The sad news came in yesterday: Anne Fitzgerald from the Cork Animal Care Society unexpectedly passed away.
You might remember my two recent posts about the CACS. Although I had spoken a few times to Anne on the phone, I only got to meet her in person ten days ago at the volunteers’ fair in Cork and had been in touch with her since. They say that Anne was an inspiration and she was for me. A few days after the fair, she sent a cry for help: she needed someone to foster two kittens as she needed space for some new-born kittens. That’s how I offered to foster for Daz and Suds.
I again saw her a few days later as I met her in East Cork to go to collect a mother cat with her two-day old kittens at the vet and bring them back where they belonged (read the story here). She had to go back the following day to collect that mum’s sister, who had been neutered. She rang me that evening, she was happy. The mum and her new-borns were doing well, her sister had been spayed and gone back to the garden where she belonged to and the sister’s four kittens were being rehomed by the vet and had had their sore eyes sorted. A success story as she liked them. Anne was also happy because the woman who had rung her about these cats insisted to pay the vet bill. It was not a question of money, it was the fact that with it more kittens would be saved, but it was also a proof that some people cared and were ready to help making this world a better place for animals. I’d like to imagine that she went away that night peacefully thinking that the animals could rely on other people to continue her work in helping the animals.

The new-born kitten we collected at the vet. These ones were lucky, they still had their mum. How often did Anne have to be the surrogate mother for less lucky kittens? (photo from the CACS facebook page)
Saying that Anne cared is not enough. Anne was devoted to animals, she lived with them and for them. No matter what time of the night, what day of the week, Anne was there for them. She was always on the go, on her way to rescue distressed animals, and even when at home, she would never stop as she had so many kittens to care for.
When she stepped into my car on Friday, Anne was carrying a big cardboard box. She turned to me with a smile and said: “do you want to see what I have here?” Of course I did! She opened the box and there was a tiny ginger kitten about two weeks old. As I was driving, she got a bottle of cat milk out and syringe-fed the kitten who then went for a long nap while we were tending to the other cats and kittens.
Yes, Anne was an inspiration for all of us. We won’t be able to replace her, but we must continue the amazing work she was doing by putting our efforts together.
This is my small tribute to Anne (read Albert’s wonderful tribute on the CACS website). The last couple of days have been very sad for the animal world, but we must keep going on….
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June 22, 2011 at 4:53 am
Steph VanderMeulen
This is a really lovely post, Em. People like Anne are too rare, and she sounds like someone I would have loved, given her devotion to and care of animals. It is so unfair that people like her are taken so early when they’re doing such great and wonderful things! I’ll never understand it.
I love your heart in this as well. It’s very touching, and I also am assured I’ve met someone in you who feels the same way I do about animals. I’m so sorry for your loss of Anne.
June 22, 2011 at 7:46 am
Albert Kleyn
Thank you for your lovely open letter to us all about Anne and what she stood for. Yes, she has set a hard act to follow and as yet, I do not know how to achieve this. The small ginger kitten you mention is now with us and Anne Penny of Hillview Sanctuary where the ACS is based in continuing Anne Fitzgeralds work with him.
I am too distressed to write more and am still trying to come to grips with her loss. Anne was an inspiration and we in the ACS were most priveleged to have had her dedication, compassion and friendship. I know her most dearly held wish was for our work to go on so that more lives can be saved and I hope that all of us together can make that happen.
Albert
ACS Chairman.
June 24, 2011 at 9:13 pm
Stefanie
What a nice tribute! It sounds like she was a wonderful woman.
June 27, 2011 at 6:35 am
Barbara
Ahh, how sad, but such a lovely tribute to a remarkable lady. It gives you hope when you read about such people.
June 29, 2011 at 9:52 pm
Em
Thank you all for your kind comments. Her absence is really felt 😦
July 1, 2011 at 6:38 pm
July « C'est la vie!
[…] studying, although very slowly, and… looking for a job, but nothing on that front yet. The passing away of someone special did not help to lift up my spirits. I went to Germany for a conference, though, and that was a […]
August 31, 2016 at 10:51 am
Albert Kleyn
Anne’s work continues, as she would have wished. Often thought of, and she will forever be remembered.
Albert. Cork ACS C0-Founder