Veteran leaves behind nearly $57K for animal shelter
The Oakland County Animal Shelter and Pet Adoption Center will soon be receiving a large gift thanks to a generous Oakland County resident.
Kenneth Earl Thweatt, a Vietnam veteran who served as a Royal Oak Township police officer and Oakland County Sheriff’s Office deputy, willed nearly $57,000 in IRA funds to the shelter. Thweatt died back in January.
Joanie Toole, shelter chief, said this is one of the largest donations ever gifted to the shelter. She said willed donations like Thweatt’s are usually received only once every few years.
“From the bottom of our hearts, we want to say thank you,” she said. “This does a lot for the animals. We are grateful for people like Mr. Thweatt.”
Once the gifts are approved by the board of commissioners, the money will be deposited into the shelter’s legacy fund. The majority of the legacy funds are used for animal medical needs, surgeries, or other ailments.
There are currently about 190 cats and dogs in the shelter, according to Toole, including 60 dogs and 130 cats.
You can donate to the shelter by visiting https:// www. oakgov. com/ petadoption/ howyoucanhelp/ Pages/Donations.aspx.
In addition to monetary donations, the shelter is in need of the following items:
• Canned cat food
• Cat litter and pans
• Pet carriers
• Pet toys
• Leashes and collars Cloth items are not being accepted during the COVID-19 pandemic.