CAT-LOVING 10 YEAR OLD’S BOOKMARK BUSINESS RAISES MONEY, AWARENESS FOR AGEING STRAYS
Source: ABC News (Extract)
Posted: February 8, 2022
Jonah Angerame has a simple goal – he wants to help as many stray cats as he can.
And in less than six months, the 10-year-old from Phillip Island, south of Melbourne, has already made a difference, raising more than $1,000 for cat rescue groups across Australia.
“It all started when he wanted to rescue a whole bunch of cats and bring them home,” mum Hannah Farnham said.
“But we already have [our cat] Leesha.
“I said, ‘We can’t have that many cats, darling’.”
She suggested that Jonah combine his love of reading and crafting to help homeless felines — and Bookmark Buddy was born.
Jonah started making and selling his colourful bookmarks on social media and online in September.
Since then, his social media page has grown to more than 3,000 followers, and he has sold more than 100 bookmarks to cat-lovers across the country.
He even had his first international order last week.
“Everyone sends all their photos of cats — we have hundreds of them, and we love looking at the photos.”
‘Flying the flag’ for senior strays
A particular cause close to Jonah’s heart is the welfare of older cats.
He created a special series of bookmarks specifically for One at a Time Pet Rescue in south-east Victoria.
One at a Time Pet Rescue president Melissa Dryden said cats five years and older were often overlooked, and there needed to be increased awareness about desexing them.
“Once you take in the adults [cats], you end up with no room because the kittens come and go but the adults just stay,” she said.
Ms Dryden said the money Jonah had donated to her rescue shelter had helped to pay for cooling mats.
An upcoming donation would help with the cost of buying expensive food for older cats.
“All the rescue people who have met Jonah are so impressed,” Ms Dryden said.
“Most kids go towards the kittens, but he went straight to the adults [cats].
“He’s flying the flag for the older cats.”
Aside from donating to rescues, Jonah hopes to save enough money on the side to go towards purchasing his own property where he can save homeless cats himself.
But in the meantime, Jonah has to fit his bookmark making and trips to the cat rescue around school hours.