Kat runs for cats & dogs!

Hi, my name is Kat and I’m running the Boston Marathon in April! As part of that effort, I’m raising for the Animal Fund that provides vital medical care for the animals placed in the care of the City of Boston’s animal shelter.

The shelter works hard to provide treatment, housing and placement services for pets whose owners can no longer care for them - that sometimes includes temporary housing for pets after house fires! Some animals that come to our shelter end up needing extensive medical treatment or behavioral support in excess of what might be budgeted, and these funds help ensure that we set as many of the dogs, cats, bunnies and Guinea pigs that come in for long-term success and happiness in a forever home. Not every animal can be saved, but these funds allow us to do our very best to help the ones that make their way to Boston’s animal shelter.

A few weeks ago, I went out to the shelter to talk to the team and meet some of other fur friends currently staying with us, including Sparkles with a corkscrew tail, Barney the Australian shepherd puppy with tons of energy, and Rondo the mama with love to spare. My colleagues in Animal Control are some of the most dedicated and caring people, and I’m so honored to work alongside them. Any contribution goes a long way towards supporting the work they do every day to heal and home these animals.

I’m honored to be running the marathon with three of my colleagues, including my friend Stacia. We started within one week of each other as fellows, and get to work alongside one another everyday 5 years later. This is the most physically intense challenge I’ve ever taken on, and I wouldn’t be doing without her encouragement, so I’m excited to be doing this with her! She’s also raising for the Animal Fund, so if you can please giver her campaign some love (link to come).

The first time I visited Boston was in college when I came to cheer on my uncle when he ran the Boston Marathon. That memory is all the more precious, since it was time well spent with family, including my beloved aunt Kathy, who passed on this December. This is also the ten-year anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing. I follow in the footsteps of so many, and hope you can cheer me and all the runners on April 17 as we honor those who came before us and are no longer here.

If you can’t donate, consider volunteering at a nearby shelter and you’ll get back the love you give ten times over. Thank you, and please remember it’s always a good time to kiss a cat (or at least slow blink at them if you’re allergic).