CECIL COUNTY SPCA INC. HOME PAGE

Katherine "Miss Kate" Benner

July 2, 1932 - February 17, 2011

Kate was a loving daughter, a sister, an aunt, a grand aunt, a mentor, a true friend and a grand lady with a lot of class. Ms. Kate was over the years involved as a volunteer and Board member of many worthy non profit organizations the Historial Society, the Arts Council ,Covered Bridge Theater, and Bayside but the love of her life besides her family and friends was the Cecil County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Inc. also known as the SPCA. She was a volunteer, an employee, a board member and officer as well as the President of the Cecil Co. Spca, Inc. Kate was well known around the county as the “Cat Lady” because of her many years of service helping the SPCA with the care of the thousands of cats coming thru the shelter doors over the years, so came the name “The Cat Lady”. She was very proud of the recognition that “Kate the Cat Lady” brought her. She loved her cats. Kate also loved all animal. People think the SPCA is all about cats and dogs, but it is not. She mentored us and cared for all agricultural animals that showed up at the SPCA as strays such as horses, goats, pigs, rabbits, chickens, roosters and even a wild turkey. She fed them, walked them, kept their stalls clean and watched over them until we could find them the appropriate homes. Kate was not a confrontational lady but when the love of her life, the SPCA and staff came under fire, she would spend entire days at the shelter making sure the staff was OK, that we had plenty of brownies, candy, cookies and lunch to help us get thru one day at a time. She saw the glass was always half full, rather than half empty. She repeatedly told me what goes around, comes around and she believed in the after life. In a recent conversation, she told me not to fear, she would be back because she needed to take care of some unfinished business on behalf of the SPCA. I didn’t ask what that unfinished business was but I think we all know. We are very grateful for the lessons she taught us. We know that we will only grow stronger because of what she stood for and the values she passed along to us. We will miss Katherine and her strength for what is right. Kate, we love you and are thankful for the years we’ve had together.

CECIL COUNTY SPCA INC.

Eastern Shore Animal Rescue League *Division of the SPCA

3280 Augustine Herman Highway

P.O. Box 665, Chesapeake City, Md 21915

To contact the SPCA or Rescue please call:

*410-398-9555

*410-885-2342

FAX: 410-885-2910

Hours

Monday - 8:30am to 4:30pm

Tuesday - 8:30am to 4:30pm

Wednesday - 8:30am to 7:00pm