LEWISTON – Wearing her Panther Pal shirt, Sadie Picard of Lewiston volunteered to take shelter dog Shadow for a walk Monday. At times the energetic black lab took her for a walk, pulling as he sniffed.

Her friend Kyle Billings took his turn romping with the dog. The two smiled and patted Shadow before putting him back in his pen at the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society.

They then played with a gray and white cat, giving the feline a break from confinement.

Kyle and Sadie, sixth-graders at Lewiston’s Martel Elementary School, are animal lovers, animal advocates and animal volunteers.

They’ve formed their own club, Panther Pals, dedicated to animals of all types, wild and domestic, large and small, animals close by and far away. They named the club after learning the panther faces extinction in Florida.

On Friday, the Panther Pals, with help from a few adults, are hoping to recruit other youngsters to volunteer for animals.

“We’re having the first Panther Pals gathering,” Kyle said.

Several animal organizations will be there with booths. “We’re trying to help them help whatever they help,” Kyle said. One organization rescues horses, another is Runs with Wolves, a wolf sanctuary in Limington. Also there will be Misfit Rehab of Turner. “We rescue injured wildlife,” said Jen Lewis of Misfit Rehab. What the Panther Pals is doing “is absolutely wonderful,” she said.

At the open house, kids and their parents can learn what Panther Pals do, Kyle said, adding he’s hoping to expand membership, which now only includes himself, Sadie and a few relatives.

To raise money to rent the hall they held yard sales, said Kyle’s mother, Melissa Billings, who helps with the club.

Kyle said he came up with forming an animal club after The Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin died in 2006. Irwin, an Australian zoo owner, environmentalist and television personality, died when a sting ray’s barb pierced his heart.

“He was my idol,” Kyle said. “I thought it’d be cool to attempt what he did.”

Their mission, he said, is to let people know that animals throughout the world are in danger due to pollution and a loss of habitat, both threats from man. “We’re trying to stop it,” Kyle said. One of his goals is to see Panther Pals “on Animal Planet or Discovery Channel doing shows to get the word out.”

Sadie said she’s learned about dogs being hurt after being left tied in heavy chains, and horses with ingrown halters. Ingrown halters happen when humans put halters on horses and don’t take them off, even as the animal grows, she explained. That abuse makes her sad. “I don’t like it,” she said.

At home Sadie has two cats. Kyle was working on getting a dog Monday, lobbying his mother to adopt the black lab. He also has several pet snakes. Some people look at insects and snakes “and think they’re ugly and pitiful,” he said. “But if you get to know them, they’re awesome.”

Their Martel teachers have noticed their interests. “It’s wonderful they’re so involved. It seems to be self-selected and self driving,” teacher Sue Whitney said. Teacher Amy Reed, herself a animal advocate, said she’s impressed they’re taking steps “to draw positive attention to a serious issue.”

Go and do:

What: Panther Pals open house, for youngsters to learn how they can volunteer for animals.

When: 4:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17.

Where: C & J Hall, 711 Webster St., Lewiston.