When one of the family dogs ran away, Olivia Berg went into action.

Not only did she help get the dog back, she also discovered a new mission – helping the Escalon Animal Shelter.

The 11-year-old sixth grade student at El Portal Middle School said her dog Clover escaped from the family home and ended up at the shelter.

“She dug a hole under the fence,” Olivia said. “She was only gone one night.”

Luckily, the dog was taken to the local shelter and was kept there until reunited with her family. But Olivia said she also felt that there were some things missing at the shelter and she felt the animals could be more comfortable if they had to stay there.

So that put the 11-year-old on a bit of a fundraising mission, collecting recyclable bottles and cans to raise money specifically for the Escalon shelter.

“I also did a project when I was in fourth grade, I donated to the Butte fire,” she said of getting started early on her charitable works.

Collecting recyclables from local family and some in the Bay Area, the youngster raised a total of $571.

“We made a lot of trips,” she said about going to the recycling center. “Maybe about 20.”

The end result was the more than $500 for the local shelter, to be used in whatever way they needed. That effort was a few months ago, but is just one of many that Olivia is involved in to help those in need.

“It made me feel really good,” admitted Olivia. “I love animals, I do horseback riding and I work where I ride.”

That work includes cleaning out stalls and helping with the animals, which Olivia said might turn out to be a career path for her as well.

The family home includes not only the runaway dog Clover but also dogs Paris and Winston in addition to a rabbit.

“I’m set on working with animals,” Olivia said, adding that she hopes to also volunteer someday at the local shelter, when she is a little bit older.

“I was proud of her,” said mom Danielle Berg, happy to see the initiative of helping out someone – or some animals – in need.

The family has also been involved in Operation Feed the Homeless and has ‘adopted’ some needy area children for the holidays in the past as well.

“We actually are recycling right now,” Olivia added, with the funds raised to be donated to a charitable cause during the holiday season.