Charlestown's long-time animal rescue chief Kathleen McA'Nulty dies at age 63

She served Charlestown with distinction for 36 years 

CHARLESTOWN - Charlestown, RI's beloved Animal Control Officer, Kathy McA'Nulty died peacefully at home surrounded by friends and family on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 62 years old.

Kathy grew up in Maynard, MA, one of four children of Daniel and Donna McA'Nulty. With the help of her sister, Susan, Kathy mounted a concerted campaign to adopt her first dog, Bingo, who launched her life-long passion for animals. During her high school years, she volunteered at Buddy Dog Humane Society. After graduating from Becker College in Worcester, MA, with a degree in Animal Care, she went to work at a local RI kennel and began to develop her expertise for handling animals of all kinds. It wasn't long before she found the community and position that would become her happy place for the next 36 years as the Animal Control Officer for Charlestown, RI.

Kathy's unwavering compassion and tireless care for animals made an immeasurable impact on all the animals and people she worked with. Alongside dogs and cats, she embraced horses, rabbits, chickens, pigs, goats, guinea pigs, ferrets, birds, and even pet rats. In more than three decades, she improved the lives of thousands of animals and always sought to bring people and animals together in the most healing and meaningful ways.

Beyond her work for the Town, every aspect of her life involved animals. From dog sledding to horseback riding, to her own constantly evolving family farm, Kathy's heart and soul were dedicated to animals. Her other great love was music, and she followed her favorite band, The Tedeschi Trucks Band, in concerts throughout New England. Kathy loved her life, and she will be forever celebrated and missed by her many friends and all the caring people she touched.

She is survived by her sister, Susan Racine, her nephews Jeffrey and Matthew Racine, and her two nieces Sabrina and Regina McA'Nulty. A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Friends of the Charlestown Animal Shelter, 50 Sand Hill Road, Charlestown, RI 02813.

For online condolences, please visit www.buckler-johnston.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

As Huberto and Imelda pass by, be careful

MAGA Supreme Court threaten American lives and freedom

The Court’s right-wing MAGA majority is shredding the Constitution and denying our rights.

By Paul Gordon 

The Supreme Court begins its new term today. This happens every year. But this year is different. We live in a very different country than the one that existed a year ago.

During Donald Trump’s second term, his administration and allies have been using the force of government to intimidate the American people into surrendering our constitutional rights. So in a system based on checks and balances, that means the Supreme Court has never been more important.

With Congress under the control of ultra extreme forces, it’s been up to the courts to stop Trump from becoming a tyrant. Across the country, district and some circuit judges nominated by both Democratic and Republican presidents have shown themselves up to the task.

However, their patriotic work is all too frequently undone by Trump’s collaborators at the Supreme Court. As we prepare for a new Supreme Court term, we should be aware of how the far-right justices have already chosen to help Trump take our democracy apart, piece by piece.

Most notoriously, before the 2024 election, they infamously ruled that he cannot be prosecuted for illegal actions he takes as president. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

In the Trump v. CASA case last June, they severely cut back on the ability of courts to effectively block enforcement of even the most blatantly unconstitutional policies. In that case, the Court’s MAGA majority allowed Trump and his administration to carry out policies that are likely unlawful during the months or years it takes for the merits of the case to be decided.

The CASA case was about stripping Americans of their citizenship based on their parents’ immigration status, so-called birthright citizenship. But the dangerous principle applies to the violation of any constitutional right.