South Lake Tahoe birthday girl asks for donations instead of gifts

For her tenth birthday, Arial Carreau-Schultz anticipated presents just as any young lady would, except she wasn't getting them for herself.

During her birthday party on September 30, the young South Lake Tahoe resident and Tahoe Valley Elementary student asked for gifts to take to the animals at the El Dorado County Animal Shelter. All 25 children that attended fulfilled her wishes, leaving behind a huge bounty that she'll take to the shelter this weekend.

"I was so happy to see so much love towards our animal shelter," said Grandma France Carreau. She happens to own Tahoe Toys and Treasures on Harrison Avenue, so for their reward, all attendees took home a stuffed animal as a thank you.