Andrea Rosebrock 
Back in June, a gentle dog down on his luck wandered into the Kinloch Learning Center during summer camp hours. The staff and children were wary at first, but they didn’t shoo him away. They didn’t chase him away with harsh words throwing sticks and stones. They didn’t call Animal Control or the Police. He wasn’t dumped at a shelter where his future could only have been just a few days before being put to sleep.
They fell in love, took him in, and made him their mascot.
Kinloch, Missouri is an economically distressed and underserved community. The Kinloch Learning Center (KLC) provides academic, recreational and enrichment programs for area youth. It is staffed by volunteers and funding is always needed to sustain the center’s operation. Hard in these economic tough times when operating grants have been cut and donations have dropped. KLC Director Loretta Lipsey took Fred to a veterinarian for shots and a checkup, and found out Fred is sick. He is heartworm positive and needs treatment that will likely cost $1,000 or more. The Center cannot afford this expensive treatment for their new mascot. So they designed a special fundraiser to help pay for Fred’s medical bills.
Camp counselors Bryce Robinson and Darrick Byers, both in the Master of Fine Arts program at Washington University came up with the idea to build and auction doghouses. They enlisted the help of students in the three-dimensional design class where Robinson is a teaching assistant. With their designs and donated and salvaged materials in hand, student teams got together with saws and drills and started building. Another team of community volunteers built four other houses, some out of kits donated by Nestlé Purina.
How great is that? We all know of people who have adopted dogs, found they were heartworm positive, wince at the treatment estimate, and promptly return the dog back to the shelter or rescue group. This Center that depends strictly on donations to operate for their kids, refuse to let Fred’s medical condition get in the way of keeping him.
This is how it should be. A community taking care of one of their own. And Kinloch Missouri is not the only community out there that has come together all for the love of one dog. Just like…
River (with her friends Owney, Patsy Ann, and Black Dog)
I review hundreds of animal abuse stories every day and it fills my heart with despair. It is a blessing to find something out there that is good. The staff and volunteers of the Kinloch Learning Center must be doing one heck of a job fostering love and care for living things in the children who belong to the Center. And hey…dogs know a good thing when they see it. According to Center Director Loretta Lipsy, Fred kept coming back day after day after day.
The doghouse auction will be held in approximately two weeks. When I get the details, I will surely post them.
Partners for Pets agreed to assist with the treatment cost for Fred and Normandy Animal Hospital has provided veterinarian care. The following companies are providing materials to build the new doghouses. They are the Institute for Progressive Humanities, Ferguson Roofing and Gateway Roofing LLC.
Should you feel like giving the Center a “boost” with Fred’s medical bills, you can donate directly to the Center. 
Kinloch Learning Center
5650 Jones Street
Kinloch, MO 63140
Checks should be made out to Kinloch Community Development Association. Please put “Kinloch Learning Center – Fred” in the memo of the check.
In this world of cruelty and abuse towards animals, these children are learning the value of life and working hard to maintain it. They deserve our support.
One hundred percent!
Kinloch Learning Center Website
Kinloch Learning Center Facebook
Great story! Will be sending in my donation. Thank you for reporting this!!
If you are a facebook user, please join the Kinloch Learning Center facebook (link above in the article) and thank them for not giving up on Fred after finding out about his illness. Also give them best wishes for a happy future. They deserve it.
Thank you for this story that made me smile. Fred is a lucky boy to have found good people instead of the usual monsters we hear about.
Yeah. Seriously think its time for a monster boycott.
Thank you ever so much for your concern for Fred. The Kinloch Learning Center is the right place for Fred, and we're excited to have the support of the public in our endeavor to make Fred well. We were adopted by a very special animal, and please rest assured he has found a good home.
Your donations will assist with his on-going care as well as help sustain current programs. Additionally, we will be talking to a couple of vets to see how they can partner with us on the education and training level. It would be great if the kids were able to receive pet care training.
For those of you who may be wondering about his housing situation, we're planning to construct an addition to our facility, with a doghouse serving as the entrance to Fred's wide open living space. How wonderful is that!
