Three little kittens would have had a dismal start to life had it not been for 11-year-old Kingswood boy, Alec Campbell.
The young, aspiring vet is the foster parent of mother cat, Ellie and her kittens, who without Alec’s generosity, would have grown up in an Animal Welfare League shelter. Though the shelter is very humane, it is hardly the loving environment a kitten should grow up in.
The Animal Welfare League’s foster program has been designed to give animals a better start at life, which is something that appealed to the Year 5 student, who dreams of becoming a vet.
Alec became involved in the program after taking part in a Future Vet Kids Camp in January, where he learnt all about cats, their birthing process, how to help and when there might be a problem.
“Kittens communicate with their mum by scent, smell and meowing, and they don’t open their eyes until they are few weeks old. The mummy cat picks up her kittens in her mouth if she moves them,” Alec said.
Alec hopes to foster more kittens through the Animal Welfare League so he can further use the knowledge he picked up at the camp.
“Alec is continuously asking questions about animals and loves TV programs like ‘Deadly 60’ and ‘Bondi Vet’. He loves taking our cat to the vet and asks what they are doing and why. I believe the Future Vet Kids Camp has been very beneficial to Alec. Learning how to treat and care for animals teaches children empathy and respect for nature and other humans,” said Alec’s mum, Kathryn Campbell.
“Alec’s grandparents enrolled him at the camp as a Christmas present and at the end of the camp, he rang them and thanked them for such a great present! It truly was a great idea.”
The Future Vet Kids Camp is run annually by Canadian vet, Dr Scott Bainbridge.
For more information visit www.futurevetkidscamp.com.au.
