By Kathleen Beaver, President & CEO

Tyson was one big cat.

Big in stature and big in personality.

I can’t remember exactly why Tyson landed at Animal Friends more than a decade ago, but I certainly remember his larger-than life presence. Being part Bengal, an exotic cat breed, Tyson was very smart and very opinionated. We knew finding him the right home was going to take some creativity.

They say there is someone out there for everyone and Howard Ash was certainly Tyson’s someone. Howard fostered the spicy cat and the rest,as they say, is history. Through many significant life changes and even serious medical challenges, they were family. Period.

Tyson died today. Howard let us know that after a long battle with lymphoma his body had finally had enough. No surprise, Howard was right beside him every second of his final days and minutes.

I share this with you because Tyson was not just a special cat to Howard, he was also a special cat to Animal Friends and to tens of thousands more. Let me explain.

The name Howard Ash may sound familiar to you. Howard is the namesake of our Howard Ash Animal Wellness Center – the home of our bustling affordable public clinic. If you have ever stepped into the lobby, no doubt you have come face to face with a supersized cat statue. That is Tyson. Howard commissioned a sculpture of his beloved cat, not to simply honor Tyson, but he was thinking of those who would be coming to the clinic for care. He knew first-hand how stressful it can be when your pet is ill. He couldn’t imagine the additional stress and anxiety for those who didn’t know how they were going to afford to help their pet.

Tyson stands boldly in our lobby to welcome our patients, perhaps coax a smile, certainly to beg the question “Was he really that big?” or simply to provide a little distraction in an otherwise difficult time. He is also a symbol of our commitment that it will be alright, we will find a solution – one that is affordable.

Tyson (err…his statue) has watched over an exponential growth in demand for our low-cost clinic services. When we opened our doors to the Animal Wellness Center in 2017, we were focused solely on spay/neuter and vaccines. Today, as a response to overwhelming community demand, we now offer wellness and sick appointments, dentals and special services – targeting those who would otherwise have nowhere else to turn.

Times are tough out there for so many people … and their pets. Our affordable clinic is just one way that Animal Friends is lending a hand. If you are struggling, please call us. If you are not struggling but can help, please consider a gift to support the lifesaving work of our clinic.

I am quite certain Tyson would be pleased.

Godspeed, our spicy friend.