Landon Ramey of Cornelia is a little boy with a big heart and he proved it once again this year when he used the occasion of his seventh birthday to ask for presents, not for himself, but for his furry four-legged pals at the pound.
On his birthday invitations Landon asked guests to bring dog and cat food instead of presents. “Some people brought both,” says his mom Jade, “the only gift he asked for was a pair of shoes.”
And he got them, along with more than 200 pounds of pet food the family then delivered to the Charles Smithgall Humane Society in Cleveland.
A birthday tradition is born
This is Landon’s third year collecting food for local animal shelters. His mom says “he loves donating it and seeing all the animals.”
When he was just five years old, Landon had an encounter with a stray dog. When he asked his mom what would happen to the dog she explained that the humane society would pick it up. She also explained how the group depends on donations for finances and food.
That conversation sparked something inside of young Landon and he decided to help. So, he and his parents took some food to the John B. Gesbocker Animal Shelter in Clarkesville.
Last year when his sixth birthday rolled around Landon surprised his mom and asked for dog food and cat food for his birthday. “He told everyone,” she said.
It wasn’t as big of a surprise this year when he did it, but it made just as big of an impact.
Kathi Torpy is the adoptions and operations manager at Charles Smithgall Humane Society. She was there when Landon delivered his ‘presents’ to the shelter. “He had food and treats, tennis balls and other kinds of toys,” she says. “It’s just great. It’s very heartwarming.”
The best gift of all
Landon’s not alone in his pet philanthropy. Torpy says other children and young adults in the area help support the shelter through similar type donation drives. Still, there’s something remarkable about this rising second grader from Level Grove Elementary School and mom-described animal lover (“We stop for turtles.”) At an age when most kids are clamoring for new toys and gadgets, Landon says it makes him “happy” to give away his birthday presents to the dogs and cats.
And it shows.
Landon’s photos exude the kind of joy you just can’t buy in a store. Perhaps that’s because he’s already learned something in childhood it takes most of us a lifetime to learn: The best gifts in life are the ones you give away.
