Girl Earns Do the Right Thing Award
First grader Gisele Walker received a Rochester Police Department award after calling 911 to help an injured cat.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Cats
Gisele Walker, a first grader at Nazareth Elementary School, is among this fall's recipients of the Rochester Police Department's Do the Right Thing awards. She called 911 after seeing an injured cat lying on the street just days before Christmas 2025.
Why it matters
The award recognizes students in Monroe County who perform good deeds, highlighting community members who act to protect animals and public safety. Nominations remain open year-round for students in grades K-12 in county schools.
The Do the Right Thing program has been run by the Rochester Police Department since 1995. Students in grades K-12 at Monroe County schools are eligible, and nominations for a deed must be submitted within one year of it.
The players
Rochester Police Department
The Rochester Police Department has administered the Do the Right Thing awards since 1995, recognizing good deeds by local students and residents.
Nazareth Elementary School
Nazareth Elementary School is a Rochester-area school whose first grader Gisele Walker was honored for her actions.
The details
Gisele Walker saw an injured cat lying on the street and worried it would be hit by a car. She called 911 to get help for the animal, and her action led to her recognition with a Do the Right Thing award.
Timeline
Just days before Christmas 2025: Gisele Walker sees the injured cat and calls 911.
1995: The Rochester Police Department begins holding the Do the Right Thing awards.
November 5, 2026: Article announcing Gisele Walker's award is published.
Pet Welfare Context
The Rochester Police Department's Do the Right Thing awards, running since 1995, have recognized youth-led acts of kindness toward people and animals. Gisele Walker's 911 call for a stray injured cat fits within that long-running local tradition of rewarding civic-minded children.
Residents who see an injured animal on the street can call 911 for help, as Gisele Walker did. Community members can also submit nominations for students in grades K-12 at Monroe County schools who perform good deeds within the past year.
The takeaway
Acting quickly when an animal is in danger, even by calling for help, can make a real difference in its outcome. Students and adults alike can nominate someone whose good deed deserves recognition.
Further reading
Explore more stories in the Cats section for additional context on feline care and rescue.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WHEC.
