Teen's birthday donation helps hungry animals

EDNEYVILLE -- The gift list for Andy Jones' 13th birthday: Pet food -- and lots of it. That's what he asked for and that's what he got.

Jones wanted the food, not for his dog, Squat, or his brother's dog, Frisky, but for the homeless animals at the Blue Ridge Humane Society.

"The Humane Society keeps all sorts of animals," Jones said. "It makes me feel sad they have no home, but I'm glad they are being taken care of. I thought it was a great cause."

Jones is finishing up his seventh-grade work in homeschool. He likes to write, read, play games and program computers.

He also has Tourette Syndrome, which he controls with daily medication.

The young man has also found time to volunteer at the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site, working with the goats.

"The more time you spend with animals," he said, "the more you love them."