8-Year-Old Girl Lost in Camp Mystic Flood to Be Honored With ASPCA Kid of the Year Award

HUNT, TEXAS — One year after 8-year-old Eloise “Lulu” Peck lost her life in the devastating Camp Mystic floods, her extraordinary love for animals is being remembered in a way her family says would have made her proud.

Lulu will be posthumously honored as the ASPCA’s 2026 Kid of the Year, recognizing a little girl whose compassion extended to virtually every creature she encountered.

The award will be presented to her family on October 8 during the ASPCA’s 2026 Humane Awards in New York City.

A Little Girl Who Loved Every Animal

Lulu’s mother, Missy Rogers Peck, remembers her daughter as naturally loving and compassionate.

Her affection for animals was part of everyday life. She loved the family’s dogs, enjoyed seeing deer and horses around their ranch, and even cared about insects.

Her generosity became especially memorable through a lemonade stand she once operated outside the family home.

The sign offered lemonade for $5 — but dogs could drink for free.

For Lulu, kindness toward animals was never about receiving anything in return. Her family says she simply loved caring for them.

Her Special Bond With Ollie

One of Lulu’s closest companions was Ollie, the family’s Boston terrier.

Her parents eventually brought Ollie home after Lulu repeatedly asked for a puppy. Once he became part of the family, Lulu took an active role in caring for him.

She loved having him sleep in her room and considered him one of her best friends.

After Ollie passed away in an accident several months before the Camp Mystic tragedy, the family had difficult conversations about losing someone they loved.

One conversation Lulu had with her mother has remained especially meaningful.

Her mother recalled Lulu telling her that she wasn’t afraid because she believed Ollie was in heaven.

Today, Missy says that memory gives her comfort.

The family affectionately refers to Lulu as the “CEO of dogs in heaven.”

Turning Grief Into a Mission

After losing their daughter, Lulu’s parents made a promise to keep her spirit alive through acts of kindness.

They created the Living for Lulu Foundation, which supports animals and children in need.

For the family, the organization represents the qualities they saw in Lulu every day: compassion, generosity and an instinct to care for others.

The foundation has also given the family a way to turn unimaginable grief into something that can help other people and animals.

Remembering the Girl Behind the Tragedy

Lulu was more than one of the young girls affected by the catastrophic flooding in Texas.

Her family remembers the little details that made her who she was — her silly dances, playful jokes with her father, late-night snacks with her younger brother Holden and the countless ways she showed affection toward the people and animals around her.

Her mother says the family continues talking about Lulu at home, sharing memories and laughing about the things she used to say and do.

Her younger brother, now 7, also finds comfort in remembering his big sister.

An Honor That Means Everything

The ASPCA selected Lulu as its 2026 Kid of the Year because of the extraordinary love and compassion she showed toward animals.

The organization specifically highlighted her joyful relationship with animals and the Living for Lulu Foundation established in her memory.

Her family will accept the award on her behalf in October.

Missy says she can imagine exactly how Lulu would have reacted to the attention — excited, but probably a little embarrassed.

And that thought brings another smile to a family still learning how to live without their little girl.

“She just loved with all of her heart,” her mother said.

Now, one year after the tragedy that took Lulu from her family, that love continues through the people and animals her life has inspired them to help.