Sue Bertrand – Arvada, Colorado
“The first time I saw Tux—a beautiful black-and-white ‘tuxedo’ cat—scoot across the shelter floor,” recalls Susan Bertrand, “I was surprised at how fast he moved on just two legs.”
Sue volunteers at Angels with Paws, a local shelter, where she met Tux, a paraplegic cat. They bonded immediately, and she found the opportunity to give him a chance to enjoy life outside the shelter. His courageous and loving spirit moved Sue to write about Tux in her essay for Almost Perfect, and how he inspires people to remember the beauty of life in the simplest ways.
Writing and Professional Background
- Currently: Medical assistant and records reviewer
- 2003-current: Volunteers at Angels with Paws, a no-kill cat shelter, and manages a thrift store that supports Angels with Paws
- 2003: met Tux, the black-and-white cat, at the shelter
- 2001: Queenie, Sue’s all-black domestic shorthair, joined Sue and her husband, Kim Bertrand. Because of Queenie’s unconditional love and friendship, Sue fell in love with all cats and wanted to give the same friendship to cats in need.
- 1996: Moved to the Denver, Colorado region, where she plans to stay
Education and Personal
- 1994: Graduated University of Wisconsin with a B.A in Linguistics/Anthropology
- 1992: Attended Milwaukee Area Technical College for an AAS in Graphic Arts
- Early 1970s: Moved to Milwaukee, where she attended college
- 1952: Born in a rural farming community near Hartford, Wisconsin
Volunteer Work and Other Activities
- Partly responsible for EthnicVegan.com, a vegan website that posts researched and tested vegan recipes
- Taught English as a Second Language for five years in the Denver and Arvada public school systems