12歲生日和朋友們一起在當(dāng)?shù)氐膭?dòng)物收容所做志愿者來(lái)慶祝

12歲生日和朋友們一起在當(dāng)?shù)氐膭?dòng)物收容所做志愿者來(lái)慶祝

There was no question how Jack Hallock was going to spend his birthday. The 12-year-old had been waiting somewhat impatiently for the chance to volunteer at Best Friends Lifesaving Center in Atlanta but he just wasn't old enough. Volunteers have to be at least 12 to help out at the facility.

杰克·哈洛克很清楚要怎樣過(guò)他的生日。這個(gè)12歲的小男孩一直在焦急地等待著成為亞特蘭大最好朋友救生中心的志愿者，但他實(shí)在是太年輕了。志愿者必須至少12歲才能在設(shè)施中提供幫助。

Jack (bottom right, in orange) and his friends show some love to one of the shelter dogs at the Best Friends shelter. (Photo: Jayne Hallock)

When asked why he chose to spend his birthday at the shelter instead of having a big blowout party, Jack told MNN, "Because I feel bad for the animals and I want them to have a better home."

當(dāng)被問(wèn)及為什么選擇在動(dòng)物收容所度過(guò)生日而不是舉辦一場(chǎng)盛大的慶生派對(duì)時(shí)，杰克告訴MNN，“因?yàn)槲覟閯?dòng)物們感到難過(guò)，我希望它們有一個(gè)更好的家。”

A long-time animal lover

長(zhǎng)期的動(dòng)物愛(ài)好者

Jack with Professor Peanut, one of his family's two rescue dogs. (Photo: Jayne Hallock)

Caring for animals is nothing new for Jack. He's been sensitive to animals and their plight for as long as his family can remember. Jack says the turning point was when he was 5 years old.

照顧動(dòng)物對(duì)杰克來(lái)說(shuō)并不是什么新鮮事。從他的家人記事起，他就對(duì)動(dòng)物及其困境很敏感。杰克說(shuō)轉(zhuǎn)折點(diǎn)是在他5歲的時(shí)候。

"I really missed dogs and knew I had a lot of love to offer, so I began to volunteer and help how I could," she say. "I didn't do much but I tried to make a difference where I could. Jack, who was 8 at the time, kept asking where I was going and when I told him, he wanted to join me. He just wasn't old enough yet."

她說(shuō):“我真的很想念狗，我知道我有很多愛(ài)可以奉獻(xiàn)，所以我開(kāi)始做志愿者，盡我所能幫助它們。”“我沒(méi)做什么，但我試著在力所能及的地方做出改變。當(dāng)時(shí)8歲的杰克不停地問(wèn)我要去哪里，當(dāng)我告訴他時(shí)，他想和我一起去。他只是還不夠大。”

The wait is over

等待結(jié)束了

Jack and his friends present a $700 check to Best Friends. (Photo: Jayne Hallock)

After waiting all those years for the chance to volunteer, Jack showed up for this birthday event with six friends and an impressive check for $700.

等了這么多年才有機(jī)會(huì)當(dāng)志愿者，杰克終于和六個(gè)朋友一起參加了這個(gè)生日活動(dòng)，并得到了一張令人印象深刻的700美元的支票。

He said his friends were eager to come along.

他說(shuō)他的朋友們很想一起來(lái)。

"I was worried they were going to think it was boring, but they really thought it was cool," he says. "Their favorite parts were playing with the dogs and cats."

“我擔(dān)心他們會(huì)認(rèn)為這很無(wú)聊，但他們真的認(rèn)為這很酷，”他說(shuō)。“他們最喜歡的部分就是和貓狗玩耍。”

Jack fills up dog toys with peanut butter on his birthday. (Photo: Jayne Hallock)

Now, Jack plans to try to volunteer every Sunday at the shelter for a few hours with his mom.

現(xiàn)在，杰克計(jì)劃每周日都和媽媽一起在收容所做幾個(gè)小時(shí)的志愿者。

The family now has two rescue dogs of their own — Professor Peanut and Bongo. When Jack isn't at school or playing with his dogs, he also likes to draw and make felt animals. You can see some of his drawings on Instagram.

這個(gè)家庭現(xiàn)在有兩只屬于他們自己的搜救犬——皮納特教授和邦戈。當(dāng)杰克不上學(xué)或和他的狗玩的時(shí)候，他也喜歡畫(huà)畫(huà)和做動(dòng)物。你可以在Instagram上看到他的一些畫(huà)。

'A force of nature'

自然的力量

Jack hangs out with a dog named Shortstack on his first official day volunteering. There will be many more. (Photo: Jayne Hollack)

"We're pretty OK humans and parents but man, Jack is a force of nature. He's like an alien dropped into our family, with more willpower and compassion and stubbornness than most adults I know," she says.

“作為人類(lèi)和父母，我們都很好，但是伙計(jì)，杰克是大自然的力量。他就像一個(gè)闖入我們家的外星人，比我認(rèn)識(shí)的大多數(shù)成年人都更有毅力、更有同情心、更固執(zhí)。”

"He's extremely empathetic and angry about animal abuse and is willing to put his action beyond his philosophies. Jack tells me he remembers 'how delicious' cheeseburgers and hot dogs are, but he is resisting the temptation because he doesn't want to hurt animals. We tell him regularly that kids can teach grownups just as much as grownups teach children."

“他對(duì)虐待動(dòng)物的行為極為同情和憤怒，愿意將自己的行為置于哲學(xué)之外。杰克告訴我，他記得奶酪漢堡和熱狗是多么美味，但他抵制住了誘惑，因?yàn)樗幌雮?dòng)物。我們經(jīng)常告訴他，孩子可以教大人，就像大人可以教孩子一樣。”