Royersford 4th-Grader Gives Up Birthday Gifts for Donations

Abby Gubanich had been asking her mother since January if she could have people bring donations to an animal rescue instead of birthday gifts when she turned ten years old in April. 

Convinced that this was really what Abby wanted to do, her parents Tyler and Kelly agreed, and Kelly added the request to Abby's birthday party invitations, and when her guests arrived at the SkyZone trampoline gym, they came bearing gifts for Justice Rescue instead of presents for Abby.

Abby, whose "best friend" is a little black dog named Eddie, first got interested in rescuing animals when she saw the SPCA's commercial (the one with Sarah McLachlan singing in the background) over the winter. 

Kelly said that Abby started asking her questions like, "Are there animals that are cold and hungry outside?" 

Kelly explained that there are, and Abby wanted to find a way to help. 

Kelly researched several rescue groups and picked Justice Rescue. 

"Don't judge a book by its cover."

The volunteers of Justice Rescue are not your typical rescue group. They are bikers, burly tattooed guys who, Kelly said, genuinely look scary.

"But they were the nicest guys!" added Abby. 

"We are trying to teach her, as her parents, that we don't judge a book by its cover," Kelly said. "You don't have to look a certain way to be a good person."

Justice Rescue was founded a year and a half ago by two friends who go by Wolf and Crash. 

Wolf told Patch in an interview that they do "proactive rescue" - if someone reports an abused animal, or one chained outside and left there, Justice Rescue will go check out the situation and either rescue the animal or offer help to the owners. 

"Sometimes helping means they're signing the dog over to us; sometimes it means we go back and build them a doghouse and try to educate them," Wolf said. 

The guys of Justice Rescue believe that education is a key to stopping animal abuse. They've done presentations to schools and spoken to many owners. 

They will offer medical care, shelter such as a doghouse, food, and other assistance if they feel the owners are responsible people who just need help with care. 

However, like many rescues, their resources are stretched to the limit most of the time. 

That's when gifts like Abby's come in handy. 

"It was unbelievable," Wolf said of Abby's donation. "What a wonderful little girl. I can't express the thanks, there just aren't words."

Abby says she wants to keep doing things for rescue groups. Kelly plans to begin volunteering with Justice Rescue and will bring Abby along to events. 

Abby also said she already knows what she wants to be when she grows up.

"I want to work with animals, maybe be a vet," Abby said.