9-year-old Davaoeño creates animal shelter with the kindness of strangers

When pictures of 9-year-old Ken feeding rugged stray dogs near his neighborhood emerged online, internet idlers and dog-centric sites like Life With Dogs, alternative news site Elite Daily, and Japanese site Narinari picked up the story of the budding philanthropist. Needless to say, the donations came pouring in.

Now, Ken has his own website for his no-kill animal shelter, the Happy Animals Club (HAC), where people can keep track of his adventures and donate to his cause.

The sheer amount of donations allowed him to lease a 1,000 square meter lot for a year, costing P66,000. The lot will host the animal shelter, although insufficient funds bar him from taking in more strays.

When he finally gets more funds, Ken says HAC will rescue dogs from the city pound in Davao, where he lives, and rehabilitate them enough for adoption. Such is his passion for his cause that he cares for the dogs (Blackie, Brownie, and White Puppy) even during Davao's rotating brownouts.

Little boy, big dreams


It all began when Ken's dad followed him during one of his neighborhood strolls, puzzling over where and why his son disappeared for an hour every day. It was he who took the photos of Ken feeding the dogs.

The dogs' trust in Ken went so far that they have allowed him to teach them how to shake hands.

Before HAC, Ken made a website for kids who love animals. Though his hand-made posters promoting the site didn't garner any hits, the then eight-year-old Davaoeño's enthusiasm for animals continued and led to the founding of the HAC.
According to his post on the Weebly site, he aspires to become a veterinarian and an animal rescuer when he grows up.

"When a horse loses a leg, I will make a big wheel and replace the spot where it lost its leg...that's how much I love animals," he wrote.

Blackie, Brownie, and White Puppy's wounds have healed. Their hair has grown back, and they have gained weight. Ken has stated on his site that they will soon be ready for adoption.

Recently, a new puppy made it to Ken's care. Named Dipper, the black-and-white pup was found to have an eye infection, ticks, and at least two different kinds of worms inside its body.


Those interested in helping Ken build his shelter and adopt more dogs may donate any amount through HAC's PayPal account. Every cent donated to the site is accounted for in the "Expenses" section of the website.

Medical, food, and shelter bills are clearly detailed on the page, including the date it was incurred and the actual amount spent. — Rie Takumi/VC, GMA News