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Love is a powerful force. And Best Friends caregiver Marilyn Spangler knew how to love. Just ask anyone who knew her. Marilyn was a caregiver at Best Friends for over seven years. She passed away recently, but not without leaving a legacy of love and kindness behind.

One such legacy will be a new cattery for the lobby cats at Morgaine’s, the building at Best Friends where Marilyn used to work as a caregiver.

In her will Marilyn provided the funds for the cattery. Now, just like the rest of cats in the building, the lobby cats will have a chance to go outside and feel the breeze and sniff the smells. No doubt Marilyn loved each and every cat under her care right until the end. Right from the beginning, she’d spend hours of her own time making extra toys for them, and making sure each cat felt important.

Of course the cats in her own home held an extra special place in her heart. One of these cats was Luna, whom you might remember from the Purrty Dozen. Luna came to Best Friends after being found in a box alongside the highway. At Best Friends, she had a rough time getting along with other cats. Maybe it’s because her front paws been declawed and she felt unsafe. Either way, that stress soon started taking its toll. She stopped eating and lost weight quickly. So quickly, in fact, that she developed fatty liver disease. Things weren’t looking good.

Luna

Marilyn wanted to help Luna. She decided to foster her and brought her home for some rest and relaxation. With a feeding tube and lots of TLC, Marilyn nursed Luna back to health bit by bit. She even gave Luna her own bedroom to help keep her calm and happy. All that extra attention paid off. Luna soon became healthy again. She also became quite the affectionate kitty around people. Luna still loves to snuggle in laps and has no shame in staking a claim on the bed at night.

When Marilyn became ill, one of her first priorities was to help her cats. She reached a point where she could no longer care for their needs, but with Luna she still took the time to borrow a camera and record as much playful footage as possible, to help with Luna’s adoption video. All along, Marilyn wanted Luna to find that special home.

No doubt, Luna now misses the person who gave her a helping hand when she needed one the most. Without Marilyn’s love and support in the early stages, Luna may have had a dangerous road. At least the memory of Marilyn’s kindness will always be with Luna. And her day will come, wait and see. She’s earned it.

Story by David Dickson
Photos by Molly Wald
Video by Marilyn Spangler

Luna, who has inspired such love and devotion, is available for adoption, as are the other five cats, featured as the Purrty Dozen, who still remain at Best Friends.

July 15, 2009 : 12:17 PM ET
posted by: caninecasbah

Though one would consider me a dog person - I am first and foremost a person that loves animals. I know I would have wanted to be BEST FRIENDS with Marilyn Spangler and know with all my heart that she is 'arms' of all the animals giving and receiving eternal love.

July 13, 2009 : 7:52 AM ET
posted by: horsey55

The lady is with her fur babies at the Bridge. Kindness is never forgotten. May her memory always be honored.

July 13, 2009 : 12:37 AM ET
posted by: mrissmart

I am glad the cat had someone to love her. I am sure she misses her very much. I hope that she gets adopted soon into a kind and caring home. I hope her human friend RIP.

July 11, 2009 : 10:18 PM ET
posted by: jmuhj

My heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, loved ones and colleagues of this wonderful lady, and I pray her feline family will find their new forever loving home TOGETHER. It would be terrible after losing their loved one, their world, to have to be separated. Cats do form very deep familial bonds. May they be honored.

July 11, 2009 : 4:05 PM ET
posted by: Chaw547960

As everyone else that has a story, I have a big one. I have cared for feral cats for over 17 years on my own. Now I find that my age has caught up with me and I can no longer carefor them on my own. I am 74 and on a fixed income. I now have 5 kittens that were born under some big boxes and they were being moved away. So I had to take them. However I have no one to take these wonderful little furballs. Some of them are long haired some are 1/2 long haired. They are to young to know if they are male or female. However they are just wonderful kittens.2 are black and white, 2 are black,and one is gray. If anyone would like to have one please e-mail me at Chaw547960@aol.com. I live in NJ so I am in hopes that someone that well love them and care for them well please write me.Thank you.

July 11, 2009 : 3:48 PM ET
posted by: marys

What a beauty Luna is, and what a lucky kitty to have Marilyn to help him! Marilyn was a kitty saint, and such a wonderful person. She is missed by so many, but especially the ones she cared for daily, I am sure. I know that she is truly covered in kitty kisses 24-7 at the Bridge. What a magnificent gift for the lobby kitties at Morgaines' she gave! Prayers for a perfect new home for Luna soon.

RIP sweet Marilyn! We love you!

July 11, 2009 : 3:17 PM ET
posted by: 5dogsmom

What a beautiful person, may she be covered with all the angels she loved when she crossed the Rainbow Bridge. My deepest desire is to come and live near your santuary and give the rest of my life to the animals. I can think of no greater blessing in life than to be with those who have been rejected by a society that does not recognize the angels they are hurting.

