Volunteer Who Cared For Stray Cats On Boston Streets Dies

 

Dear Fred, my heart is both heavy and lifted as I write this. Lifted because for so long, I have imagined what my own...

Posted by Boston's Forgotten Felines on Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Fred Coburn didn't have a family, and he wasn't the kind of guy who had a lot of close friends. But he had a big heart, especially when it came to caring for cats as a volunteer for Boston's Forgotten Felines. He spent his nights, rain or shine, braving even the coldest Boston winters, to feed the homeless cats on the streets. He'd walk through the most dangerous neighborhoods in the city from 1 to 7 a.m. bringing food to cats at 23 different sites. And the only thing that stopped him was the disease that took his life.

After Fred was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he ended up in the hospital. Even though he didn't have a family to visit him, people knew what Fred had done for the cats of the city. A call went up on Facebook to send Fred cards and words of thanks, and Fred received over 300 cards. After the first ten he remarked that he didn't think he had received more than ten cards in his entire life.

 

Friday night / Saturday morning I feed at all of Fred's spot then feed at mine. I put food down 59 times, some in...

Posted by Boston's Forgotten Felines on Sunday, November 1, 2015

Sadly, Fred died of his condition. He passed away knowing that there were people out there who cared about what he did and loved him for it. The world would be a much better place with more people who do what Fred Coburn did. The cats of Boston will surely miss him.

Would you volunteer to do what Fred did? Does his story move you? Let us know in the comments below.

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