Doggone awesome: Boy gives up birthday gifts to raise $3,000 for shelter animals

Nerf guns, Legos and Disney Inifity 3.0 -- these are the things that top most 8-year-old boys’ wish-lists at the moment.

But Benjamin Walker is not your typical 8-year-old.

For his birthday this year, Benjamin decided to forego presents and instead ask friends and family to help the Humane Society of North Texas. He had hoped to raise $1,500 at his party, dubbed Critter Climb 2015, but people were so moved by his selflessness that he was recently able to deliver more than $3,000 in donations and supplies to Waggin’ Tails Adoption Center in Benbrook.

“It just blew us away,” said Whitney Hanson of the HSNT, who added that it was the largest donation they’d ever received from someone Benjamin’s age. Please watch this video about an 8-year-old’s birthday wish come true. And share his story.

This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 3:50 PM with the headline "Doggone awesome: Boy gives up birthday gifts to raise $3,000 for shelter animals."