‘Antonio’s Friends’ carry on his legacy

More than $12,000 has been raised to support a cat colony in an upscale Chicago neighborhood after the felines’ homeless caretaker froze to death during a stretch of brutal winter cold.

As of March 14, 230 people had donated to an online fundraiser to care for Antonio Garcia’s cats, who live in an alley in the West Town area of Chicago.

Garcia lived in a makeshift shack outside posh condos, where he’d stayed for at least 10 years and formed an unlikely relationship with neighbors, who brought him food, clothes and furniture.

Garcia, 64, died in January, leaving behind about a dozen cats. People who knew Gercia have been caring for his cats since, hanging a sign in the alley saying the colony is maintained by “Antonio’s Friends.”

Cynthia Doepke, an experienced animal rescue worker, started the fundraiser to help take care of the cats, and it took off. Doepke said the money raised so far should last years and will go toward food, veterinary care when necessary and other related expenses, like a motionsensor camera to watch over the animals.

Doepke called Garcia “a very sweet, generous, selfless person” who put his animals first.

“It goes to show you it doesn’t matter if you live in an apartment or a shack outside; who you are matters, not what you have,” Doepke said.

Little is known about Gar- cia beyond his decade in the alley. Neighbors said he emigrated from Mexico, was friendly, and liked to sing. He was particularly fond of a white and gray spotted cat named Lorena, those who knew him said.