From Empty Nest to Kitten Savior: Meet Toni Sestak, the Shero Who Saved 10,000 Lives! [Video]

San Francisco’s Toni Sestak found a positive way to fill the void after her five children grew up and left the nest — she volunteered to help animals at her local SPCA. When her cat passed away, she rescued a mother cat and kittens.

This was more than 20 years ago. Toni loved caring for those kittens so much, she took in more orphaned babies and eventually started Toni’s Kitten Rescue in 2004. No animal hoarder, Toni works hard to place all her kittens in loving forever homes, and solicits help from other volunteers. Her rescue’s Facebook page posts photos and updates of fosters multiple times a day.

Over the years, Toni has saved nearly 10,000 kittens’ lives. With so many shelters euthanizing their pets due to lack of space and staff, we could use more people like Toni to care for animals and keep them safe while they wait to find a forever home.

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