BY MATT MACKINDER
Clarkston News Staff Writer

Springfield Plains fourth-grade student Kilee Mahan is passionate about helping animals and has organized her own charity walk to raise money for two charities – the Do Only Good Animal Rescue and the Officer Collin Rose Memorial Foundation.
The charity walk will take place June 1 at Bay Court Park and is a family- and pet-friendly event.
“I am so passionate about animals because I have always loved animals and been around them since I was born,” said Mahan. “I organized the walk because I know not all animals are happy and have a good home or even a home. I feel I can help make a difference.”
Registration for the walk is available at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1st-annual-kilee-cares-4-k9s-walk-tickets-58530852355.
Mahan also explained how she decided on the two charities that will benefit from her walk.
“I chose Do Only Good Animal Rescue because they make sure the dogs always go to a good home and have excellent health before leaving to go to their new home,” she said. “I chose the Officer Collin Rose Memorial Foundation because we are friends with some of the local K9 officers’ handlers and I have been able to interact with the dogs and want to help make sure they have what they need to keep safe.”
On Nov. 22, 2016, Rose, a police officer with the Wayne State University Police Department who worked with police dogs, was shot to death in Detroit.
Bridget Mahan, Kilee’s mother, said having a child who is more interested in giving than receiving is a blessing.
“Travis (her dad) and I are so proud of Kilee,” Bridget said. “She continues to amaze us with her huge heart and wanting to help others in need. She has always been giving. She wants to make sure that everyone is being treated nicely and goes out of her way to do that, too. I am sure there are a lot of children like Kilee out there with dreams of doing this. Kilee has the passion and desire to live out her dream.”
Kilee added that her favorite part of school is reading because, “I love learning about the world around us and I can really get into books and read them cover to cover.”
Down the road, she has aspirations of staying involved with animals.
“I actually see a career of me becoming a vet when I grow up,” Kilee said. “Everyone in my family calls me ‘the vet of the family.’”