My Friendly Pets

Mimi Ausland, a 12-year-old, started a trivia Web site to feed homeless cats and dogs Kibbles.(Photo Courtesy of Robb Kerr)

While watching the Today Show this morning, I came upon an interesting and inspiring story. Mimi Ausland is a 12 year old from Oregon. Mimi has always had an overwhelming love for animals. As she was playing an internet word game on the website www.FreeRice.com, which helps feed people in impoverished countries, she had a wonderful idea. Why not use an internet site to feed the many hungry dogs in shelters? Mimi, a volunteer at a local shelter in her area, knew that many shelters were overloaded with dogs. The housing crisis has caused many dog owners to simply abandon their dogs and most end up in shelters, without homes and hungry.

With her idea, and her parents’ help, it took about 4 months to get the website, www.FreeKibble.com up and running. On the site, there is a daily trivia question and whenever someone goes on the site and answers the trivia question, 20 pieces of Kibble are donated to a local shelter. At this writing 1,630,090 pieces of Kibble have been donated to help dogs in shelters close to Mimi’s home.

Again, Mimi is only 12, but she came up with the idea and is responsible for finding sponsors, serving as spokesman and generating media attention for her special effort. It seems to be working with close to 2 million pieces of kibble already donated, and more support than she could ever imagine, she is looking to expand her efforts.

Richard Thompson, the founder of Zootoo.com is donating all of the kibble that is generated through Mimi’s site. Thompson says,
“She has enthusiasm, passion, and she knows what she’s doing.â€? I think people are taken with the idea that a person as young as Mimi has the drive, initiative, heart and compassion to undertake such a huge project. It takes about 1/2 pound of kibble a day to feed a dog in a shelter. Through Mimi’s wonderful project, the dogs in the shelter near her home have been eating for over two months and it continues.

I think we’ll be hearing and seeing a lot more about Mimi and her kindness and generosity in the future. Her spirit is contagious. Just check out the site by clicking here and pass it on to all of your friends and family!!!