The world is shared by all living creatures, so both people and animals have to be in harmony to keep the Earth a safe and happy place. It doesn’t take much time or money to make a positive change in the world — just a clear goal and a loving effort. In 2014, 9-year-old Ken began to make a difference for animals with the Happy Animals Club.

Ken is the owner of one rescue dog and two rescue cats, and he always wanted to open an animal shelter to help cats and dogs who were living on the streets. Despite his dad telling him that only adults with a lot of money could open one, Ken was still determined to pursue his dream.

He began the journey around his neighborhood by feeding three homeless dogs: Blackie, Brownie, and White Puppy. Photos of him feeding the animals soon reached the Internet, and people donated money to continue Ken’s contribution to local animals. Soon, enough money was raised to feed the animals high quality canned food and to provide veterinary care. After two months of caring for the three dogs, there was visible improvement. They were no longer malnourished, their wounds healed quickly, and the dogs began to trust people who offered kindness.

Ken came closer to his goal when he received enough money donations to start his own no-kill animal shelter in the southern Philippines called the Happy Animals Club. In May 2014, he leased a 10,000 square foot lot for a year, which was able to accommodate the animals’ needs.

The Happy Animals Club’s mission is to rescue animals from the city pound and help find them a home. According to Davao Today, 40–50 dogs are captured and put in the pound per day in the Philippines, and 20–30% of them are put down when the owners do not claim them.

Ken’s shelter is different. Instead of killing the unclaimed animals, Happy Animals Club cares for the cats and dogs. With the aid of veterinarians, Happy Animals Club helps them recover from any injuries and then helps them find a happy, forever home. It has been a challenge, however; people in the Philippines prefer purebred dogs instead of mutts, so it is hard to find homes for some of the dogs that they care for. The Happy Animals Club aims to increase the same valuable importance of mutts by informing the community of their smart and friendly characteristics.

Ken and the Happy Animals Club have started to change the way in which stray cats and dogs are treated. They’ve proved that anyone can make a positive difference in the world, and it doesn’t have to take decades or tons of money to take the first step.

You can read and watch video updates on the animals who are saved and cared for at the Happy Animals Club, and you can get to know each and every one of them. If you wish to contribute, you can make money donations through their website.