Pup is good deed reward

Article Published: October 20, 2005

By Karen Robes, Staff Press

LAKEWOOD — For the last two years, Gompers Elementary School first-grader Joe Aubuchon has wanted a puppy so bad that any money he got went straight to a "puppy account."

But when the 6-year-old saw on television how Hurricane Katrina separated families, he handed over his $217 to Gompers and sparked a schoolwide relief effort that inspired his fellow students to donate $1,350.

For his generosity, Joe was rewarded his dearest wish Wednesday.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell and Long Beach mayoral candidate Bob Foster surprised the student with a white, purebred German shepherd puppy in front of the entire first-grade class in the auditorium of the Briercrest Avenue school.

As camera crews and media news groups converged on the boy and his pup, a shocked Joe immediately gathered 2-month-old Marshmallow in his arms and thanked the two men.

"It's a little overwhelming," mother Lisa Hartsfield said as the puppy nuzzled her son's face. "I'm so happy for him. He's such a great kid."

When Foster and O'Connell visited Gompers three weeks ago to thank the school for donating, they were moved by the first-grader's gesture.

Foster turned to O'Connell, his friend of more than 20 years, and said: "We got to get him that dog."

They searched online for a puppy and found Marshmallow through "Noah's Ark White German Shepherd," a breeder from Tennessee. They used their personal money to have the 17-pound puppy flown to California a few nights ago, O'Connell said.

"It a less significant thing than what Joey did," Foster said.

Joe plans to play "Simon Says" with the pup and play catch in his father's big back yard.

"He's so cute," Joe said shyly. "He's great."