6-Year-Old Boy with Big Heart Saves over 1,000 Dogs from Kill Shelter
When he was 4 years old, Roman McConn and his family visited a local Texas animal shelter in search of a new dog. When they came across a dog named Luna, it was love at first sight.
After adopting Luna, Roman and his family realized how wonderful their shelter dog was and wanted to help others like her find their forever homes.
“He kept asking why they were there and I would tell him, ‘they’re looking for homes.’ In that 4-year-old mind, he’s like ‘We just need to find them homes,'” said his mom Jennifer McConn.
They began volunteering at the shelter, and Roman quickly became more and more involved in the rescue efforts.
Soon Roman’s dad, who is in the Navy, was relocated overseas, so Roman and his mom moved back to her home state of Washington. But they didn’t make the journey alone; they brought along 31 dogs with them to give them a better life.
“I would joke with Texas Rescues about an underground railroad for dogs up to Washington because the world for a dog, generally speaking, was so much better up here in Washington than down there in Texas,” Jennifer explained.
From there, the duo started Project Freedom Ride, which aimed to relocate dogs in Texas shelters to the Pacific Northwest. Because it costs nearly $11,000 per transport, they also work to raise money to bring the dogs to their new homes.
Thanks to Roman’s informational videos detailing the age, breed, and characteristics of each rescue dog, many find their adoptive families before they begin their journey, and can be adopted in various states along the route to Washington. And if they don’t have a family waiting for them on the other side, the dogs are sent to humane societies until they find a home.
Roman, now 6, works hard with his mom to save unwanted dogs and find them forever homes. He helps out by starring in videos showcasing dogs up for adoption, calling potential adoptive families, and helping to raise money to transport the dogs across the country.
And while it takes plenty of time, energy, and money to rescue the dogs, the first grader is dedicated to the cause.
Since December 2016 when Project Freedom Ride first began, he and his mom have already helped save 1,050 dogs, including the rescue of two of their own.
“It feels really, really good,” Roman said of his impressive rescue efforts. Keep up the good work Roman! You’re an inspiration to us all.
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