Keely's cookies comfort canines, cats

HAYDEN — Keely Harmon is too young to volunteer at the Kootenai Humane Society, so the 13-year-old figured out another way to help the dogs and cats there.

Chocolate cookies.

While the KHS canines aren’t eating Keely’s cookies because chocolate isn't good for them, they are benefitting from how good they are.

The Post Falls teen baked and sold so many cookies — created with her own recipes — over five months that she donated $1,012 to KHS on Wednesday.

“I really liked what they are doing,” the daughter of Brad and Staci Harmon said in a phone interview Friday. “I think it’s cool they’re a no-kill shelter.”

Vicky Nelson, KHS development director, said Keely’s gifts are an inspiration.

“We are constantly amazed at the generous, kind-hearted youth in our community,” she said.

Little sister Faith joined her at KHS to spend time with Angel, a small dog under medical observation before being ready to find a forever home.

Keely’s donation was also in remembrance of her grandmother’s birthday.

“Keely's donation will go far in helping animals like Angel,” Nelson said.

Brad Harmon, in an email to The Press, said his daughter has been working on this fundraiser throughout the school year and took the initiative to put together her sales which consisted of several original recipes that she has developed.

“This was 100% her idea and initiative that made this happen,” he wrote

This isn’t the first time Keely’s talents have paid off for KHS. The eighth-grader at Post Falls Middle School said her family had a yard sale years ago and she sold cookies during it, raising $100.

“I ended up making a lot more than I was expecting,” she said.

Confidence fueled by that early success, she next baked and sold cookies — by donation — at her school and earned more than $500.

“Teachers were generous,” Keely said.

So this year, her goal was $1,000 and she topped that, too.

Her mom taught her to bake. Keely quickly got creative with recipes, experimenting along the way, and developed a variety of chocolate cookies — chocolate chip, double chocolate, and chocolate cookies with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

“I really like chocolate cookies,” Keely said.

She also bakes dog biscuits (peanut butter, flour, egg and water, using a biscuit-shaped cutter) which are enjoyed by the family pets, Oatmeal, a lab, and Fudgie, a beagle.

After spring break, she plans to bake and sell more cookies, with a goal of raising $1,500 for KHS. Her plans are a career caring for animals.

“I very much want to be a veterinarian when I grow,” she said.

Who also bakes and sells chocolate cookies.