Gloria Blankenship wasn’t surprised her teenage daughter Amanda wanted to donate her Christmas money to help buy beds for dogs at the Montgomery County Animal Control shelter.
“She’s giving to six different charities this year,” she said of her daughter.
Amanda and her mom were invited to help deliver the 40 dog cots bought with money raised by Mike and Renee Gee, owners of Village Groomer and Animal Inn.
“I was really excited when they asked me to come,” Amanda said. “I’m 17, so I’m at an age that I really don’t want the toys and things that I did when I was younger.”
The Northwest High student donated $100 for dog beds and plans to make smaller donations to causes like a girls school in Africa and buying school supplies for kids in Iraq.
“I hope she continues doing things like this,” said Gloria Blankenship, adding that last year Amanda bought gifts for a person whose name was placed on a Christmas tree at the Senior Citizens Center. “But animals are her thing.”
Amanda, Village Groomer employees and Animal Control officers carried in the beds from a truck loaned by Riverside Brake and Muffler to haul them.
As they placed them in kennels, some dogs took to them right away while others shied away.
Mike Gee said the beds arrived Tuesday and he, Renee and their employees formed an assembly line to put them together.
“I know what Santa’s elves feel like now,” he joked.
The Gees were impressed with Amanda’s donation, as well as support from the local community and from people as far away as Murfreesboro and Smyrna.
“It was such a wonderful thing she did,” said Renee Gee. “It was an unselfish thing to do for a young girl, who might rather buy clothes or shoes or something. … So many times with teens, it’s me, me, me. It’s nice to know that some really think about others.”
She gave Amanda a gift bag filled with dog treats and a photo album for her “new baby.” Amanda adopted a corgi three weeks ago while volunteering at Precious Friends animal rescue.
For more details about pets, animal rescue and adopting a pet visit www.lovemypets.com
