A superhero for the kitties
Courtesy photo Coeur d’Alene 7-year-old Colette Collins snuggles a kitty at the Kootenai Humane Society after she and her parents deliver well more than 100 pounds of cat and kitten food that Colette requested to donate to the shelter for her birthday. “I love the kitties,” Colette said. “They’re so cute and they need homes.”
No bikes. No games. No dolls.
All Colette Collins wanted for her seventh birthday was cat food.
Thanks to her generous heart, Kootenai Humane Society is now rolling in kitty chow — and just in the nick of time.
"Little did she know that this donation of food couldn't have come at a better time, as we were in dire need of Kirkland Maintenance Cat food," Kootenai Humane Society posted on its Facebook page Oct. 15. "What a lifesaver!"
Colette, of Coeur d'Alene, brought in more than 100 pounds of cat and kitten food along with kitty litter and toys she was able to deliver in purr-son.
"I love the kitties. They're so cute, and they need homes," Colette said Monday. "The kitties and dogs when you come in there, they're crying and smelling you. They're so cute!"
Her mom, Hollie Collins, said Colette has always loved animals and looks forward to donating her birthday bounty to the shelter every year.
"They let her hold a kitten when she goes in there," Hollie said. "The Humane Society makes it an experience. It's not just dropping everything off at the front door, she gets to go in and deliver the toys."
Hollie is severely allergic to cats, so the Collins house is feline-less. But this doesn't stop Colette in her mission to help the cats she can't adopt.
"It almost moves me to tears because I'm so proud of her," Hollie said. "I can’t even imagine the great things she’s going to do when she grows up. She has such a big heart."
Kootenai Humane Society is in constant need of cat and kitten food and other items listed on the wish list on its website. Development Director Vicky Nelson said the society was thankful for big-hearted kids who think of the animals on their special days. Recently, another youth wrote short stories, sold them and donated the profits. Another kid donated proceeds from cocoa and lemonade stands.
"We have tons of kids who bring us birthday gifts," Nelson said. "We love it."
The wish list, at www.kootenaihumanesociety.com/donate/wishlist, includes Lignetics wood pellet fuel that is used instead of litter, Purina Kitten Chow, paper towels, 13-gallon white and 33-gallon black garbage bags and other items for daily shelter operations and animal care.
Colette plans to do it again next year and she wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up.