by Dennis Dalman
news@thenewsleaders.com
Kaylan Kremer, a Sartell high-school student with an all-embracing love of animals, was recently named Junior Volunteer of the Year for 2019 by the Tri-County Humane Society.
Kaylan, 17, the daughter of Shannon and Doug Kremer, is a senior at Sartell High School.
For the past two-and-one-half years, every Monday from 4-6 p.m. she has volunteered at the humane society in east St. Cloud. She did clean-up jobs, washing laundry, providing food and water to the shelter pets, did some customer service, helped socialize the animals, helped visitors considering adoption find the “right” pet and, last but not least, gave all the animals waiting for homes lots of affection.
In 2017, she and her family were at the humane society looking at cats for possible adoption, and she became “hooked” on that place and the pets housed in it.
“It’s just super-cool to work with them,” Kaylan said. “I only had one cat while growing up. I’ve always loved being around animals.”
Kaylan, her parents and 13-year-old brother Jameson now have three cats, all females. One of them, Gabby, (a 4-month-old calico cat with beautiful green eyes) she adopted from the humane society. The other two are Allie, a lynx-Siamese mix; and JoJo, a tortoise-shell cat.
Her love of animals even led her in the direction to a career. Next year, Kaylan will study veterinary technology at North Dakota State University.
Kaylan is a member of the Sartell High School Marching Band’s Color Guard and works at Red Robin restaurant in St. Cloud.
“Cats and other pets can bring out a person’s personality,” said Kaylan during a telephone interview with the Sartell Newsleader. “They can be your best friend, and they love to be by your side. Right now, in fact, JoJo is lying right next to me.”
She said she was surprised to be named Junior Volunteer of the Year, but the honor was just frosting on the cake, so to speak. The real reward, she said, “is just being able to work hands-on with the animals
Kaylan Kremer hugs one of her three precious cats, JoJo. Kremer was recently named Junior Volunteer of the Year (for 2019) for her dedicated volunteer work at the Tri-County Humane Society in east St. Cloud. She is a senior at Sartell High School.
