LEONARD GRAY

PHOTO: Brennan Ferguson of Destrehan enjoys a fun time with her black Labrador Retriever, Shayla. Brennan recently solicited toys and pet food for the St. Charles Animal Shelter instead of birthday presents for herself. (Staff Photo by Leonard Gray) DESTREHAN – Destrehan resident Brennan Ferguson proved herself wise beyond her years with her latest birthday party. Brennan, the daughter of Barbara and Sam Ferguson, celebrated her eighth birthday by asking her friends for presents, not for herself but for animals at the St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter. What sparked this selflessness was a recent visit to Animal Kingdom near Orlando, Fla., where she learned about endangered animals. She then thought of dogs and cats at the local animal shelter, endangered in their own way. First, she helped conduct a drive for animal toys and feed through Brownie Scout Troop 313 in Destrehan. Then, she decided to get personal. Brennan’s birthday is actually March 16, however, the family decided to wait until May 20 to throw a party for her. When the party invitations went out, it was explained Brennan only wanted presents for the local shelter. Presents for herself came only from her own family. Twenty children, mostly classmates from New Sarpy Elementary School and also friends from her other activities, arrived with two large boxes of gifts and a huge bag of dog food. Some of the pet toys were even wrapped. On June 15, Brennan and her dad carried everything over to the shelter, located beneath the Hale Boggs Bridge in Luling. “They were pretty excited,” she said, “and I’ll probably want to do it again next year.” Brennan is headed for fifth grade in the fall. Her other activities include playing basketball and softball, swimming, ballet and piano. She has two dogs, a 3-year-old black Labrador Retriever named Shayla which came from the shelter and a 7-year-old Huskie named Shelby who came from a veterinarian after being rescued. Shelby was found as a newborn in the Ormond Boulevard median by a grass-cutting crew. Shayla, quite shy, was attacked at five months old by a pit bull. Brennan is devoted to her pets, and admits to love horses and cats as well.