Shane was a lifesaver during his time in the military. These days the Navy corpsman is still saving lives, this time of the feline kind.

“…my own identity”

It was 1984 when Shane enlisted in the Navy. He trained as a hospital corpsman, dedicated to providing a wide range of medical care to Navy and Marine Corps personnel and their families.

This new role added another dimension to how others perceived Shane—and even how he saw himself.

“I remember it was being one of the first times in my life I had my own identity,” he shares. “Instead of being ‘Norma’s son’ or ‘Marlene’s brother’—two designations I still love—I was ‘Corpsman,’ ‘Doc,’ or ‘HN McAfee.’ It took some mental adjustment.”

Shane spent the majority of his enlistment at a since shuttered naval hospital in Charleston, South Carolina, where he worked in the cardiac care, intensive care, and post-anesthesia care units. The work was gratifying, especially when he ran into people he once treated living their everyday lives.

“One of the things that I always found rewarding was the aftermath of treating patients who had horrific medical events. More than once, I would see a former patient walking around in the mall,” he says.

“The fact that I contributed even a fraction to that person being up and walking around again was more rewarding than I can express.”

Years after separating from service, Shane continues to dedicate himself to the wellbeing of others.

A personal touch

After leaving the Navy Shane settled in upstate New York. He works in quality assurance for a Rochester-area call center, and when not at work enjoys the company of his wife, children, and grandchildren.

In 2023 Shane joined our companion pet adoption program for military veterans and adopted an older cat named Gracie. For two years Gracie was deeply attached to Shane and his family before she passed away in her sleep, suddenly, in early November 2025.

The Navy corpsman confides that he has never had a strong attachment to cats, despite his love for Gracie. But true to his giving nature he was content in the knowledge that feline friends made his family happy.

“Honestly, I am not the cat lover,” he says. “My wife and kids are a different story. Seeing the positive impact a cat has made for my family has, in turn, a positive impact on my life.”

After Gracie’s passing Shane insisted on time to process the family’s grief. However, it was not long til he found himself back at Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester to save another four-legged soul. And once again he chose to adopt through our program.

“When I adopted Gracie, I literally applied to them on my phone while sitting up in bed late one night. It took a business day to approve and I was off and running to Lollipop Farm the following weekend,” he says.

“When I informed [Pets for Patriots] that Gracie passed, they didn’t just email. Ted called me and talked me through some of my grief. It meant a great deal to have such a personal touch. When I was ready to adopt again, the process was, again, quick and seamless.”

A blessing

It was the end of November when Shane and his family met Rosie at Lollypop Farm. They were barely out of the door with their newest charge when Rosie added a little drama to her departure from the shelter.

A staffer was bringing out Rosie in the cat carrier Shane provided when suddenly a commotion ensued. Somehow the carrier came apart and Rosie “tried to make a break for it.” Thankfully the shelter offered a loaner carrier so that the family could transport her safely.

Once home, Rosie isolated at first—typical behavior for a newly adopted cat. But soon she would make her mark.

Rosie and the family’s older cat, Blaze, were fast friends from the start. And unlike Gracie, who had affection for all members of the family, Rosie tends to favor the true cat lovers in her clan.

“Rosie bonds more with my wife than she does with me,” Shane shares. “I sometimes call her a snob because she often avoids me petting her. With that said, when I pull in to my driveway she’s watching from the dining room window.”

Despite being a serial cat adopter Shane admits he is still not a true cat guy. And that is okay with him, especially since Rosie has taken a shine to his wife.

“That, in turn,” he says, “blessed me.”

A legacy of lifesaving

The Navy corpsman has once again settled into a life with cats. He appreciates the joy that Rosie brought back to his household, despite his not being the favorite member of the pack.

And that is just fine with Shane.

“She doesn’t cling to me as much as my wife and son, which works for me,” he says.

“She’s not a fan of being picked up and held—unless it’s my son who, for some reason, has feline amnesty from her protests.”

Rosie keeps a respectful distance from visitors, preferring to devote her attention to her family. That includes a fascination with one particular toy with which she has developed a comical routine.

“She has one unique perk. We have a play toy shaped like an ear of corn. She will play downstairs with it all day long,” Shane explains.

“However, if we take it upstairs, she will grab it at the first opportunity and immediately take it downstairs—every single time.”

Shane’s generous nature has led him to save unwanted cats, despite not being a fan of felines. In many ways it is unsurprising that a man who devoted himself to saving the lives of others in the Navy extends that same humanity to innocent animals in need.