Please Help Kimmy's Cause
On January 16, 2010, Corporal Christopher Milito, a highly decorated 16 year veteran policeman with the Delaware River Port Authority, was struck and killed while doing his job, assisting with an accident investigation, on the Philadelphia side of the Walt Whitman Bridge. Corporal Molito was a resident of Media, PA right here in Delaware County.
This officer left behind his beloved elderly black cat named Kimmy, who once belonged to his mom, along with his grieving siblings. Since her owner's death, the cat had been living alone in the Officer's house in Media and has been traumatized by the loss of her beloved companion. Crp. Molito's family visited and fed Kimmy but she too continued to mourn and become withdrawn. The family was and continues to be so devastated by the loss of their wonderful brother. As the wife of a retired police officer, the loss of a loved one killed in the line of duty is every law enforcement's family's worst nightmare. This family tried and tried to find their brother's cat a home, and one of Officer's Molito's sister's tell us that rescue after rescue turned them away because the cat was "too old... that cats over seven years of age were not very adoptable". We have no such criteria, because as a rescue, we firmly believe we do not get to pick and choose what animal needs rescuing and it is particularly heartbreaking in this situation. I made a promise to Officer Molito's sister this past Spring...somehow, someway we would help them. With the help of our good friend, Dr. Cori Majeska, owner and Medical Director of
Companion Pet Hospital we welcomed Kimmy into our foster care program. Dr. Majeska and her wonderful Staff brought Kimmy in and gave her a full medical evaluation and work diligently with her every day to help her, showing her love and working with her to overcome her grief so we can find her a home filled with love where she can live out her life. We needed to help Corporal Molito's family...that is our moral obligation as fellow human beings and above all we wish to honor Corporal Molito's memory. As he so generously opened his heart to Kimmy, when his mom was no longer there for Kimmy, we in turn will open our hearts to honor this wonderful officer who sacrificed his life doing a job he loved...serving all of us.
His family offered to give us some money towards Kimmy veterinary expenses, as she needed to be examined and have some blood studies done due to her age and whatever was necessary to ensure her good health as we get her ready for adoption. In good conscience, we had asked them not to. It just didnt seem right to take from this family. They have made the ultimate sacrifice and believe me, I can tell you first hand, in my conversations with them how hard this is for them and their loss is beyond palpable. Kimmy represented a living link to their brother and it is both bittersweet and sad. Every day that they saw this cat, it re-opened their wound. We hope this can bring some closure to them as they continue along their journey and make peace with their brother's passing. Their brother was unique...he loved making cookies, gardening, spending time with his family, making wine and he loved his Kimmy. His fellow officers both respected and loved him.
At the end of June, a letter and a donation from the Late Officer Molito's Estate arrived and the family insisted that we take the donation. We thought it would be better to use the donation for a fund that will always honor Corporal Molito, his kind, loving and giving personality. He left us on The Benjamin Franklin Bridge doing his job as police officer, sworn to protect and serve, and in turn we won't forget his sacrfice or his good name.
Please help us honor Corporal Molito by donating to Kimmy's Cause. This fund will be used to help our Trap/Neuter/Return program which is so vital to our communities in the quest to end the needless cycle of reproduction by feral cats. Together, we can make and will make a difference serving our community, as a way of honoring Officer's Molito's sacrifice. It is the very least we can do in memory of Corporal Christopher Molito...my faith teaches me he is watching and and smiling as we have taken care of his kitty and in turn, his family, who never had the chance to say goodbye.
If anyone would like to visit Kimmy for adoption please call or stop by Companion Pet Hospital at 1524 South 5th Street in Philadelphia or call them at
215) 703-7387.
Gratefully,
Donna Interrante, Executive Director
PurrFect Paws Rescue
Please click on the PayPal/Credit Card link to donate or please mail your donation, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, to:
PurrFect Paws Rescue
P.O. Box 363
Drexel Hill, PA
Kindly mark your checks "KIMMY'S CAUSE" and your donation is tax deductible
