A pet at home, not depending on its kind, size or gender, plays an important role in the formation of a child’s personality as well as mental and physical development. The experience of interacting and taking care of a pet leads to a child developing the feeling of responsibility and love to everything alive, helps him or her to be better organized, disciplined, responsive, and what is important, to care about others. A pet always helps its little owner to become more sociable and optimistic.
But what about orphans living in children’s homes gaining such an experience? The fact is that sanitary and hygiene regulations permit no animals living in such institutions.
On the New Year Eve the Strizhevski family invited children from the Zaporozhye children’s home for disabled boys to feel the warmth and kindness of family pets. Iryna and her daughter Ekaterina have been training their six wonderful fluffy cats since 2002. When they have a chance, they take part in various contests and TV shows with their little companions. Thus, for example, the family has twice participated in the Ukraine’s Got Talent TV show on STB channel. To be selected for the show, the cats had to “travel” to such big cities as Dnepropetrovsk and Kiev.
Thanks to Igor, the volunteer who drove the animal handlers to the children’s home on December 22nd, the boys had a chance to enjoy the performance of the funny animals, to pat their new whiskered friends and even play a little with them.
“Cats are wonderful and truly charming creatures! Stroking those sweet pets takes away stress, lowers blood pressure, leading to general well-being…”, tells Irina Strizhevskaya about her beloved pets.
“And what are the names of your cats?” – asked Vlad, a boy from the children’s home.
“Today I came here with two cats Basel and Max and a tabby named Loretta. As for Simba, Nala, and Kira Anatoliyevna, they are waiting for me at home”, told Ekaterina.
Believe it or not, but American scientists carried out studies, and their results showed that children who interacted with pets from the very first months of their lives had lower frequency of such diseases as asthma and allergic reactions.
All of a sudden, the director of the children’s home got an urgent phone call. He was told that due to unfavorable weather conditions children from the nearby villages were not able to come to a circus performance planned beforehand. So, to put the tickets in use, they were decided to be given to children from the children’s home on Veliky Lug. At that moment the budget of the institution allowed paying for only 50 bus seats. Realizing that other children will stay at the institution, our volunteer and helper Igor took the initiative. This man with a kind heart and a generous soul was so good to pay the necessary sum of money for the second 50-seat bus, and thus made a true New Year present for those children who would otherwise stay in the institution instead of going to have fun.
Igor, thank you so much for helping the orphans! May your kindness come back to you tenfold!
We would also like to thank the Strizhevski family for bringing the children so much joy!. We wish you success and well-being!
The Happy Child Foundation would like to say the words of thanks to all its donors and volunteers. We wish you all the best in the New Year 2013!
Anyone can help children by becoming a volunteer of our Foundation or making a donation using any method convenient to you.
Representatives of the Foundation will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Photographs were made by the author.
