Roman McConn of Augusta, Georgia, loves animals. What kid doesn’t? Roman loves them so much he made them his life’s mission starting at age four.

Instead of gifts for his fourth birthday, he asked for donations; money he later took to a shelter. Seeing animals waiting for adoption and knowing the dogs needed help, Roman enlisted his mom, Jennifer. He wanted to make a real difference for the dogs and find forever homes for each of them.

To save dogs who likely would get put down, he and mom transported 31 dogs from a high kill shelter in Texas to Washington, where they eventually got adopted. This trip was the maiden voyage of their organization, Project Freedom Ride, which to-date has rescued over 1,300 animals.

Roman’s work isn’t just transporting these helpless animals; it is also telling stories. To raise awareness Roman and mom video the animals playing with Roman. These videos show the animal’s personality, training level, and temperament. All these qualities are vital information to know when choosing a rescue animal and play a significant role in the success Roman’s experienced in the last few years.

“I think it’s very important for the dogs I meet that I give them the best chance at finding the right home they need,” Roman said.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) agrees. The ASPCA recently honored the work Roman’s done when they named him the 2018 Kid of the Year. In his speech, he thanked the ASPCA and reminded the room of guests and honorees that families need dogs and dogs need families.

“And I hope with this opportunity, I can inspire more people to help unwanted animals find their way to amazing people,” Roman said.

We think you are well on your way to doing just that Roman. Good job.