Touching Pet Stories Could Mean Cash Prize For Animal Shelter

SOUTH ELGIN, IL — The adoption stories of two area pet owners could mean a hefty cash prize to Anderson Animal Shelter if one or both of the stories garner enough online votes in the coming days. The Petco Foundation will be handing out a $25,000 grand prize to the animal welfare organization whose adoptee's story gets the most votes as well as two $10,000 and two $5,000 awards to runners up.

As part of its Holiday Wishes Grand Campaign, Petco Foundation selected 50 stories that showcase the big and small ways adopted pets have changed people's live across the U.S., including the stories from two local residents who adopted pets from Anderson Animal Shelter in South Elgin. Online voting will continue through noon on Dec. 16.

“We encourage our community of animal lovers to vote for Anderson’s stories. If 2020 has shown us anything it’s that pets change our lives for the better. Your vote can help us earn lifesaving funds so we can bring more pets in need together with loving families,” said Beth Foster, CEO at Anderson Animal Shelter.

Murry, the "Shaquille O'Neal of cats," went home with the TP and Deb Mulrooney of St. Charles in 2011. Ten months later, the 26-pound cat with "the black and white markings of a Holstein cow" would serve as a source of comfort for TP Mulrooney following his Stage 4 throat cancer diagnosis.

Deb said the cat, since the day his family adopted him from Anderson, would give TP a look that seemed to say, "Don't worry. Everything's going to be alright." During months of radiation and chemotherapy, when he lost 55 of his 178 pounds and "looked really bad, ghostly gray and emaciated," Murry would give him that "gonna be alright" look.

"Even after my treatment was over and my oncologist told me the cancer had spread and there was no hope, Murry told me 'everything’s gonna be alright,'" according to the submission for the Holiday Wishes campaign. But, the Murry ended up being spot on.

"After a few agonizing months, it turned out the doctor was wrong. He misread the test. Murry was right," Mulrooney said.

Mulrooney has been cancer free for five years and fat cat Murry and he exercise daily. Murry's lost six pounds and Mulrooney has gained 48 pounds.

"He continues to tell me 'everything’s gonna be alright,'" according to Mulrooney.

The second Anderson adoption story picked for the contest came from Don Johnson of Arlington Heights. He ended up heading to Anderson Animal Shelter with his daughter in 2010 to look for a furry companion after losing his wife of 54 years to cancer.

He wasn't sure at the age of 73 if adopting a dog would be a good idea. But while at Anderson he met Helena, a puppy found running loose in southern Illinois and who the shelter thought might not be a good fit because she was food aggressive.

"However, after bringing my daughter and granddaughter back to visit with her, I watched Helena lie at my feet and crawl up in my granddaughter’s lap. It was then that I knew she belonged with me," Johnson wrote in his submission in the Petco contest.

With training and love, Johnson helped Helena grow past her food aggression issues.

"I am now 84 and she is soon to be 11. We both move a little slower these days, but we enjoy sharing pizza crust and those summer nights watching the world go by while sitting in the driveway," he said. "Without her in my life, I would have been lost and lonely. Helena is my companion and source of joy."

You can cast your vote in the Petco Holiday wishes campaign here.