• Name: Nicola
• Age: 12
• Activity: Rescuing and rehabilitating dogs to place them with new owners
• Finalist award: A Nicki Fleming doll
• Nominated by: Her mother, Polly

Nicola’s devotion to helping homeless companion animals began five years ago when she learned about animal shelters. She immediately took the initiative to join the Kansas Junior Humane Society.

Nicola is saving lives one wagging tail at a time, ensuring that companion animals have good, safe homes.

For the past 12 months, Nicola has focused her attention on the foster care program. The shelter isn’t equipped to properly care for animals less than eight weeks old or with any slight illnesses, and those animals are placed in foster homes. As a foster parent of 10 dogs this past year, Nicola provided a clean, safe area in our home, socializing, grooming, and giving them anything else they needed. When the dogs are physically and emotionally ready for adoption, she returns them to the shelter along with a letter describing the dog’s personality, which helps match the animal with an owner.

Nicola also personally raised $1,880 last fall for Woofstock 2006, the Kansas Humane Society’s annual fundraiser. By promoting awareness of the event through writing letters, developing a Web site, and going door to door for donations, she achieved her goal in one month. With Woofstock 2007 coming up, she already has some exciting plans for raising even more money this year. Fundraising has taught her the valuable lesson that with passion, hard work, and determination, all things are possible.

Because of Nicola’s efforts for homeless animals, she was chosen to become the chairman of the Junior Humane Society’s capital campaign program for a new shelter. Fundraising will begin this spring and with Nicola’s leadership qualities and organizational skills, the committee is sure to be a big success.

Nicola says she feels so good about saving lives one wagging tail at a time that it has inspired her future goal of becoming a veterinarian. Not only ensuring that companion animals have good, safe homes, but also helping someone find their new “best friend” is a priceless reward.