A 6-year-old girl killed in the Newtown school shooting is being celebrated for her love of animals.  The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said Wednesday that Catherine Hubbard was being honored with its Kid of the Year award.  The ASPCA award is named for 9-year-old Tommy Monahan, who died trying to save his pet from a 2007 New York City house fire.

The ASPCA says Catherine ``had a natural ability to connect'' with animals, even designing business cards for an imaginary shelter.

Her parents asked that donations be made in Catherine's honor to The Animal Center in Newtown, which hopes to build the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary.  In a previous interview with WLAD, Jenny Hubbard talked about her daughter's love of animals and how she would ask them to tell their friends that she is kind.  Jenny Hubbard said her daughter was a advocate for all creatures great and small. 

The Hubbards plan to share concept drawings with Newtown officials next month in hopes of finding the right property for the facility.

(Photos from The Newtown Bee)