FOR her third birthday, Saffron McIlduff showed compassion beyond her years when she decided to forgo presents and donate the gifts she would have received to Wet Noses Animal Rescue.
Encouraging her friends to bring pet food and dog toys to her birthday party, Saffron collected three boxes of presents for the animal foster care service.
“Of her own accord, Saffron said she had enough toys and wanted to give toys to the animals instead,” Alma McIlduff said of her daughter’s selflessness.
“I help run a virtues playgroup at the library and we were just learning about respect for animals and that has resonated with her.
“We recently adopted a puppy from the South East Animal Welfare League and before we could bring Basil home we visited him at the shelter every day – Saffron was sad to see the cats and dogs without homes.”
Wet Noses Animal Rescue founder Marie Dukalskis welcomed the three-year-old’s act of kindness.
“We are so grateful and impressed by Saffron’s selflessness and generosity,” Ms Dukalskis said.
“The toys and food will be distributed to our foster carers – we have nine puppies and over 50 cats and kittens in foster homes at the moment.
“Donations like this are so helpful as fostering animals until we find their forever homes can be costly.
“We hope the new microchipping and desexing laws that were recently introduced will reduce the number of unwanted animals – especially cats – in the city.”
