​Our Very Precious Jennifer J. Gile  
-Helen Morrison
 
On Saturday, June 26, Kingdom Animal Shelter lost a very precious person.  Her loss has left a huge hole in our community, and within our Shelter, and most deeply, in our hearts.  There was no one quite like Jennifer.  She has been involved with the Shelter for years.  Her home includes kitties adopted from us.  She came in twice a week in the mornings to do what we call Morning Duty, where the cats are fed and given meds, and their rooms cleaned, their litter boxes disinfected.  And Jennifer enhanced these “duties” with love, and gentleness, and playfulness.  
Jennifer always said, “if you need me to come in more, just let me know.  I love being there.”
Whenever a cat was adopted and was going home, Jennifer always wrote a wonderful note of good-bye and taped it to the door of their room, wishing them well in their new homes.  Those notes often went home with the adopters, who were so moved by that special attention.  When a kitty was having a particularly hard time, Jennifer always did something special for them...either directly or as a tribute or encouragement.  For instance, when Tony, Our Tiger was with us as a Hospice Care cat, and his time had come to be helped out of this world, Jennifer put a lovely bouquet in his room, in remembrance of him, a gesture of cherishing even beyond this world.
Jennifer loved doing things for our special fund raisers.  She was an amazing baker...of goodies that not only tasted divine, but looked incredible, decorated with fresh fruit or flowers.  And there was always an amazing array of variety...for our Spaghetti Dinners or for our baked goods at Cats and Roses, or for our Cookie Walk at our Santa Paws events.  Jennifer would bake for days ahead...so excited about presenting taste-treats for our events.
It is extremely hard to think of the Shelter without Jennifer’s presence and love and care.  But it is also quite true, I have come to discover, that even when someone so precious seems to be gone, in fact they are very much still there in thought and feeling and spirit.  That spirit absolutely stays and comforts...and even brings a smile.
We love you, Jennifer.