BY MICHAEL ACKER
Staff Writer
SAYREVILLE – A local animal shelter is finding that large contributions can come from little advocates.
Eleven-year-old Heather Sootkoos has been raising funds for the animals of the Sayrebrook Pet Adoption Center for over a year. She told the Suburban that it is important that people look out for these animals.
“The money goes toward getting them food and finding a home for them,” Heather said. “I feel bad and give them the money that they need.”
Heather’s mother, Christine Render, told the Suburban that Heather began collecting money for the animals after a visit to the shelter during her last school year at Samsel Upper Elementary School. She is entering the sixth grade at Sayreville Middle School in the fall.
“Ever since she was a little kid, she liked animals,” Render said. “She had a hamster that died recently, she has dogs, fish … and don’t kill a fly in front of her, because she gets upset.”
Render recalled the day she took her daughter to the animal shelter for the first time last year. The experience prompted Heather to commit herself to animals in need.
PHOTOSBY JEFF GRANIT staff At left: Heather Sootkoos, 11, of Sayreville, hugs Nikita, a husky, in her backyard. Above: Heather, who hopes to be a veterinarian, has Lucky stand upright for a biscuit. “She went in, saw the cats and dogs, and decided she wanted to help out,” Render said. “She started collecting spare lunch money and change from her classmates. She managed to collect $50 two times and then another $100.”
Heather collected these donations by expanding her search to her neighborhood, seeking contributions by taking booklets she made and riding her bicycle around the neighborhood to drop them off in various mailboxes. She follows up by going door to door, and she recently collected $50 from neighbors for the animal shelter.
“I go put little booklets of the dogs and cats in the shelter into their mailboxes, and a few days later, I go and ask them [for donations],” Heather said. “I bring money to the shelter, so they can buy food for the animals, and at the yard sale, I bought something for a dollar and I told them to keep the change.”
Heather used all of the money she was given for her birthday to purchase a small item from the sale. The item Heather bought recently at the benefit flea market was a stuffed animal valued at $1. She paid $20, knowing that the remaining money would go to the shelter.
Shelter Director Barbara Keegan described Heather as an exceptional child who is devoted to the animals in the shelter.
“She is a ray of sunshine,” Keegan said. “She lights up the room when she walks in the shelter.”
Keegan expressed gratitude to Heather for the donations she collects, including her recent gathering of $50 from her neighborhood.
“She knows that we are overloaded with cats and kittens,” Keegan said, “We have over 200 cats. Now I have $50 for the cats.”
“She never forgets us,” Keegan added.
Keegan said that Heather was moved by her first visit to the shelter last summer.
“She asked if it was OK to collect money,” Keegan said. “We need more kids like her. She is a shining example to all kids. I know that she is going to end up being a phenomenal vet, because she has so much love for the animals in her heart.”
The reason for Heather’s love of animals is simple and has led her to the conclusion that she wants to help them when she grows up as well.
“I want to be a vet when I am older,” Heather said. “I just like cats and dogs. I like them because they comfort me in a lot of ways. I just like to play with them and have fun.”
For more information on how to donate to the Sayrebrook Pet Adoption Center, call (732) 727-3895.