Third-grader Gussie Sirovatka knows it's no small effort to raise money and support BIG cat rescue

Gussie Sirovatka has always loved animals, especially cats, but even her mother was surprised when the 9-year-old Port Royal Elementary School third-grader decided to take on fundraising efforts for Big Cat Rescue, a Tampa, Fla.-based, nonprofit educational sanctuary dedicated to rescuing and providing a home for exotic cats that have been abused, abandoned, bred to be pets, retired from performing acts or saved from being slaughtered for fur coats.

"It's just been one amazing thing

after another," said Katrina Thompson, Gussie's mother. "They gave Gussie a private tour. They're very encouraging, because it takes a lot of money to keep those cats taken care of."

Currently, 23 states have laws banning private pet owners from keeping big cats, but Big Cat Rescue founder Carole Baskin has been lobbying to make the ban broader.

After completing a report on animals located in Beaufort where she researched and wrote about the bobcat, Gussie and her mother took a trip to Big Cat Rescue, which is open to the public.

"I was shocked when she came to me after we did the (report) and said, 'Mommy I want to help,' " Thompson recalled.

Sitting in the main office of Port Royal Elementary, Gussie described her trip to Big Cat Rescue as being "quite fun," but expressed her sadness of learning that a white tiger named Rag Doll located at the facility had been found strapped down to the floor with a metal chain. It was hearing stories like Rag Doll's that made Gussie want to help the organization.

"I know they really need the support now," said Gussie, who would like to become a veterinarian when she grows up. "They have to get fresh, raw meat for all of the big cats. It makes me feel good, because I know I'm helping Big Cat Rescue and all of the big cats there, and I'm helping the environment. They're glad we're helping them."

Gussie's main source of fundraising has been selling a cookbook, "PRES Helping Big Cats," which is available for $10 at Port Royal Elementary's main office. Thompson found a company online called Gateway Publishing that publishes cookbooks for fundraisers and churches, and parents of students contributed recipes for the book.

"Me and my mom are hoping we can get a booth at Wal-Mart and sell cookbooks there," said Gussie. "My mom already has some moms selling cookbooks at their jobs."

This Saturday afternoon, Thompson and her daughter have organized a car wash at Port Royal's parent drop-off line, and a bake sale is also in the works. Several students at Port Royal Elementary also are helping Gussie, and some of them will accompany Gussie and her mother when they reach their goal of $1,000 and take their proceeds to Big Cat Rescue. Thompson added that Gussie's father, Todd, has been very supportive as well.

"It's slow, but it's going," said Thompson. "We should clear $1,500 with the (cookbooks), so with the car wash and the bake sale, it may be more. If we make more, then that will be wonderful."

Port Royal Elementary principal Kay Keeler has been in education since 1975, and she said that Gussie's efforts top anything she's ever seen when it comes to students taking on fundraising projects. In the lobby of the school there is something called an "action wall" that has pictures of several students and their accomplishments. Gussie is one of the students pictured.

"She's becoming a real leader for a cause," said Keeler. "Everyone is very aware of that project. We want to honor the children when they do things like that and congratulate them for getting out into the community. That's what it's all about. (Big Cat Rescue) is very proud of her and are tracking her with the project."

Honey Wayton is the senior keeper and gift shop manager at Big Cat Rescue. She was the one who led Gussie on a private tour of the facility. Even though Big Cat Rescue receives support from foundations and corporations, Wayton said that support from people like Gussie is priceless.

"You may only be 9 or 10 years old, but there's a lot of stuff you can do to make a difference," said Wayton. "Just because you can't vote doesn't mean you can't get involved and do something. It touches us, because we know how hard it is to do what we do and to raise the funds, and it doesn't matter if it's $15 or $20. If they actually went out and made lemonade or whatever, that kid put in time, effort and energy into animals that we love."

Thompson said that her daughter's love of animals also has been extended to their home, where they have several cats and a dog as pets. She mentioned an incident where Gussie rescued a cat with a litter that she found beneath their home. After helping find homes for the litter, the family got the mother spayed and made her a part of the household.

Gussie even shows off some of her cats at cat shows sponsored by the American Cat Fancy Association.

"She works closely with them," said Thompson. "That's where we sold some of our cookbooks."

For Wayton, the action of children like Gussie makes her optimistic about the future when it comes to caring for animals.

"It gives us hope for our next group of animal advocates and people that are interested in our natural resources," said Wayton. "The generation that we're leaving this to, hopefully they will be able to care for it the same, if not better than we have. It's very heartening to see young kids interested in doing that."