In Memorial: Max the Cat

I have a very dear animal friend who does a great job as an AWL volunteer. Her friendship and volunteerins is not "only" for AWL, she is helping everyone, from a single person to several organizations. She got the right spirit thinking, 'It's about the animals, not us, why not help were it's needed?"


She brings sacks off washed towels to our cleaning dog missions. She picks them up and they are pretty clean but she spends two days before a mission washing and folding them. And she also thinks of us, with a wonderful cake for our breaks after been messing around in dirty water, muddy and happy shelter dogs. In the begining I always called her "biscotti lady" With bags of treats she walked around for hours giving each one in the cages a wonderful taste of candy. Many times she would lock herself into the cages sitting on the cold concrete, calmly talking to them the dogs there, after a minute or so some shy and abused one would snuggle up to her. She massaged them, talked to them, and just sat quietly together with them. Jackie, could feel who needed some extra love right away.

After one mission, we dropped her off and she walked up to her home. When she opened the door she could sense something was wrong. Jackie walked in a hurry into the washing room and discovered in the drier was her beloved cat, Max. He had jumpted into the dryer, laid down on the towels and the door closed and the timer was set on. He was still alive when Jackie got him out but he died in her arms a few minutes later. A piece of Jackie's heart died that moment too. A horrible accident and for one of the greatest animal lovers I have ever met, it is doubly traumatic for her. She was always out on the field for the animals but mostly for the cats.

Jackie, I know you still are blaming yourself and my words will never take away your pain and guilt. And I know since this tragic accident happened you have not been able to go into a laundry room without panicing.

My friend, I have no words that can heal you, but I am next to you always.