The Mirror, 12th April 2000



(Article from The Mirror. Dated 11/4/2000. Edition: 1. Page: 23)

LINDA McCARTNEY ANIMAL WELFARE AWARD: Irving Graham, 7, set up a hugely effective website to find homes for stray animals.

SEVEN-YEAR-OLD Irving Graham was inspired by TV's Pet Rescue programme to do something positive to help abandonded animals.
The Gateshead schoolboy hit on the idea of using the Internet to re-home strays and unwanted pets. His dad was so impressed that he coughed up £2000 to help set up a special website, www.giveusahome.com
Irving visited a local animal shelter, collected photos, and posted them on the site. His idea proved a massive hit. In its first 12 weeks, the site found homes for 60 animals and now Irving intends to go global.

© 2000 Gale International Ltd. and MGN Ltd.

(Article from The Mirror. Dated 12/4/2000. Author: Nathan Yates. Edition: 1. Page: 4,5)

CHAMPION of abandoned animals Irving Graham was lost for words after receiving the Linda McCartney award from TV host Davina McCall.

Proud father Irving Senior, 28, admitted his seven-year-old son was overwhelmed by his first big day.

He said: "Irving is a shy lad really and this has been an incredible experience for him."

Irving Junior set up a website to help animal shelters in his native Tyneside find homes for strays after searching for a pet of his own on the Internet.

Three days later, half a million people had visited - and Irving's dad was so impressed he put up £2000 to fund the project.

Irving Senior joked : "I don't know whether to kiss him or strange him because the site has become a full-time job for me. We have pictures of 2000 animals including reptiles, snakes, horses, goats, rabbits, and pigs - it's like Noah's Arc.

But we've helped 200 animals find homes and that's what it's all about."

The youngster checks www.giveusahome.co.uk every day before and after school and now intends to go global.