SPCA receives birthday gifts from second grader
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

Second-grader Hanna Morrow, 8, peeks out from behind her birthday gifts - donations to the area Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Photo by Jim Smerecak

Many 8-year-olds have birthday parties with animal themes. Hanna Morrow's eighth birthday was one of those parties - with a twist.

After adopting a dog from the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on Ensminger Road in Tonawanda, the Maple West second-grader decided she wanted to do something for all of the dogs that weren't adopted.

Instead of gifts for her this year, Hanna asked her guests to bring gifts for the animals at the SPCA.

"We got dog treats and milk bones and catnip mice and cat food," Hanna said.

"It was over 100 pounds of stuff," added dad Patrick.

Hanna got the idea to donate her birthday gifts to the SPCA after reading a story in the newspaper over the summer about other children who had done the same thing.

"It was something we had talked about, and it was still something she was interested in when her birthday came along," said Julie, Hanna's mother. "The parents thought it was a great idea. We had one mother who brought towels and blankets and around 40 pounds of food and then two bags of dog treats."

The Morrows made the decision to adopt a dog after their family dog of 11 years died in November. The family viewed all of the dogs at the shelter and decided on a Labrador-chow chow mix that they named Bailey.

"I liked her because she was playful and she licked me," Hanna said. She noted that she wants to be an SPCA volunteer when she gets older, and her favorite television channel is Animal Planet.

"They make you spend a half-hour with the dog you're going to adopt," her mother added. "Hanna could take things out of her mouth, and she wasn't aggressive at all, which was important."

The parents of Hanna's friends, as well as her own parents, were impressed with the selflessness she displayed with her birthday this year.

"We're very proud of her and that she followed through with it," Julie said. "It's a very grown-up, very mature thing to do."

"Especially for a second-grader," Patrick added.