He May Only Be 14, but Jayson Kimberly Is a Full-Fledged Hero to Animals

Most middle school students make a bit of cash by babysitting or mowing lawns and spend their earnings on movie tickets and shopping sprees. But 14-year-old Jayson Kimberly from Houston, who has raised thousands of dollars over the last few years, donated his money to homeless animals in shelters—and for that, PETA is sending him a Hero to Animals Award.

Jayson’s Story

Not only is Jayson helping animals by raising money for their veterinary care and food, he also established a nonprofit called Leave it for the Pooch, which is on a mission to raise awareness among young people of the plight of stray, abused, and neglected animals.

Jayson has been dedicated to helping rejected companion animals since he was 11, when he began collecting supplies for shelters. His big heart, unwavering determination, and life-changing accomplishments are an inspiration to everyone who cares about animals—and proof that you can make a difference regardless of your age.

This empathetic and passionate student is currently collecting T-shirts from animal shelters, rescues, and sanctuaries to make into quilts that will be auctioned off, with the profits going back to animal shelters.

We’re confident that this project won’t be too challenging for Jayson, who has worn a different shelter T-shirt to school every day since eighth grade—and plans to continue his streak through high school!

We can’t wait to see him reach new milestones in his efforts to help animals in the coming years!

What You Can Do to Help

You can join Jayson in assisting homeless animals by helping to stop the overpopulation crisis at its source. Always adopt your animal companions from open-admission shelters, never buy them, including from pet stores and breeders—who profit from exploiting animals and exacerbate the crisis—and inform others about the importance of adopting animals, too. Being a responsible guardian also means getting your animal companions spayed and neutered. Always call authorities when you see animals suffering in your community. And like Jayson, you can also raise money for shelters or donate to PETA to help animals.