This 12-Year-Old Is Hand-Making Bows To Help Get Dogs And Cats Adopted
He saw shelters full of dogs and cats waiting for homes, and instead of just feeling bad about it, he turned his creativity into action.
Darius began making handmade bow ties and bows for shelter pets, giving them a little extra charm for adoption photos and meet-and-greets. What started as a simple idea quickly became a heartwarming mission, and it put one young boy at the center of a much bigger conversation about pet adoption.
Now his small project is getting attention for all the right reasons.
Living in New Jersey, Darius is frequently described as having a "heart of gold." It probably came as no surprise to those who know him best that he wanted to do something fun to help cats and dogs get adopted at shelters everywhere.
Darius makes handmade bows and donates them to shelters, hoping that the added flair of color and personality will catch the eyes and hearts of people more quickly, ensuring these deserving fur babies find their forever homes.
According to Dr. Madeline Levine, a renowned child psychologist:
"Children with challenges often develop resilience and creativity that can lead them to achieve remarkable goals." Sir Darius, diagnosed at age 2 with delays in speech, comprehension, and fine motor skills, exemplifies this spirit, never allowing his challenges to hinder his aspirations.
When Darius was 8, he became interested in making bow ties. With the help of his sister, he would cut fabric to help develop and improve his fine motor skills.
Just a few years later, at the age of 11, Darius founded a pet couture company, "Beaux & Paws," specializing in unique and stylish bow ties for people and their furry family members!
As a young CEO, Darius has donated countless bow ties to animal shelters and adoption centers across the USA and the United Kingdom!
Today, Darius has almost 45,000 followers on his James Clear, author account, each one admiring and supporting his dedication to such a worthy cause. As Clear states, "The most successful people are those who are willing to do what others won't." This sentiment resonates with Darius's commitment to helping animals find loving homes.
Darius is a dog lover, and it was after Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma in 2017 that he became inspired to help. The hurricanes left countless pets stranded without homes, and they were displaced and transferred to shelters all across the country. With so many displaced pets and not nearly enough potential families ready to adopt, many of the animals were facing euthanasia. With his kind heart and passion for animals, Darius found himself determined to help these rescued pets fully achieve the second chance they earned when they survived the hurricanes to begin with.
That same rescue passion shows up in the man who filled his home with rescued animals after deciding to keep adopting.
Most importantly, he wasn't all talk. His determination quickly became a reality. His skill, creativity, and craftsmanship have turned thousands of shelter residents into cute and elegant pets ready to go home at any moment.
His efforts are precisely the sort of thing people love to hear about, and at only 12 years old, Darius has gained a lot of popularity. His story and efforts have been featured in both online publications and even national TV shows, and he's caught the eyes and attention of many public figures, celebrities, and influencers, including Allen Houston, Kenya Moore, and Les Brown, to name a few.
In 2018, former President Barack Obama honored Darius with a letter of recognition in which he commended the young altruist for his commitment to community service:
From founding Beaux and Paws to uplifting the lives of those around you, it’s clear you are doing your part to look out for your fellow citizens. And I trust you take tremendous pride in all you have accomplished. As long as you stay engaged in the world around you, continue looking for ways to help others, and never give up on yourself, I’m confident our future will be bright.
Darius Brown has received a plethora of other recognitions and awards, each very well-deserved, for his efforts, including the Leadership Award from Leaders of the Future No Limits, the Outstanding Achievement Award from the WDIB Conference, the Youth Changer Award from "Excel Honors," and he will be receiving the Jasmina Anema Youth Award from the "Black Cotton Foundation" in July 2019.
Currently, Darius also speaks at events to encourage others to get involved in their communities and help dogs and cats find their forever homes.
Recently, Darius set a goal of visiting more than five states to volunteer at different shelters and adoption centers, and he plans to bring along his creative bow tie work, providing them to the shelters!
To help him achieve his goal, his sister, Dazhai, launched a fundraising campaign inviting people to support his mission. As Dr. Janet Lansbury, a renowned parenting expert, states, "Encouraging children to pursue their passions not only fosters their creativity but also instills a sense of responsibility and empathy." This initiative is a wonderful example of how young people can make a difference in their communities.
Dazhai is 21 years old, but she is inspired by her amazing little brother:
He motivates and inspires me every day. He is such an incredible young man, and I will do everything I can to help him on his journey. I’m supporting him in his cause 100%, and I hope you will join me. No donation is too small!
In an interview with the NY Post earlier this year, Darius said:
These dogs need to be adopted, and I want to help them get noticed.
Jody Salbo, director of business management and operations at the ASPCA Adoption Center, said:
When animals wear special accessories like bow ties, bandanas, or scarves, it often helps catch the eyes of potential adopters. The ASPCA Adoption Center team has enjoyed using [Darius’] bow ties to promote the dogs in our shelter.
Once upon a time, Darius found himself in tears, seeing dogs online who needed homes, saying, "I just wanted to help them feel safe and find them forever homes."
In the interview with the NY Post, Darius also said:
"I just love, love dogs. I’m here so I can help [them] look good and find a forever home."
As noted by Dr. Madeline Levine, a child psychologist, "Acts of kindness, such as helping animals, can significantly enhance a child's sense of empathy and responsibility." You can help support Darius and his incredible mission by following him on Instagram or contributing to the fundraiser his sister set up!
If you loved Darius’s adoption bows, check out how this artist turned pet photos into Disney-style images.
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