Remembering Kitty: The Death of One of our Beloved Facility Dogs

It is with heavy hearts that we share the sad news of the death of our beloved Kitty.  She died peacefully at home on Saturday, surrounded by her family. Kitty was 11 years old and began her career at Cook Children's on April 27, 2015, alongside her cousin Journey. 

Kitty worked on the Child Advocacy Resource and Evaluation (CARE) team with Jamye Coffman, M.D., Elizabeth Peeler, D.O., Stacy Starkes, and Lorie Palacios. Although she retired from working with patients a few months ago, Kitty continued to provide unwavering support to her CARE team colleagues.

Kitty was known for her loyalty, nurturing spirit, and grounded nature. She had an incredible ability to connect with people, always knowing who needed her attention, whether child or adult. Kitty's favorite things included cuddling in the laps of her loved ones, morning walks with her mom, receiving attention from anyone and everyone, and, of course, squirrels. She was affectionately known as the "squirrel stalker" and amassed a collection of squirrel stuffies over the years. Kitty's disdain for dressing up for photo shoots was evident in the hilarious facial expressions she often made while in costume.

Kitty Sue, you will be deeply missed. You left an amazing legacy through your work and the impact you had on everyone you met. Thank you for always being true to yourself and loving us as much as we loved you.

To learn more about our facility dogs, including how to talk to a child after a pet's death, please click here.