Page 6 - Stuart Exposure - March '25

Page 6, Stuart Exposure
Pet Matters

The Pet Cottage Post check out our YouTube channel at The
Pet Cottage Official. To visit, please
The Birth Of The Pet Cottage: call to make an appointment at (561)
A Tribute To Joan McCabe 818-5025.
Thank you for being part of our
The Pet Cottage is more than just a pack!
sanctuary for pets—it is a testament
to the love and devotion of one
remarkable woman, Joan McCabe.
Joan was a beautiful soul, full of
warmth and kindness, whose love for
her pets was immeasurable. She was
a client of mine when I ran a small personal training
business for women, and over time, she became a
cherished friend. Joan shared her life with three senior
cats—Shadow, Smokey, and Jeremy—who were her
family and her greatest joy.
When Joan was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Joan McCabe
her first concern was not for herself, but for her beloved
companions. What would happen to them when she
was gone? She searched for solutions, but none existed.
Determined to ease her heart, I made a promise: I would
care for her cats as she
had, ensuring they were
safe and loved.
Shadow, at an
astonishing 21 years
old, passed before Joan.
When the time came,
Smokey and Jeremy,
then 17, came to live
with me. They thrived
in my care, living to
be 20. But Joan’s story Arya
revealed a much larger
truth—she was not
the only one in this
predicament. Many pet
owners, facing illness
or life-altering events,
had no plan for their
beloved animals. I
witnessed this firsthand
through my relationship
with hospice during
Joan’s illness. The need Elsa
was clear, and when
Joan passed on March 11, 2012, I, Wendy Derhak, honored
her legacy by founding The Pet Cottage.
What started with Joan’s three senior cats quickly
grew. The next animals in need were three dachshunds—
Charlie Brown, Ivy, and Peanut—whose owner had passed
away. The demand for a safe, loving place for pets in
these situations continued to grow. In April 2015, The
Pet Cottage officially became a nonprofit, dedicated to
providing lifelong guardianship for pets who lost their
humans due to death, disability, or deployment.
From those first rescues, The Pet Cottage has
flourished. Today, we provide care for over 51 dogs and
eight cats. While our initial focus was on pets whose
owners had passed, we quickly expanded to include those
affected by disabilities such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
We also recognized the needs of military members,
ensuring their pets had a safe place when deployment or
relocation made it impossible to keep them.
One of the most beautiful aspects of this journey has been
the realization that senior people make extraordinary Forever
Guardians. Many of the pets in our care are older and need
calm, loving homes. Many seniors, facing loneliness, long for
companionship. The greatest challenge to welcoming a senior
pet into one’s home is often the cost of care, particularly
veterinary expenses. The Pet Cottage removes that burden
by paying all veterinary expenses allowing these perfect
matches to be made.
The Pet Cottage is more than just a place—it is a promise.
It is a tribute to Joan McCabe and to all those who love their
pets like family. None of this would be possible without the
generous support of our donors and community. You are the
superheroes who make this mission a reality.
There are many ways to support our work, from joining
our Happy Tails monthly donation program to making one-
time contributions. Every donation helps us fulfill our forever
promise to these beloved pets and provide pet companionship
to senior individuals, matching pets who have lost their
humans with seniors who long for a loving companion.
To learn more about The Pet Cottage, visit our website at
thepetcottage.org, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and

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