Local children make holidays merry for homeless animals

GROSSE POINTE PARK — For her recent eighth birthday, Makenna Markley, of Grosse Pointe Park, could have asked for toys or trinkets for herself. Instead, the young animal lover asked her friends if they could bring donations for Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society or the Michigan Humane Society to her birthday party.

Thanks to their generosity, shelter animals will have food and new toys in time for the holidays, as they await their forever homes.

“I wanted to help the dogs and cats get homes (where someone would) treat them nicely,” Markley said of her decision to solicit donations for GPAAS and MHS. Her family has an English cream retriever named Max, so she knows how much love and joy a pet brings to a family.

Simone Keagle, 8, and Milo Cooley, 7, both of Grosse Pointe Park, were among the party invitees who contributed to the animal shelters. Like Markley, they hope the animals find wonderful new homes.

“I do want the dogs to have toys so they have fun playing with them,” said Garrett Tenbrink, 7, of Grosse Pointe Park and Detroit.

Henry Simaika, 8, of Grosse Pointe Park, made a house for cats to sleep in that also has a toy for them. Tracy Thomas — Markley’s mother — said by email that MHS “has craft projects for cat boxes that can make for a great project to engage families in over the holiday break.”

Darby Robinson, 8, and Nailah Zelinski, 7, both of Grosse Pointe Park, were also excited about the chance to lend a hand to homeless pets.

“I love cats and dogs,” Zelinski said.

Thomas said Markley’s classmates at Defer Elementary School also participated in the drive. Friends and classmates brought in food for puppies, kittens, cats and dogs, along with toys and other needed items. Many made sweet cards for Markley as well.

The week of Dec. 12, Defer was having a Dollars for Dogs fundraiser for another nonprofit, Detroit Dog Rescue. Thomas said that, for every $1 students contributed, they could bring in a stuffed animal.

Thomas said she’s been talking to her daughter about the meaning of Christmas and the responsibility people have as they get older to give back and bring joy to others. It’s a lesson Markley clearly took to heart.

“From a parent’s perspective, the gifts given by her classmates and friends were more meaningful and gave her a lot more joy than any gift they could have given to her directly,” Thomas said by email.  

The gifts from Markley and her friends demonstrate how even modest acts of kindness can make a major impact.

“We appreciate all the donations,” said Simaika’s mom, Emily Simaika, who is GPAAS’ treasurer. “We’re a 100% donation-based non-euthanasia organization, so every little bit helps — even if you think it’s small.”

Founded in 1991, GPAAS operates the Thomas A. Mackey Animal Adoption Center in Harper Woods. During its history, GPAAS has found new homes for roughly 8,000 animals.

“I hope they get a really good home and whoever gets them loves them,” Markley said of the animals in the shelters.

Donations to GPAAS and MHS are tax deductible, so both nonprofits hope people will consider making a donation before the end of the year. Emily Simaika said GPAAS’ biggest expense is veterinary care — all the animals receive full veterinary care, including sterilization, vaccinations and treatment for any illness or injuries they may have. As with everything else, the costs for veterinary care and pet food and supplies have risen quite a bit over the last couple of years, she said.

“All of the dogs and cats are really going to appreciate these wonderful gifts,” Emily Simaika said.

For more information about GPAAS, visit www.gpaas.org or call (313) 884-1551. For more information about MHS, visit www.michiganhumane.org or call (866) 648-6263.