy.

In the end, neither girl wanted to leave the shelter Monday, but both plan to be back beyond the hope of adopting a puppy.

Kaitlyn told Humphries she will volunteer to help clean out pens and play with the dogs to make the more sociable.

Bailey said she'd bathe the dogs, anything.

Fine, Calvert said, but on one condition.

"You cannot beg to take one home every time," she said.

Kaitlyn described their birthday was the best she's ever had, even without presents.

"To help something I love and to have fun... that makes a good birthday," Bailey said.

"Giving is so much more rewarding," Calvert said of the girls. "I hope that it catches on and more kids decide to give instead of always getting."