Via the BBC, something to break from the depressing news of humans being horrible.
Photographs of a Wisconsin retiree cat-napping with his feline friends have gone viral - melting hearts online and leaving a shelter inundated with well-wishes and $40,000 (£30,000) in donations.
Terry Laurmen, 75, has become a regular volunteer at the Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary in Green Bay over the last year.
Laurmen, a retired Spanish teacher, travels a lot which keeps him from having a cat of his own. So, he volunteers at the shelter, which specializes in rehoming cats with special needs and disabilities.
"They all know him, when he walks through the door they run over to him because they know he has the special brush and the special treats. They all pile on top of him and rub all over him and just love him," sanctuary owner Elizabeth told the BBC.
The shelter started putting photos of him on their Facebook page, showing him napping after seeing to the needs of his feline friends. They’ve gone viral — and other people have started coming to the shelter, as well as welcome donations. Laurmen doesn’t internet, so he finds this all amazing and unexpected. He’s glad it’s helping the shelter. There’s talk of putting together a calendar with Laurmen and his friends.
I was having a Farnsworth moment, so this story came at a good time. It’s a welcome reminder that there are people who do what they can to make the world around them a nicer, better place. You don’t have to go to Wisconsin to volunteer at a shelter — there are plenty that can use any help you can give them, whether it’s time, money, or giving a deserving animal a forever home.
The world is made by the people who show up for the job — and there are all kinds of jobs waiting for someone.