One Cape Town teen decided to mark his milestone eighteenth birthday not with a traditional party, but by giving back to his community. While many people just want to throw a big celebration when they turn 18, Blake Pittaway had something else on his mind: his love for animals and an overwhelming desire to help them any way he could.
Three months before his birthday, Pittaway decided he would use his birthday money and proceeds from recycling plastic to support local animal charities.
Of his birthday, Pittaway said: “I wanted it to be a truly memorable celebration where I could not only get my family and friends involved but the community.”
First, he collected plastic bottles from the community and used the money to purchase bags of dog food for Fallen Angels Pet Rescue, an animal rescue organization in the Melkbosstrand area. To date, Pittaway has accumulated enough funds to buy 1,600 kilograms of dog food. His efforts also combat pollution, resulting in less plastic in landfills and on the streets.
Pittaway’s work has become the community-wide effort he envisioned as his birthday approached. After embarking on his initial volunteer plans, the teen started Project 18, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the homeless animals at Fallen Angels Pet Rescue.
The community support the project receives is imperative to its success, especially since Pittaway is a student and can’t do all the work himself. Project 18 is made possible through volunteers, donors, and proceeds from hat sales and the refunded plastics.
Based on the organization’s blog, which tracks its progress and activities, it’s apparent that what started as one teen’s birthday wish has evolved into a major network of support, ensuring that the dogs at Fallen Angels Animal Shelter are well fed.
Blake, you are a selfless, admirable human being. Your generosity of spirit will serve you well. Kudos on your maturity beyond your 18 years.
SUCH AN AWESOME STORY AND AN AMAZING YOUNG MAN. YOUR PARENTS MUST BE SO PROUD. GOD BLESS YOU AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY
We need more people like this teen, in our world.
all togheter
Big bravo to this young boy! He’s such a good example for new generations! As an animal lover and helper I’m really happy to see such a smart involvment in a positiv cause 😉 keep going forward, you rock!
What a wonderful young man it gives me hope for the future! Keep up your excellent work Blake you are a star.
Blake, you rock!!!
What a wonderful thing you have done.
What a beautiful soul. Thank you, Blake Pittaway, what a wonderful and selfless thing that you did. May your compassion light the flames of a thousand candles!
Amazing; thank you!
It’s so refreshing to read this when we know there is so much suffering and cruelty going on in this world. This young man is setting a good example and I hope it will inspire others to follow in his footsteps. A tip of the hat to him and continue the awesome work you are doing for so many needy animals.
Blake – thank you for what you are doing!
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, TO YOU BLAKE PTTAWAY. How nice & kind of you to take this stance to help & provide the meals to the innocent, voiceless Pooches in your community. Your actions speak a lot about your inner heart & the kinder spirited motivations you have. I hope the Project 18 will be a very great success & you together your supporters will one day be called the great heroes to the community you belong. No doubt you will ever be the hero to innocent dogs who cannot ask help for themselves.
MAY THE GUARDIAN ANGELS PROTECT YOU, YOUR SUPPORTERS & THE AMAZING HOMELESS ANIMALS AT FALLEN ANGELS PET RESCUE…
What a treat to see the ducks reaction to freedom and water. ..As got the tiger poacher…doesn’t he know the he looks like an ignorant bully! A low achiever?
Blake Pittaway i applaud you with a standing ovation!!! You are extraordinarily outstanding with selflish acts of service & altruism to help shelter animals …i just want to say , Blake stand on my shoulders !!! I love your golden heart !!!! May your good deeds become infectious & epidemic !! God bless you & others who contribute to this cause!!!!
What a smart and compassionate young man. Many thanks for your kindness, Blake. I hope there are many more caring and loving teens like him, instead of the monsters you see torturing and killing animals for fun on SNAPCHAT or some other social media site. If there are any cats in the shelter, I pray they are treated with love and kindness just like the dogs are. Cats are often placed second or largely ignored. Although they are mostly solitude and independent animals, they do not object to a pat on the head or getting their fur brushed. Anyway, Blake, keep up the good work. Your are an awesome young man.
Agree.
What an amazing young man. Kudos to him.
It is truly heart warming to read about this young man. We read about so much cruelty around
the world. Thank You, Blake Pittaway for your incredible kindness. There has to be a special place in heaven for you.
Thank you !
Well done and thank you.
Congratulations to this boy, i hope him a successful studies and hope he becomes a great vet!!!👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍😀😀😀😀😀😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
Happy for the dogs t his great kid is helping.
Too bad they don’t consider cats worthy.
Before anybody bites my head off, I’ve been in animal rescue for decades.
I have personal experience that here, and everywhere else I’ve volunteered, cats are 2nd class..
They get, maybe, 12% – leftovers – of funds, time, and volunteers 🙁
I no longer give cash to any shelter or rescue – I give time and supplies only.
NOTHING against dogs at all. I’m an Animal Lover – I help ALL animals.
AGREE with you!!!Cats are very sweet animals!ANIMALS LOVERS MUST LOVE ALL ANIMALS!!!
Hats off to you project 18!!! The world needs more contientious, mindful, empathetic and imaginative people like you. Keep at it! I am on my end too! Sincerest regards. Fabienne
Hats off to you project 18!!! The world needs more contientious, mindful, empathetic and imaginative people like you. Keep at it! I am on my end too! Sincerest regards. Fabienne
THIS YOUNG MAN ROCKS! MORE AND MORE LIKE YOU ARE NEEDED IN/AROUND THIS WORLD!
why do they always say “love of animals” and then only help dogs. he’s hypocrite.
I, sadly, agree.
Wow. This cool kid does an amazing thing, and you waste time on here criticizing. Animals need all the help they can get, and with all the horrible things going on in the world, you couldn’t spend your time and effort criticizing anything else?
It’s not like there’s just too much love in the world, so we can start taking any of it for granted.
Wow. This cool kid does an amazing thing, and you waste time on here criticizing. Animals need all the help they can get, and with all the horrible things going on in the world, you couldn’t spend your time and effort criticizing anything else?
It’s not like there’s just too much love in the world, so we can start taking any of it for granted.
Bravo Blake you are a very enterprising young man. 🐶🐕🐩🐾🧡🧡🧡
He will go far
How very enterprising, it restores ones faith in humanity, and also shows how the younger generation can show us the way!
Blake you are a genius🎉🎊🌈👑
Namaste💌
The Galarneau Family
Hats off to this young man. I would want him on MY team. This is a good example of what one person can do. He has given me an idea and I hope to get it going in the near future. Thanks for publishing the uplifting, hope-giving, inspirational stories like this.
Well done, young man!
Blake you are a * (star)
What an outstanding young man! God bless you for your huge heart
Merci à ce jeune qui a du coeur! un bel exemple!
BLAKE YOU. ARE A TRUE INSPIRATION FOR ALL HUMANS TO EXTEND COMPASSION INTEGRITY DEVOTION AND RESPECT FOR THOSE WHOM HAVE NO VOICE. YOUE ARE ONE IN A MILLION
NAMASTE🍀🌈💌
THANK YOU THE GALARNEAU FAMILY
It is real good to see a person with such a big heart that is trying his best to help animals. I know he has a very special place in heaven waiting for him because of his generosity for these animals.