Cat’s Legacy Lives On After His Guardian Donates $7.6 Million In His Honor

A cat named Du Bee may have lost his battle with cancer more than a decade ago, but today his legacy lives on. Maxine Adler, Du Bee’s guardian who was recently killed in a hit-and-run accident in Boca Raton, Florida, bequeathed a whopping $7.6 million dollars to the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in honor of her beloved cat.

Adler had taken Du Bee to UC Davis for treatment of cancer. Although Du Bee was not able to be saved, Adler was forever impacted by the care and compassion Du Bee was shown while he was there.

The $7.6 million dollar gift is the largest in the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine history and the money will go toward cancer research for pets. According to the Sacramento Bee, “Du Bee’s name is being used to lure top scientists and graces a prestigious endowed fund for cancer research. Any breakthrough treatments discovered as a result of Adler’s bequest will carry the cat’s moniker.”

Adler was no stranger to giving and helping animals. She had more than seven cats during her lifetime and also cared for feral cats. She also donated large amounts of money to various animal organizations throughout her life.

Du Bee was a stray whom Adler took in after he wandered onto her boat one day. While we don’t know much about Du Bee, we can assume that he must have been a pretty amazing friend to Adler.

Do you plan to leave any money to an animal charity on behalf of your pet?

Tagged Cancer, cats, feral cats, Pet Loss, Pet Trust, research