Former Foster Child, Age 7, Wins PETA Kids Award for Caring for Dozens of Kittens

Contact:
Sara Groves 202-483-7382

A Hero to Animals Award is on its way from PETA Kids—part of PETA’s youth division—to 7-year-old Naomi Fife, who has volunteered at a local animal shelter since she was 3 and helped her family provide foster care to more than 70 kittens. Naomi says her favorite part of fostering kittens is keeping them warm with cuddles, and her compassion comes from shared experience: She also lived in foster care until she was adopted into the Fife family in 2020.

“After that first kitten was old enough to be adopted, she got a little sad, but I told her that there are so many more kittens who need our help. We just try to help when and where we can,” says Naomi’s mom, Jessica Fife, adding that when it comes to helping animals, no act of kindness is too small. “Not everyone can foster, and that’s OK! Volunteer at an animal shelter with your parents.”

In addition to showering foster kittens with love, Naomi also cleans their litterboxes, gives them food and fresh water, administers their eye drops, and reminds her mom about their other medications. Fife says taking care of kittens has helped Naomi—an active child who’s “always on the go”—learn how to stay calm and sit still to help the kittens feel safe.

“Naomi Fife’s huge heart and hard work have made a tremendous difference in the lives of dozens of kittens, who needed care and compassion before being adopted into permanent loving homes,” says PETA Vice President of Youth Programs Marta Holmberg. “PETA Kids recognizes her commitment, empathy, and all-around heroism for animals and hopes she inspires others to help animals in need.”

Around 70 million dogs and cats are homeless in the U.S. at any given time. To help curb the homeless-animal overpopulation crisis, PETA encourages everyone to have their animal companions spayed or neutered and adopt animals instead of buying them from breeders or pet stores.

PETA—whose motto reads, “Animals are not ours to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information on PETA Kids, please visit PETAKids.com or follow the group on Facebook or Instagram.