LIMA — A Liberty Arts Magnet School eighth-grader who has spent the last year volunteering at the Humane Society of Allen County was recently recognized by the president of the United States.
Caden Fry received the President’s Volunteer Service Award, which is given to people of all ages who volunteer significant amounts of time to serve their communities. The award was granted by The Prudential Spirit Community Awards program on behalf of President Barack Obama.
“It was pretty cool, especially considering it was from the president,” Caden said of receiving the award. “I never would have thought something like that would happen to me.”
Since last March, Caden has spent around 12 hours each week at the humane society, socializing with dogs and cats and giving them food and water. He said the more time he spends with the animals, the more adoptable they are because they are learning how to be comfortable with humans.
Caden said he has a special love for cats, which he spends the majority of his time with at the humane society. In fact, it was his interest in adopting a cat that started his yearlong volunteerism with the organization.
“When I was at the humane society, I saw all the animals and how fun it was to be around them all,” he said. “It was just a really cool experience, and so I told my mom I wanted to volunteer. I’ve been doing it ever since.”
Caden said he’s loved animals for as long as he can remember. He said he grew up in a house full of cats and the occasional turtle. Now, Caden has five cats, a dog and “a bunch of turtles.”
“Our house is a pet store, basically,” Caden said with a laugh.
In the future, Caden hopes to translate his love of animals into a career. He said he is interested in marine biology or working full-time with the humane society.
For now, Caden said he will continue volunteering at the humane society, helping the animals he is so passionate about.
“They’re such sweet animals, and it makes you feel good when you do stuff for them and they give you love back in return,” he said. “It’s a very special feeling.”
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