Although her birthday is on Dec. 25, Meghan’s mother, Denise, typically holds the party a month early so Christmas can be enjoyed as a separate event.
This year Meghan specified that party guests not bring presents for her, but that they bring food and treats that she could take to the SPCA for the cats and dogs instead.
Shelter worker Linda Hubbard clapped and cheered as Meghan, her mother and a friend, Desire Sauve, carried bags into the shelter last Tuesday.
“I think I’m going to cry,” she said.
“I am so proud of you, not to think of yourself, but to think of our four-legged critters. This is just like Christmas for us.”
Denise Pothier says she was surprised at the size of the gifts brought by the 15 guests for her soon-to-be-12-year-old.
“I thought they’d just pick up things from the dollar store, like a can of food each but they brought huge bags. It was surprising,” she said.
“If other families could do the same it would be a great idea,” she added.
Hubbard says monetary donations are always welcome as well, as funding is low.
“We rely on donations from the public so when it rolls into winter things begin to slow down for us. We need not only food, but any type of monetary contribution that can be given.”
Meghan has two cats, one of which was adopted from the Yarmouth SPCA.
She likes the thought of animals benefitting from her birthday.
“I thought it would be good because wintertime gets really chilly and some cats and dogs might not have as much food.”