Fred is a part of the KLC family and we are honored that "we have been adopted."
Blessings,
Loretta A. Lipsey
Center Director
Kinloch Learning Center
314-524-4046
email: kinlochlearningcenter@charter.net
Website: kinlochlearningcenter.com
Thank you for sharing this story. Just today my friend had to put her best friend "Buddy" down, even as she endures treatment for lung cancer!
I just sent a check to the Kinlock Learning Center to help Fred recover from heartworm treatment — in loving memory of Buddy.
Thank you for running this heartwarming story. You made a positive difference for Fred, and you gave me something to feel great about. THANK YOU!!!
a happy story….thank u. i needed a happy story
I use to go to rehab retreats in the California Sierras where the camps would have to take several abandoned dogs a year from the property. Dogs are cool and the Sierras are not a place to let a dog roam free. This was coyote, cougar and bear country and these city dogs and cats did not have the survival skills that they needed to live. I wish the learning center the best of luck with Fred and your mission.
What a great story! Fred was lucky but so were the children and Kinloch. They all benefited from one precious dog that made a difference. They will all remember this and hopefully carry the kindness through for many years.
Thanks for sharing!
It seems that sometimes a stray comes wandering into a persons (or people) life at just the right time for both parties. They both bring love, fun and comfort to the mix. The person always has someone to hug and to love while the dog has a warm bed, a full tummy and someone they love without condition. They both teach and learn over life they spend together. When you see this happen you have to believe that there is a God out there that from time to time takes a look down here and does a little matchmaking.
I first want to say, your website is so inspiring & heart warming with the love and devotion you show for our 4 or 3 legged friends. I look everyday at the wonderful stories and donate to causes just like this. It is nice to see Fred was a happy ending unlike so many that did not get as lucky. A Kids love for animals starts early and this is where cruelty can end for their generation by setting examples like this. How wonderful for Fred and the kids. Thanks for sharing this.
In an effort to raise funds to cure Fred of heartworm disease, an awareness of the Kinloch Learning Center is being brought to the forefront. . It's a little bit difficult to wrap my mind around how life was at the Center pre-Fred and how it is now that he is a member of the KLC family. To sum it up in one word, I would have to say BETTER!
I hope you all are enjoying the pictures of Fred on our website. He is quite the ham. We'll post some of the pictures from the auction soon,
By the way, Fred is doing really good. He is scheduled for the first round of his heartworm treatment in mid-November. For now, he goes home with me in the evenings even though he has a really cool newly constructed doghouse . We're still planning to add on an addition to the facility for his larger living pleasure. I was given a wonderful idea on how to go about accomplishing this newly created space. How do you all like "Habitat for Fred?"
Everyone the appreciates the care and concern sos many have expressed for Fred. We think its really awesome. But I wonder if I can appeal to your sensitivity for a moment on behalf of the kids that love having Fred at the Center. Can we really afford to get Fred well and leave the Center in an weakened state? I would love to harness some of the outpour of concern for Fred and direct it to the Center. We're in dire need of an operating budget so that we can achieve sustainability. The Center is the ONLY resource in the Kinloch community that speaks to the needs of young people. I've seen so many inspiring stories where citizens have rallied behind a cause and because of their desire to help, change came.
Can you find it in your hearts to spread the word about Fred and the Kinloch LearnIng Center? What if 2,000 people gave just $20? What a different that would make for a struggling community center. While $40,000 would not scratch the surface of what it would take to achieve sustainability, it would help out dramatically.
Please consider sending an email blast to your family, friends, and colleagues. If you've already donated, please know how much we appreciate your contribution.
You can help the Kinloch Learning Center remain a well-lit lighthouse just by going to our website and donating via Paypal.
Thank you and God bless,
Loretta
Hello Johnie,
I'm glad you found Fred's story and our website to be inspiring. Thank you for checking in with such encouraging words. Keep us in your thoughts!
does Fred have a Facebook? this might b of help getting the precious boy's heartworm treatment covered. just a thought…wish i had some extra funds but all i have r my prayers. love, hugs n kisses 2 this precious boy. brightest blessings