INNISFAIL – Kenneth Griffith is a 17-year-old Innisfailian who’s set to graduate on June 27 at Red Deer’s École Secondaire Notre Dame High School.
His cat Cookie, a lovable and friendly female mixed Siamese and Main Coon, was born in Olds 17 years go and has been with Kenneth since he was just over six-months old.
They have been inseparable pals since.
“I have lived my entire life with her. She’s very friendly and doesn't really go outside much, but when she does she'll follow right behind you,” said Kenneth. “She's followed me to the mailbox a couple times.
“And then neighbours mistake her for a raccoon,” he added. “So that's always funny.”
And when Kenneth was 12, the relationship became even more special when he was diagnosed with autism.
“Since then, she (Cookie) has always provided that support, even when he (Kenneth) felt upset because sometimes the world doesn't always see the same way as how he sees the world,” said Kenneth’s mom Sheri. “She has laid on him and beside him when he felt upset.
“She’s always in tune with him, and that's one of the biggest things we've really noticed with her even though she's not trained in any way,” she added. “She seems to have an understanding of what he needs to feel comfortable in his world.”
And now it’s time for Kenneth to return the love he so freely received from his kitty.
In 2022, Cookie was diagnosed with cancer.
“Kenneth has now been returning the favour to her and providing her comfort and picking her up and comforting her when she's sick,” said the grateful mom. “The bond between them seems to be unbreakable.”
Cookie has been under the medical care of Dr. Rob DeHaan and staff at Innisfail Veterinary Services.
Sheri said Cookie’s time left is between two and six months.
“Cookie visits us quite regularly because we monitor her health, and she's been on long-term meds for two years or so. It's really quite neat that she's been able to last this long with Kenneth and the family,” said Ginger Christian, office manager for the veterinary hospital.
However, there is now an added bond between Kenneth, Cookie and Innisfail Veterinary Services.
Two years ago around the time when Cookie was first diagnosed Kenneth wanted to do more; this time in his beloved cat’s name.
Kenneth, with the support of his family, has now launched a palliative care fund for pets in his kitty's memory called Cookie’s Love Til The End.
It’s a fund dedicated to financially challenged families who may need help to say goodbye to their beloved pets.
Cookie’s Love Til The End officially began on May 31. Kenneth started the legacy fund with $500 of his own savings.
The legacy fund will be managed by Innisfail Veterinary Services.
“This fund is geared towards either getting started on long-term medication just so they can believe and see the results of it,” said Christian. “Or in an instance when we have a real determinable case and we only have a short-term, it allows time for that family to say goodbye.
“This is really special that he’s able to start something like this for her.”
It will also be a special moment for Kenneth and his family on June 27 when this compassionate autistic teen walks across the high school stage in Red Deer.
He will receive his graduation diploma but there will be more.
Cookie’s name will be announced as an honorary grad alongside him.
Most importantly, Cookie will leave a lasting legacy. Loved by many, the fund in her name will help many pets and families have a chance of comfort when the time comes to say goodbye.
In the meantime, Kenneth’s family has already made final arrangements for Cookie with Red Deer Pet Crematorium Services when the time comes for her to pass over the Rainbow Bridge.
“It's going to be sad for a lot of people because she's very infamous and has a very large reputation,” said Kenneth, who considers Cookie his best friend. “She's never hurt anybody and has always loved kids.”
