In the new year, CatNap, like everyone, will be working toward resolutions and new goals.
Our first resolution is not to change who we are and the way we do adoptions.
“This is who we are; this is what we do.”
Over the years, working at CatNap, I have heard this many times from Bobbi. Being there every day I know what this means. I see it every morning when I walk in. I hear it in every phone call I take from a person looking to surrender a cat, whether I am able to take the cat or not. I see it in every adoption, every kitten going out to foster, every small mammal or bird finding a safe place to be.
Not everyone is in the shelter every day, or even at all. For those of you in that position, I will share this:
“This is who we are…”
There are only a few staff at CatNap. Though a small group, we are all dedicated to the work. We come from various backgrounds with different experiences. One thing is true for all of us; CatNap is more than a job. It has made its way in to our hearts and lives and cannot be removed.
Bobbi, the director and founder, bought a boarding facility (Cats Only) in 1997. With a background in purchasing and a love for cats, Bobbi and her husband put everything they could in to the facility and eventually it became CatNap from the Heart. In recent years, after much training and counseling of them, Bobbi now has a staff she feels confident can carry CatNap into the future.
Colin came to CatNap as a volunteer shortly after graduating with a BS in Communications and quickly became a valued employee. Always willing to do what is needed to get the job done, he is invaluable to the shelter. In addition to managing the adoption and boarding area, he also spent time cross-training in the intake area. Although he has recently become part-time, he still makes himself available to the shelter on his days off when we are short-staffed or need additional help.
Tina, the assistant Director, came from a biology background and has a BS. Previously working in a chemical plant as a lab technician and as a design assistant at a graphic arts company, she found CatNap when looking to adopt a cat and began as a volunteer. Now she runs the front of the house with Bobbi, as well as Facebook and other social media sites, answers emails from home, and creates majority of the fliers and other advertisement and fundraising you see for the shelter.
Jay is our newest addition, courtesy of Colin (they are brothers). Also having started as a volunteer shortly out of college with a BS in molecular and cellular biology, Jay has taken up many of the things Colin once did when he was full-time. Although he has been with CatNap for only a year, you would never be able to tell. Jay has already started cross-training in the intake area as well as managing the volunteers. Most recently he has been promoted to the position of Kennel Manager.
Tara also found CatNap when looking to adopt. Having recently left a graduate program for Clinical Psychology, she was looking to work with animals. After filling out an application she began volunteering the next day in the Health Evaluation area. Although her position started as simply cleaning cages and medicating the animals in her area, it quickly evolved. Tara spent much time perfecting her application of medical knowledge and medications, created shelter protocols, and taking many continuing education classes in her own time. She also created a blog for the shelter. Some weeks she even attends outside adoption events in addition to her normal work week at the shelter. She now fills the positions of Intake Manager and Health Evaluation Manger.
Bob is a valued member of our part time staff. He works mainly in the kitchen keeping up with the constant flow of dishes, carriers, litter boxes, and critter cages needing washed. Many days we would be lost without him!
Elizabeth is a part time volunteer who recently became an employee. She has been a valued member of the CatNap family for years. She is working on cross-training in the medical area and is a pro with small mammals and birds. She spends her days at CatNap working in any area she is needed and always maintains a professional attitude. She is an amazing young woman and will certainly be a success in whatever she chooses to do! She will soon be attending college and we are so excited to support her through this adventure.
Adeliah is a very valued member of the kennel staff. She has been with us for several years and is cross-trained in all areas, including medical. She is always willing to step in and help with anything and always works quickly and efficiently. She spends her mornings caring for the animals in the adoptions area and then often assists in the medical area helping Tara care for the cats there before working with small mammals and birds in the afternoon.
“…this is what we do.”
A shelter’s goal should be to find adoptable animals homes, right? So many shelters have pictures of happy adoptions in their facilities, smiling faces of families with their new pets and even updates months later. I wonder, do they receive emails from their former cats? Do they have families sending pictures 16 years later?
CatNap is different. Our animals are different. Our animals heal hearts and bring people out of darkness. Our animals change lives and inspire people.
A family with two little girls lost one of their guinea pigs. They came in looking for a new friend for the remaining guinea pig. One of the girls is severely allergic to all animals except guinea pigs. This makes their pets important to them in a way beyond companionship. It also makes them very spoiled pigs! Being that the one daughter was so allergic to cats, the guinea pig meet-and-greet had to be carefully planned so as not to trigger the girl’s allergies. We ended up finding a promising match and sent the family home with a loaner cage and supplies to continue the introduction process at home. When they left, the mother told the staff member helping them that they will never go anywhere else and that she could not believe someone would spend so much time with them trying to find the right guinea pig. She explained that most people just see them as simple pets but to her girls they are everything.
A cat brought in to CatNap who had been abandoned by his previous owner found a wonderful home with a single mother and her son. After several months we received an email from the mother. She explained that she suffered from depression and on the days when she did not want to get out of bed the cat would lay with her, bring her toys, and encourage her to “snap out of it”. He helped bring her out of her darkness. She credits him for helping her find her way out of depression.
One of the cats that had been with us the longest was recently adopted by a man who came in on the day he buried his brother. That night she made herself right at home on his chest, giving him all the attention he needed. He came in the next day to show us pictures and let us know how wonderful she was. She was just what he needed.
Many stories just like these make their way back to us. Some are as simple as people emailing, calling, or stopping in to let us know how perfect the cat or kitten they adopted is, how well it fits in to their family, how it sleeps with their children, plays with their dogs, or befriended their other cat who was lonely from losing a friend. Some stories are as stirring as those above.
All are inspiring.
This is the true meaning of the phrase we hear so often. This is what we mean by “This is who we are; this is what we do.”
Happy New Year to all from CatNap from the Heart!
*Some of this may seem familiar as it was used in our most recent newsletter. *
Welcome to CatNap From the Heart! 