Such an amazing service by an amazing woman.
A 45-year-old nurse from Lima, Peru, named Maria Torero makes her money during the day caring for sick humans. But with the help of donations and her own money, she spends her nights taking care of terminally ill cats.
And not one or two sick kitties, but 175 of them! At least that was the number at last count.
She does this for no other reason than she believes the animals need love and care throughout the last remaining years of their life, and she feels like no one else is going to adopt an adult cat with feline leukemia – something every single one of the cats she gives a home to has.
Many have asked Maria why she doesn’t give shelter to healthy cats instead, and she responded by saying:
“That’s not my role. I’m a nurse. My duty is to the cats that nobody cares about. People don’t adopt adult cats, especially if they are terminally ill.”
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, feline leukemia can not be transmitted to humans or other species, but can be contagious for cats through “direct contact, mutual grooming and the sharing of litter boxes, food and water bowls.”
Which is why Maria scours the streets for stray cats and has them tested for feline leukemia. If they have it, which most of the adult strays do, she brings them home to give them a comfortable life.
And she only takes in adult cats – never a kitten! She said:
“Bringing a kitten here is condemning it to death.”
Through donations and her own money that she works for, she believes she spends about $1,785 a month on these cats and treats them with a lot of medicine. Although she cannot afford to put the dying cats down, and so they always pass away naturally, Maria knows what her purpose and duty is to these pussy cats. She said:
“My best gift of love and respect I give them in life.”
And it seems she gives them a lot of love as they all have their own names and some even have little shirts that they wear. They’re spread out around the house, and Maria’s 3 children all play with them and help their momma take care of them!
It’s a way for Maria to give these sick cats the proper send-off that they deserve. Such an inspiring and amazing lady.
[Image via AP Images.]