AC Pup's turning 7, having a community party

Do you know what today is? It's my birthday, and I'm turning 7. I really, really can't believe I've lived this long. Based on how I got my start, I almost didn't live seven weeks, much less seven years.

I am certainly going to have a little party to celebrate another year. Go ahead and mark your calendars to come to my party, because you're invited. It will be at 1 p.m. Feb. 27 on the beautiful campus of Georgia Industrial Children's Home located at 4690 Mumford Road in Macon.

I will be partying with the kids at the home, which is one of my favorite things to do. I also will be accepting donations of food and supplies for needy pets for my nonprofit animal group, Central Georgia CARES.

CARES shares pet food and supplies with people who need a little assistance providing for their beloved pets. CARES also helps feed feral animals around town to do what we can to make their chance of survival a little better and to try to reduce their suffering.

So ask your family, friends and folks in your neighborhood to start collecting items now to bring to the party Feb. 27. Set up a collection bin at work or at home so folks can drop off items between now and the party. You have plenty of time to encourage participation from your network of friends. And it's fun for groups to do too!

Then just haul it on out to the Georgia Industrial Children's Home for the party. You'll have fun with us, and you'll be helping people and animals. What could be better?

It's just so hard to imagine I'm 7 years old. The cold weather we've had the past week or so made me think about this time in 2009 when I was just a tiny, 4-week-old baby put out to fend for myself in the dead of winter. I'm amazed I even survived. It was surely a rocky start for a helpless little orphan boy.

The night I was in the elements was the coldest night of the year, with snow predicted. My little body was pretty much frozen when I was found. Had it not been for the determined efforts of my parents, Van and Tracie VanDeWalker, I have no doubt I wouldn't have seen my first birthday, let alone my seventh.

I've had a pretty spectacular life these past seven years. My work as the mascot for CARES has given me the opportunity to be the spokesdog for animals and the people who love them.

I've been able to promote CARES' mission of spay and neuter, humane education adoption of all healthy homeless pets and elimination of animal cruelty. In fact, I've had the chance to teach a few thousand children in our schools, summer camps and Scout groups about being kind to animals and getting them spayed and neutered.

It's really been a great ride these past seven years. But you know what? I'm just getting started. Stay tuned to see what CARES and I have planned for the next phase of my life.

Gather up your supplies, come to Georgia Industrial Children's Home on Feb. 27 and have some birthday cake with me. I'll give you some sugar for sure. See you then!

Send questions to acpup247@yahoo.com. Visit www.acpup.com or like his Facebook page.

This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 3:06 PM with the headline "AC Pup's turning 7, having a community party ."