7-year-old gets ASPCA “Kid of the Year” reward for rescuing over 1,300 dogs
Many seven-year-olds are too busy playing, watching cartoons, or doing other childly pursuits to engage in charity work. But don’t tell that to Roman McConn. He has spent the last three years rescuing animals to the tune of over 1,300 dogs and 40 cats. Here’s more on this loving youngster and his mission to help as many animals as he can.
Roman’s mission
Roman focuses on saving the most unwanted animals, specifically those on the euthanasia list at shelters in his area. He started his work saving animals when he was only four-years-old, with the help of his mom, Jennifer McConn, of course. He has a special way of getting the pets he helps adopted into loving homes.
How Roman accomplishes his goal
His mom shoots videos of Roman talking about each animal. Once the video is edited, she puts it up on their Facebook page, Project Freedom Ride. In preparation for his videos, Roman gets to know each animal by playing with them. Through this method, Roman is able to bring out the personality of each dog for all to see. Shelter staff say he is a real-life “dog whisperer.”
Why Roman helps dogs
According to Roman, he helps the dogs because they “don’t need to be in a shelter, they need to do things.” Roman does this by connecting dogs in Texas and Georgia with loving families in the Pacific Northwest.
He and his mom’s organization, Project Freedom Ride, provides the shelters in Texas and Georgia with the funding they need to facilitate the adoptions outside of their normal areas. Besides, the organization also provides important networking for the shelters.
Roman loves to hear about one of his dogs finding a forever home
Roman loves to hear about the dogs he helps finding a forever home, lighting up like a Christmas tree when one does, according to his mom. In honor of his work and accomplishment in helping so many pets, Roman was named Kid of the Year by the ASPCA.
“I think it’s very important for the dogs I meet that I give them the best chance at finding the right home that they need,” Roman told InsideEdition.com. “I think a lot of other kids should be doing what I’m doing.”
Roman travels to New York
As a part of receiving the award from the ASPCA, Roman and his mother traveled to New York. While there they attended a ceremony where he received his award and gave a speech about Project Freedom Ride and why he does what he does for animals in need.
Roman gives a speech about his organization
During the speech, he talked about the first dog he rescued, a dog named Sullivan or Sully for short. He and his mom were able to find Sully a forever home which ingrained in Roman a love for helping animals. Since that first rescue, Roman has helped rescue hundreds of more pets. Here is a video with more on this sweet and enduring boy.
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