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
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