{"id":21860,"date":"2025-10-31T13:34:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T17:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/?p=21860"},"modified":"2025-10-31T13:34:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T17:34:09","slug":"boy-makes-huge-sacrifice-to-save-kitten-tossed-around-by-older-kids-like-a-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inspirationreport\/2025\/10\/boy-makes-huge-sacrifice-to-save-kitten-tossed-around-by-older-kids-like-a-football.html","title":{"rendered":"Boy Makes Huge Sacrifice to Save Kitten Tossed Around By Older Kids \u2018Like a Football\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
The Berry Family<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nine-year-old Zayin Berry from Somerton, Arizona, is reminding the world that compassion and courage have no age limit. His story \u2014 one of pure kindness and selflessness \u2014 has now earned him national recognition as the ASPCA\u2019s 2025 \u201cKid of the Year.\u201d<\/p>\n

It all started at a local skate park when Zayin saw a group of older kids doing something unimaginable. \u201cI\u2019d seen the older kids tossing a baby kitten around like he was a football,\u201d he recalled. \u201cI was sad and mad because of the poor kitty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Without thinking twice, Zayin made a bold move. \u201cI grabbed my skateboard and ran over to the kids and told them they could take my skateboard and play with it if they wanted to,\u201d he said. \u201cThey stopped tossing the kitty around and took off with my board.\u201d<\/p>\n

The frightened kitten was badly hurt. \u201cHe was really hurt in his eyes and paws with yucky stuff all over him,\u201d Zayin told People<\/em>. \u201cHe was so small and little when I picked him up, he was meowing, and I ran over to my mom and told her I found this kitty, and he needs our help.\u201d<\/p>\n

His mom, Rhiannon Berry, still remembers that moment vividly. \u201cYou could hear its breathing was all congested and his paws were all caked with gunk on it,\u201d she said. The family took the tiny orange kitten home, cleaned him up, and rushed him to the Humane Society of Yuma for emergency care.<\/p>\n

Veterinarians discovered a severe eye infection and a respiratory illness. Sadly, despite their best efforts, one of the kitten\u2019s eyes had to be removed. Zayin\u2019s response? Pure love. \u201cThey told my mom that there was a possibility that once everything was done, he would lose his eye,\u201d he said. \u201cMy mom and the shelter\u2019s staff explained that to me, and I told them, \u2018I don\u2019t care as long as he lives, because he\u2019s my best friend.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n