Did you know that Ten Lives Cat Rescue is run entirely by volunteers? We currently have over 70 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.
Alison has been volunteering with Ten Lives since December 2019 as one of our amazing fosters, and she has recently taken on the crucial role of Spay and Neuter Coordinator. She is currently fostering FOUR cats: Ben Franklin (who is available for adoption!), Casper, Agent Orange, and Karuna. Alison also has her own resident cats and a rescue pebble. In her words, she “has a crew!”
1. How did you originally hear about us, and what made you decide to become a volunteer?
I’m on the board of Funds 4PAWS, a local, non-profit fundraising group that helps defray veterinary costs for families and shelters. Funds 4Paws hosts a fall pet walk fundraiser, and Ten Lives has participated in both past and this year’s pet walks. In 2019, I saw a post for an urgent need for a foster for a 12-year-old diabetic kitty named Eleanor. I responded, a volunteer brought Eleanor to me, I instantly fell in love, and a few months later, she was adopted by a wonderful family. I’ve been fostering ever since.
2. What is your favorite story or memory while volunteering with us?
It’s hard to pick one! Watching Eleanor go from a shut down, terrified, insulin-dependent cat that was in danger of being euthanized to a sleek, healthy, spoiled princess who has her mum wrapped around her paw has been AMAZING. The night that my sickly newborn foster kitten, Burroughs (now a foster fail) finally latched onto her bottle is another!
3. What have you learned during your time as a volunteer?
I have learned so much about bottle babies!
4. What do you wish other people knew about us?
I wish more people knew how rewarding fostering is, and what a huge impact Ten Lives makes on the lives of hundreds of cats every year.
5. What do you do when you aren’t volunteering?
Photography, painting, and I picked up sewing during quarantine last year. I always have lots of helpers with all my projects!
6. How do you think Ten Lives Cat Rescue will change over the next five years?
I think we will continue to grow and offer more Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) services.
7. Why should others consider volunteering with us?
Ten Lives is an amazing group of people, and it’s so rewarding to be able to save lives just by opening up my house.
8. What have you gained while volunteering with us?
So much! The satisfaction of changing lives, of helping people find their new best friends, watching cats gain confidence, and a wonderful network of fellow volunteers.
9. How much of an impact do you feel your volunteer work has had with Ten Lives Cat Rescue?
I’m pretty medically savvy, so I’ve been able to say yes to cats with medical needs and act as a resource for other volunteers.
Are you interested in volunteering with Ten Lives Cat Rescue? Read about our open volunteer roles and fill out a Volunteer Application, become a foster, sponsor a Forgotten Feline, and purchase needed supplies through our Amazon Wishlist!