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Former Police Officer And Veteran Donates Massive Life Savings To Animal Shelter

Written by: Scott H
Scott Haiduc is the Director of Publishing for iHeartDogs, iHeartCats and The Hero Company. When not working, Scott spends his time on the farm, taking care of his animals and crops.Read more
| Published on December 3, 2020

A former police officer has continued to save lives even after his death. This time, it’s four-legged lives that he has dedicated to serve.

Kenneth Thweatt was a police officer in Michigan after serving in the Vietnam War. His wife died approximately 10 years ago and when Thweatt recently passed away from heart disease, there was no one to collect his life savings.

He told a local news station in 2018 that he suffered from PTSD, depression, and anxiety as a result of his service. For many veterans like Mr. Thweatt, the love and dedication of a cat or dog is simply irreplaceable.

You see, Thweatt had no next of kin to be found. That is except for his cat that he adopted in 2017, who gave him companionship until he died. Thweatt’s hefty life savings of $57,000 was generously donated to the Oakland County Animal Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center.

What does this mean for the shelter? A LOT!

Thweatt’s Donation Will Save Lives And Prolong Snuggles

Thweatt’s last heroic act of selflessness and generosity will now give countless animals a second chance at life. The money has been allocated to help moms and dads of furbabies cover unexpected medical expenses, oftentimes giving these families more afternoons playing in the dog park or evenings snuggled on the couch.

Joanie Toole is the manager of the Oakland County Animal Shelter. She is in disbelief of his generosity!

“If a dog comes in that’s been hit by a car that needs immediate medical attention, we can do that. I say thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts from this little furry friend and all the furry friends here,” she told Newsweek.

Oakland County Animal Shelter is equipped with state of the art medical facilities. Plus, they have a compassionate group of volunteers who make it all possible!

A Shelter That Makes A Difference For Animals And Families In Need

Their mission is “to protect public safety through the enforcement of applicable state laws, to educate the public about responsible pet ownership, and to provide a humane haven for animals in our care and, where possible, to endeavor to reunite pets with their owners and to promote responsible pet placement.”

Dog and cat cuddled

The shelter is located in Pontiac, Michigan, and has been helping animals find furever homes since 1980. For the last 40 years, they have helped 4,000 get a second chance at life every year! That’s a lot of wagging tails! In addition to helping dogs and cats find another chance at a lifetime of love, the shelter also provides lifesaving emergency medical treatment. They really do it all, and thanks to Kenneth Thweatt, they can now do even more.

h/t: Newsweek.com

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