I live in Tennessee. I want to live in Utah. My husband will retire in 3 years, but I can not wait that long to come to Best Friends. My heart and soul has been drawn to you from the first time I learned of this holy, perfect place on earth. It is my destiny to be there. I will find a way.

For the animals, Linda McClure-Woodham mcwoodham76@comcast.net

July 11, 2009 : 1:11 PM ET
posted by: dc62peedin

This is a great story. I did not realize until just recently that there are so many animals that need a home until a small 6 - 8 week old kitten showed up in my yard. I have been trying to find not just a home but a responsible home(shots, spaying&nuetering, etc.) and how difficult it is when the cat population is out of control. It is uplifting to see animals getting real help.

July 10, 2009 : 5:26 PM ET
posted by: floridacatlover

What a beautiful story about a beautiful lady. I'm sure she will be greatly missed, not only by her family and friends, but also by the many furry friends she helped. I can only imagine the number of babies waiting to greet her on Rainbow Bridge. I hope mine, the many waiting for me, said hello and thank you to her for all she has done.

Please keep us posted on Luna. If I didn't already have 8 cats, 2 dogs, and 1 rabbit myself, I would take her, but I am sure there is a wonderful family out there just waiting for such a sweet beautiful lady to join their home.

May Marilyn rest in peace, knowing how much she contributed to this world, and how much better a place it is for her having been here.

Rebecca Gwynn Ft. McCoy, FL:

July 10, 2009 : 3:50 PM ET
posted by: teamsheltie

What a wonderful woman and story...keep us posted on Luna...

July 10, 2009 : 9:57 AM ET
posted by: ruderanch

My wife Kathy and I met Marilyn when she first started working at Best Friends. We adopted a cat by the same name and always had that connection. When we visited five years later, Marilyn still remembered us and the cat we adopted. She was obviously one of those rare people who truly loved and cared for the animals. I'm sure she will be missed by the cats and the people who's lives she touched.

July 10, 2009 : 9:33 AM ET
posted by: doglover55

May God bless --you Marilyn Spangler. She is now dancing over Rainbow Bridge.

July 9, 2009 : 11:08 PM ET
posted by: Patticatcat

What a wonderful, lovely lady! The kitty she is holding looks so much like several of my beloved furbabies (I love all cats, but I am a little bit partial to orange tabbies)! I know that my Amber, and Malkin, and Fluff, and Mustard and Moses, and all my other much-missed babies were there to greet her at the Bridge!

God bless you, Marilyn!

July 7, 2009 : 11:16 AM ET
posted by: jillw

I first met Marilyn when I adopted my cat, Annie, from Best Friends. She knew so many quirks about Annie that I never knew. As time went by I had the pleasure of working with her as she provided updates on various cats in the Guardian Angel Program at Best Friends. She loved every one of the cats in her care and was always helpful and a wonderful contributor to the program. I am sure the lobby cats miss their friend. The cattery will be enjoyed by all of them. What a special gift.

July 6, 2009 : 9:23 PM ET
posted by: squeakie42

What a great person Marilyn has been. I hope that her passing was peaceful, and that she remembered all the purrs and snuggles she evoked. While we all do what we can for the animals, we probably don't know the full extent & effect of what we do. I'm glad she was able to leave one last, visible & lasting gift for the kitties she loved.

July 6, 2009 : 4:04 PM ET
posted by: shellib

My husband Mike and I have been fostering Luna since March 2009. She has come such a long way! She is relating very well with most of our cats without stress to anyone. It seemed like she did grieve for Marilyn for a short time after she came here. I think she knows now that she is still loved, and that will never stop. We are hoping a permanent home with someone very loving will be found for her. In the meantime, it is our pleasure that she is with us!

Shelli (Roo's foster mom)

July 6, 2009 : 12:02 PM ET
posted by: skya

What a lovely story and Chatty, how clever of you to break through Marylin's defenses and become her friend. The world needs more people like YOU!

Marilyn, I know there was a great mewing horde waiting to welcome you home. If there's a little golden and white kitten there named Shin Chan, could you give him a little bit of extra love? He hasn't been there long and silly me, I'm still a bit worried about him! Thank you so much for what you have given us! >^..^<

July 5, 2009 : 6:30 PM ET
posted by: lancecrossfire

Thank you for writing this story. It’s wonderful to hear about the affects staff had or are having at Best Friends. This is a great tribute to someone who clearly has made a difference in the lives of a lot of cats and has shown everyone what caring feels like.

July 3, 2009 : 5:10 PM ET
posted by: QMD333

Marilyn, God Bless you.

Love IS a powerful force, in fact it's the most powerful force in the Universe, because God is love. As someone who masters unconditional love, and thus is closer to God than we human animals will ever get, we could learn alot from cats and dogs. It's complex in it's simplicity- unconditional love.