Did you know that Ten Lives Cat Rescue is run entirely by volunteers? We currently have over 60 volunteers in various roles helping us achieve our mission—to save homeless, abused, and abandoned cats by providing veterinary care, rehabilitation services, and then placing them into loving adoptive homes.
Maggie has been a volunteer with Ten Lives Cat Rescue for almost three years, and is currently our Adoption Manager. This means she gets to work with our awesome crew of adoption coordinators who work hard and are dedicated to matching each of our rescue cats with their purrfect furever home. Maggie originally had three resident black cats: Perrin, Peter Parker, and Poe. All were taken in from outside. Recently, she adopted a fourth cat from a local shelter. It seemed he was likely not going to get adopted because of his health problems and other factors, so she decided to bring him to his new, potentially temporary home. Fortunately, her resident cats (even her most stand-offish!) accepted him into the pack! His name is Paxton, and he is also a mini house panther.
1. How did you originally hear about us, and what made you decide to become a volunteer?
I originally heard about the organization through my cats’ Instagram account. We are friends with Melissa’s (the co-founder) cats on Instagram, and there was a post about looking for volunteers. I decided to join out of a strong desire to contribute to the mission of the rescue, which I found to match with my core beliefs of cat adoptions and care.
2. What is your favorite story or memory while volunteering with us?
I must say that I have a soft spot for our forgotten felines. Those that come to us with severe health problems, injuries, and potentially more. Those that may be turned away elsewhere. Each of these cats have touched my heart, and I just love to watch them heal and blossom.
3. What have you learned during your time as a volunteer?
I have learned that there are so many wonderful people out there, from the fosters to the volunteers to the adopters, who care with all their heart for the health and wellbeing of cats in need of homes, love, and, at times, patience and understanding. It’s amazing to see what kind of impact a group of dedicated volunteers can have on a community.
4. What do you wish other people knew about us?
How dedicated all of our volunteers are to the wellbeing of cats in the community, how hard we strive to match each cat to their purrfect home, and also that volunteers don’t have to be local—I actually live a few states away!
5. What do you do when you aren’t volunteering?
I work mainly as a research scientist, specializing in biogeochemistry, hydrology, and immunology. I also love to get outside with my partner, and, of course, I spend a good amount of time trying to entertain our cats.
6. How do you think Ten Lives Cat Rescue will change over the next five years?
I think that the organization will continue to grow and touch even more hearts in the greater Rhode Island area and beyond! I have been so impressed with the capacity of TLCR to grow and all of the amazing ideas our volunteers and founders have to expand the positive impact TLCR has on the community’s cats and people.
7. Why should others consider volunteering with us?
Others should consider volunteering because TLCR was born out of the belief that every cat is adoptable and should be given a chance to find a loving home. This is an admirable approach that is unfortunately not universal.
8. What have you gained while volunteering with us?
I have gained a great appreciation for the process of matching cats with their forever homes. It is incredibly rewarding to see our rescue cats blossom in their homes. I also have had the chance to talk with wonderful people, who share stories about their lives and the animals who have touched their hearts.
9. How much of an impact do you feel your volunteer work has had with Ten Lives Cat Rescue?
I’m not sure how much of an impact I have had individually, but Ten Lives Cat Rescue depends greatly on its volunteers, and as a team of adoption coordinators, we have helped find so many cats their forever homes. And that feels fantastic.
Are you interested in volunteering with Ten Lives Cat Rescue? Fill out a Volunteer Application, become a foster, sponsor a Forgotten Feline, and purchase needed supplies through our Amazon Wishlist.