26/02/2023
Good Mews News is excited to share an inspiring story of compassion and dedication from Halifax, Nova Scotia. Angela Rafuse, a 28-year-old woman, has helped re-home 100 pets belonging to seniors who are either terminally ill or wish to enter a retirement home. Angela was inspired to start her charity, My Grandfather’s Cat, after her 85-year-old grandfather passed away and left his cat, Mackenzie, without a home. None of Angela's relatives had the capacity to take on the responsibility, so she decided to take in the calico cat herself.
Angela and Mackenzie lived in her parent's basement for 18 months. She started posting videos on TikTok, and soon the duo grew a following of 656,000 people. Many commented about how their grandparents' pets had to go into shelters after they passed. This inspired Angela to start her nonprofit venture in 2021.
My Grandfather’s Cat facilitates adoptions of dogs and cats belonging to seniors who are either terminally ill or wish to enter a retirement home. Most seniors are referred to charity by care homes or shelters. They submit an application, and the team writes a profile to post on social media. They then interview people who might be interested and find out who is a good fit. The senior has the opportunity to interview the family too. The seniors then pick their pet’s second forever home, and the adoptees can stay in touch with the new owner who will share updates.
Angela's launch date was May 18, on her late grandfather’s birthday, and since then, it has brought peace of mind to 100 pet owners. It gives Angela so much purpose in life, and she has an amazing team of volunteers. One case Angela will never forget is when she helped a woman who had terminal cancer and underwent euthanasia. "We helped her find a new home for her cats, Koko and Lily, and she chose a lovely multi-generational home with two seniors, their daughter, and grandson. She passed away knowing her best friends had the best home."
Angela's dedication to helping seniors and their pets is truly inspiring, and we encourage everyone to spread this great idea to fur-loving friends on social media.