Margarita Kjerbol has outlived empires, crossed oceans and weathered a world war. She turns 103 this year. And through all of it, her appreciation and love for animals have never wavered.
Born Margarita Belzig von Kreutz in Berlin, she spent her childhood in France as a Russian political refugee, often viewed as an outsider in the communities she moved through. Her earliest companion was a dog named Patapouf. When WWII fractured Europe, Margarita was a student at a Catholic convent in Brussels.
After the war, she left Europe for Venezuela. That’s where she met Georg Kjerbol, a Danish civil engineer whose career would eventually bring them to Seattle. His credits include, remarkably, the design concept for the I-90 Mt. Baker Ridge Tunnel. Georg also gave her a dog named Douchka. As the couple moved from Uruguay to cities across two continents before settling in Queen Anne in 1961, Douchka made every journey with them.
Douchka accompanied her through the joys and challenges of life in a new country, offering the same faithful companionship that Patapouf once had.
When Douchka passed away, the loss was profound.
“Even now, after many years, I still miss him,” Margarita says. “Since then, I decided never to own another pet.”
She stopped owning animals. She never stopped caring for them.
“I continue to entertain others’ pets, however, if they come my way. Dogs, cats, birds, racoons – I’m always interested in their needs and personalities,” Margarita adds. “But Douchka will always stay in my heart, along with Patapouf of my childhood.”
Animals remain a constant presence in her life. Visiting friends often arrive with four-legged companions who are greeted with the same curiosity and affection Margarita has always offered pets.
Over the years, she has reflected deeply on what animals teach us.
“The genuine joy shown by happy pets cannot be compared,” she says. “People often go through tough times and emotions, but pets so often show their love and basic sense to comfort and cheer us up again.”
Margarita’s lifelong bond with animals inspired her to name Seattle Humane as a beneficiary in her will.
For Margarita, it was a natural decision. Leaving a legacy gift means something very personal to her, “Assurances that pets brought into Seattle Humane will always be treated with the utmost love and care, including cure of illnesses, before ensuring adoptions by people who already appreciate the special bond with a pet.”
Seattle Humane relies on the generosity of planned giving donors like Margarita to provide shelter, lifesaving medical care and adoption services for thousands of animals every year. Planned gifts ensure that animals continue to receive care for generations to come.
The PawPrints Legacy Society comes with a number of benefits, including a personalized shelter tour, a recognition display in our lobbies, an invitation to our annual PawPrints breakfast celebration and other exclusive events as well as discounted pricing at the Seattle Humane online shop.
The animals were always there for her. Now she’s making sure someone is always there for them.
