Louise’s legacy lives on at SPCA

A WOMAN whose love and passion for animals will be kept burning bright at the Kloof and High SPCA’s newly refurbished and upgraded cattery.

The Louise Underhill Cattery, which was named in her memory, was officially opened last Saturday. David Shevil, her widower, said she was a huge cat lover and sponsored a cage at the SPCA to do some charity work. “She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009 and doing something for the NPO is something that she always spoke about. Three days before she died, she still remained optimistic and said that should she be medically boarded off from work, she would donate the rest of her time here (at the SPCA),” said David.

She died earlier this year and David said that her passing made him want to perpetuate her legacy and provide a way for her to give back to the SPCA, a place that she held close to her heart. “She had done so much for me and given me so much that this was a small way in which the people who still want to be close to her can go to be with her in some way,” said David.

Lisa Gadd, the PR and outreach officer at the Kloof and Highway SPCA, said the love David had for his wife, and their shared love of cats, will ensure that the kittens in the NPO’s care will have the best possible shelter. The committed donation of R100 000, in memory of Louise, has been the driving force behind making the dream cattery a possibility.

“To date all the wire on the cattery has been replaced by white aluminium folding doors and sliding windows along both sides of the cattery and this is already keeping our cats and kittens warmer during these cold winter nights. The next part of the project is well underway with the building of the new enclosures for the kittens, installing heating lamps and the building of two new areas for food preparation and storage,” said Lisa.