Nick and Angie Stuff have a heart for animals.

The newlyweds got married on Aug. 6. One of their first thoughts was to use part of their wedding money to help animals.

The couple covered the adoption fee for one of the longest-tenured cats at the Humane Society of Richland County. That fee covers spaying, rabies vaccination, FIV/feline leukemia test and flea/deworming.

"It was so heartwarming," said Linda Chambers, executive director of the humane society. "It says a lot about their character. They had just come back from their honeymoon, and all they were thinking about was helping animals."

Angie Stuff said, "We are both animal lovers. You should always try to give back to the community."

Their love of animals is no surprise. Angie Stuff, a deputy warden at Mansfield Correctional Institution, has overseen the MANCI cell dog program for nine years. Inmates work with homeless dogs, training them to get them ready for adoption.

Nick is a captain at the prison. The Stuffs already have three dogs and a cat of their own.

"We knew we couldn't adopt, but we wanted to pay it forward," Angie said. "That's important to us."

The cat the Stuffs are sponsoring happens to be a 3-year-old tortoiseshell named Tortie. She is referred to as Dior at the humane society.

In her short life, Tortie has overcome a number of challenges. She was featured in a News Journal column in late May. Tortie lived in the alley by the paper.

Tortie had two kittens in October. She was caught in April in hopes of getting spayed. Unfortunately, the cat was already pregnant again.

Tortie went to the humane society, then to a foster home for three months. While there, she gave birth to six kittens.

After giving birth, Tortie became very ill, suffering from a potentially fatal postpartum infection. She has since made a full recovery and is ready for her forever home.

All six of Tortie's kittens were adopted quickly.

"I want to make sure she goes to a good home, not just because she's free," Angie said.

Chambers will make sure that happens. Any prospective owners would have to submit an approved application. They would meet Tortie and learn about her personality and what would be a good home for her.

Chambers describes Tortie as "very sweet, a little shy at first." Once she warms up to a person, she shows plenty of affection. The executive director says Tortie would benefit from a calm, quiet home where she can adjust at her own pace.

She's getting a better chance because of the Stuffs.

"They specifically wanted to help a cat," Chambers said.

They didn't stop with sponsoring Tortie's adoption fee. They also bought supplies, including food and non-clumping litter for the shelter.

Nick and Angie also donated money to help care for 13 cats that were dumped at the humane society last week.

When Nick found out the humane society relies on donations to operate, he said he and his wife would help more often.

Even before the Stuffs went to the humane society, the couple went to the Richland County Dog Shelter, where they sponsored the adoption fee of the dog that has been there the longest.

That dog is not yet up for adoption. He will go through the MANCI program.

In addition, Nick and Angie donated money to pay for cheeseburgers for all the dogs at the shelter's next adoption event.

Previously, Angie helped four dogs in Aruba, where there is a major stray dog problem. The dogs' mother had been poisoned, so Angie brought the four offspring home. They went through the prison's obedience program and were adopted by prison staff.

She and Nick hope their generosity will spark others to do their part.

"We were happy to do it, and we hope to keep on doing it," Angie said.