Lifelong Cat Lover Leaves Amazing Legacy for Feline Friends in Need

Judy McKonly loved animals her entire life, but she always had a special affinity for cats. She dreamed of putting her family’s fortune to good use by one day opening a cat shelter like no other. Unfortunately, she passed away before her dream became a reality.

Her family carried out her dream using $1.5 million dollars in seed money from the family’s nonprofit, The McKonly Foundation.

Image Screenshot WGAL YouTube

Built to Please Cat Residents

The Columbia Animal Shelter is a state of the art facility that is as modern and beautiful as it is highly functional. Filled with windows that allow light to pour in from outdoors, the rooms are spacious and bright.

Tall, expertly designed cat towers fill the visiting rooms in large numbers. This gives the cats plenty to climb on and allows potential adopters to see their potential new fur babies in action.

Cats absolutely love the screened in area on the back of the building. It gives them a chance to look around outside, feel the breeze, and get a sense for the outdoors all in the safety of a contained, indoor space.

Image Screenshot WGAL YouTube

Fully Staffed and Ready to Serve

The Columbia Animal Shelter is staffed by 6 full-time staff members, veterinarian Jen Johnston and five others. Moving forward, the shelter will rely on volunteers and donations to keep the operation running. The local community will surely do what they can to help, knowing all the love and thought that went into creating this amazing space for cats in need.

Image Screenshot WGAL YouTube

Shelter Fills a Need in the Community

Columbia has never had a shelter like this, which is one of the reasons Ms. McKonly aspired to bring one to life. Her son, Mike McKonly and staff veterinarian Jen Johnston know that the shelter is filling a need that was sorely lacking in their community.

“I think this is a wonderful dream, and it’s great for the community, great for Columbia,” said Johnston.

Image Screenshot WGAL YouTube

“It was worth it. We wanted to do that for her (Judy McKonly). It’s just a wonderful facility,” said Mike McKonly.

Although most of the people that are now involved in the day-to-day operation of the shelter didn’t even know Judy McKonly, they feel gratitude towards her for leaving a legacy that will have a lasting impact on so many animals, people, and the community of Columbia.

“She must have been a wonderful woman to have done this. This is like a dream,” said Cate Girvin, a volunteer.

The no-kill shelter opened in March of this year and serves mostly stray and surrendered cats and kittens.

Featured Image Screenshot WGAL YouTube

 

 

The post Lifelong Cat Lover Leaves Amazing Legacy for Feline Friends in Need appeared first on iHeartCats.com.



from iHeartCats.com https://ift.tt/2Pq4i6Q

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Can Dogs Have Breath Mints?

Image
Bad breath can lead to embarrassing situations and breath mints are used to prevent this from happening. The problem of bad breath is extremely common among dogs but can they have breath mints? The answer to this question is a YES only if the mints have been made specifically for dogs. You can find a lot of dog breath mints in the market. Generally, artificial forms of mint use Xylitol (an artificial sweetener) that is toxic for dogs. Due to this reason, it is highly recommended to avoid all kinds of mint products that may contain this ingredient. Basically, it causes a sudden release of insulin in the body that leads to hypoglycemia. According to VCA Hospitals , even the smallest quantities of Xylitol can cause seizures, liver failure, or even death. Help! My Dog Ate a Mint If your dog has eaten a mint leaf, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. On the other hand, if he/she has ingested a breath mint with Xylitol in it, you need to move quickly. Despite the fact that xyl...
Read more

Can Cats Drink Tea And Other Caffeinated Beverages?

Image
Watching your sneaky cat inch towards your morning brew, you’ve probably wondered if cats can drink tea, coffee, or other morning musts with caffeine. The answer is complicated when it comes to sharing tea with cats, but one thing’s for sure: coffee and felines should never mix. Chock full of caffeine and other stimulants, cats should never drink coffee as caffeine is toxic to cats . This includes decaffeinated coffee since the beans also contain theobromine , another stimulant that can sicken felines. In protecting your cat from caffeine, don’t let her drink caffeinated sodas or energy drinks either. Also look out for guarana, mate, and cacao when checking food labels. All three are natural sources of caffeine. Also, according to the Pet Poison Helpline, caffeine may go by the alternate names   methylxanthine and xanthine . Did you know you can also find caffeine in diet supplements, weight loss products, and over-the-counter medications? If your cat manages to steal a sip ...
Read more

7 Fall Hazards All Pet Parents Should Be Aware Of

Image
Fall — i t’s here and beautiful as ever. The foliage is starting to change, the air is getting crisper, days are becoming shorter, and the festive feelings of Halloween and Thanksgiving are in the air. But, along with the beauty of the season come some potential fall hazards that all pet parents should be aware of.  1. Rodenticides As the days are getting shorter and cooler, mother nature’s little outdoor critters will begin looking for some temporary fall and winter housing to call home. Mice and rats are notorious for trying to get inside garages, basements, attics, and sheds as they search for a cozy place to call home. To avoid unwanted little tenants, many households put out rodent poisons. If you use these poisons anywhere in your home, make sure to keep them hidden and far out of the reach of your canine kids. These chemical formulas are toxic and potentially deadly for your pooch. 2. Mushroom Poisoning Mushrooms have a habit of popping up around this time of the year...
Read more