SVP benefits from young girl"s generosity

When 11 year old Rebecca Cochrane"s dog Crystal gave birth to three pups late last year, the search began for a new owner for the new arrivals.Crystal, a purebred Cavalier King Charles spaniel, requires much in the line of love and attention from Rebecca and her family, so they decided to sell the three pups to other families willing to take on a dog with such a pedigree as a King Charles.Rebecca is a daughter of Tom and Maureen Cochrane, The Downs, Mullingar, and a pupil at The Downs National School. While she kept the money for one of the pups, this obliging young girl decided to give the money gleaned from the sale of the other two pups to charity.Her mother Maureen, whose father was a member of the St. Vincent de Paul organisation for many years, suggested that the SVP"s Mullingar branch would be a good cause to benefit from the money.'We put the dogs in the newspaper, and it was only a week or two before we got a response,' Rebecca told the Westmeath Examiner, clutching the wide-eyed Crystal, who is her pride and joy.Rebecca"s parents then contacted Enda Breslin, the Mullingar Area St. Vincent de Paul President, to let him know that they intended to donate the funds to the Society.'The Society views Rebecca"s gesture, of contributing the proceeds of the sale of her pups to our Annual Appeal, as extremely generous and thoughtful,' Mr. Breslin said.'It is indicative of the overall generous response from the people of Mullingar and the area to the appeal, and the support we receive from our volunteer door-to-door collectors.'Our support is bit confined to one denomination, and in that regard I would like to single out and thank the pupils of the All Saints National School in Mullingar, who donate the proceeds of their carol singing to the Society every year.'The Society does not discriminate, nor is it judgmental on those we help, suffice to be satisfied that there is a need for our help,' Mr. Breslin concluded.