ROCKY HARBOUR — A shy, soft-spoken nine-year-old animal lover was not impressed when she heard over 200 cats were living in one house in Corner Brook.
She decided to do something to help.
Monica Curnew started collecting donations for the SPCA to help out. She placed donation trays in a few different Rocky Harbour businesses and collected by going door-to-door, hoping the people in her town would care as much about animals as she does.
It turns out they did.
To date she has collected more than $500 through her efforts and, inspired by her town’s generosity, Monica plans to continue.
“I felt sorry for all those cats in a man’s house in Corner Brook, I saw it on TV,” Monica said. “I heard someone say that some of the cats might have to be put down and I didn’t like to hear that.”
She’s referring to a story that broke last May about a Corner Brook home in which authorities had to remove scores of cats that had become a nuisance to the surrounding neighbourhood. Her mother, Wanda Curnew, said when she read about the story in The Western Star and saw the television news reports, Monica decided to take action as best as she could.
“She’s always been an animal lover, she has a dog too,” said Wanda. “She’s shy, but she’s always looking to help people ... she’s always helping the neighbours.”
Monica placed donation trays in the Gros Morne Trading Post and Endicott’s in Rocky Harbour and she plans on looking for more businesses to join her cause.
Monica said she would like to help in the effort to preserve Newfoundland ponies in the future, but will stay close to home for now.
