Rachael Horton was known for always having a smile on her face, but friends say that smile was especially bright when she was around animals.
"Her heart was so big and she had so much love for these animals," said Pet Owner Teresa Proffitt, who often took her cat "Pooh Bear" to get treatment from Horton at Gentle Care Animal Hospital in Forest. Horton worked there as a veterinary assistant for seven years.
"She wore her heart on her sleeve," said Proffitt. "She was just an angel here on earth."
"She was always the one giving someone extra blankets, heating up their food," said Jennifer Hair, Horton's former co-worker at Gentle Care. "She was very dedicated to the nursing aspect of being an assistant."
Hair said she often witnessed Horton putting animal needs in front of her own.
"I think she just had a compassion that a lot of people don't have," said Hair.
Horton and her husband, Aaron, died last month when their apartment near Rivermont Avenue burned.
Just before her death, Horton was trying to set up an animal fund. It stemmed from something she saw at the hospital pretty often: pet owners unable to pay for expensive medical procedures like surgeries and x-rays.
"If the owner said I can't pay for those, (Rachael) would always be the first one to say 'I can help,'" said Hair. "She wanted to start taking a little bit of money out of every paycheck to set aside for these cases."
Today Hair and others at the hospital are trying to carry out Horton's wish.
They've established "The Rachael Horton Compassionate Care Fund." Money raised will go to hospitals across the area, to help pet owners pay for expensive care and avoid putting their animals to sleep.
"It's what Rachael would have done," said Hair. "Whether she had the money or not, it's what Rachael would have done."
If you'd like to learn more about the fund and ways to donate, you can call Gentle Care Animal Hospital at (434) 534-9894.
You can also visit the website and facebook page dedicated to the fund.
