The young lad lives in Yuma, Arizona, in the United States.
Zayin was at the skatepark when he saw a group of children throwing a baby kitten about as if it were a football.
An act of bravery
The young boy immediately felt angry with the group of children who were tormenting the poor kitten. He picked up his skateboard and walked towards them. He told the group they could take his skateboard and play with it if they wanted.
The children stopped throwing the kitten and left with his board. Zayin was horrified by the severity of the kitten's injuries. He was badly hurt around his eyes and paws and covered in dirt. Zayin then ran to his mum to tell her he'd found this kitten and that he needed help.
Safe at last
The family brought the injured kitten home, cleaned him up, and then took him to the emergency clinic at the Humane Society of Yuma shelter. The vets diagnosed a severe eye infection and a respiratory illness. Despite all efforts to save the eye, it had to be removed surgically.
The kitten was named Peaches because of his ginger and cream fur and recovered quickly after the operation. For the rescuers, if the kitten was able to pull through, it was thanks to Zayin's quick thinking and bravery.
A true hero
The young boy's heroism quickly made the rounds of the local media and the town. Indeed, the young hero received the 2025 ASPCA national Child of the Year award. This annual event pays tribute to people and animals whose actions reveal compassion and courage in protecting animals. During the ceremony, Zayin and Peaches went up on stage together!
Following this story, a skateboard shop offered Zayin a gift card so he could replace his board. What's more, numerous donations from people online also helped the family cover Peaches' adoption and medical costs. The kitten is now growing up alongside Zayin, safe and warm with his family!
