I’m so surprised and touched to be named a volunteer of the month – thank you!  I’m a lifelong animal lover and donated to Wild Blue for years but didn’t start volunteering until this past spring when the quiet of my “empty nest” really hit me.  My twins are away at college and 2 of my cats died of cancer in a short span, leaving me with only one last cat (Button). Because stray cats were such a huge problem where I previously lived in California, I became a proud “crazy cat lady”, taking in as many as I could over the years.  When we moved to Colorado I rented an RV to transport my then 7 cats (plus 2 fish & 2 kids) comfortably.  Since adopting my “soul dog” (Tobie) I discovered I love dogs just as much but Tobie insists on being the only queen of my life so it’s safer to focus on cats in case I can’t resist adding more cats back into our home!

I am currently volunteering with Kaylene’s Kradle, Maya’s Wildheart Village, and Socializing, and try to fill in where & when I can.  I am also hoping to foster; my first WB foster took an emotional toll as my medical foster Inglenook (who I had of course fallen in love with) passed suddenly of cardiac failure, so I’m trying to get brave enough to ask to foster again.  I think that’s why I’ve particularly loved helping with Maya’s Village – since it’s a lifetime sanctuary I can safely get attached and they feel like old friends I look forward to visiting.  And the other teams allow me to get my “kitten fix” and give love to scared or lonely cats without actually adopting so it’s perfect to fill that empty spot in my life.  I am in awe of the dedication of the longtime volunteers that I see every time I’m there – devoting endless hours & energy & love.  What you do is amazing and I’m so grateful the the Wild Blue family has made me feel so welcome and allowed me to become a small part of the wonderful, crucial good that you do.