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9-Year-Old Organizes Pet Drive To Honor Her Dog That Passed

December 12, 2023

Today's good news story comes from Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

In the spirit of the holiday season, a compassionate 9-year-old from Colorado, Milly Kukuczka, has turned her personal loss into an inspiring mission to bring joy to pets without homes.

Milly / Credit: Ashley Kukuczka

Milly's beloved Border Collie mix, Bella, passed away last Christmas, leaving a void in her heart. Instead of succumbing to sadness, Milly decided to honor Bella's memory by making a difference in the lives of other animals.

"It's been really hard the last year to watch her struggle with that," Milly's mom, Ashley Kukuczka told CBS News. Despite the challenges, Milly chose to channel her grief into a positive force for good.

"I thought it was sad that pets didn't have owners, especially around the holidays," Milly expressed. Determined to make a change, she decided to organize a pet drive donation. When her parents asked her for a Christmas list, Milly surprised them by presenting a flyer outlining her plan to collect toys for shelter dogs.

The Kukuczka family kicked off the initiative by reaching out to friends and relatives for support. The response was overwhelming, and the local community quickly rallied behind Milly's cause. Milly's pet drive gained attention from the local CBS outlet, shining a spotlight on her heartwarming efforts.

"We asked her for her Christmas list and what she wanted for Christmas, and she went in her art room and came out with a flier and wanted to do a pet drive donation," Ashley shared. The family, along with their extended network, began collecting donations, ranging from toys to pet supplies, creating a wave of generosity for shelter animals.

Milly, with a beaming smile, shared that the response has been incredible, with somewhere between 50 to 100 donations received so far.

"Even though you're little, you can still make a big difference," Milly emphasized.

Watch the lcoal news video below.