Margarita began volunteering with Furry Friends in July 2023. Before that, she had supported us through monthly donations for about a year.

Roberta had volunteered with the Best Friends Animal Rescue in Utah when her family lived there. But after moving to Washington in March 2020 (just as the pandemic broke), she looked around for a local organization. Since Furry Friends was listed on the Best Friends website as a companion organization, she promptly checked us out — and here she is!

Rosie came to us as a tiny kitten in early April. Right away we could tell something wasn’t right about one of her hips. Her leg just dangled and she dragged it along when she walked. We thought maybe it was dislocated.

Heather, who has been volunteering with us since December of 2022 not only helps at the spay/neuter clinic but fosters countless kitties as well. Prior to joining Furry Friends, she had been actively involved for many years with spaying and neutering other adoptable kittens and cats.

James, who has now been volunteering with Furry Friends for a year, got involved when both of his cats sadly passed away within months of each other. Uncertain as to whether or not he was ready for any new cats, he missed that special cat energy and became a volunteer instead.

Jaimie began volunteering with Furry Friends in 2019. She had been looking for volunteer opportunities in the community and came across us during an online search. She started with one Halfway House shift a week, then two, and then joined the Board of Directors, doing grants writing and fundraiser events. Ultimately, she not only became President, she also acted as Treasurer for awhile.

Furry Friends is delighted to extend a warm welcome to volunteer Jim Grafmyre, who has joined our Executive Board. Jim holds the role of Facility Maintenance, Information Technology, and Security.

As a Monday evening shift worker, Megan has been volunteering for Furry Friends since March 2023, and although she generally spends two to three hours a week at the shelter, she subs regularly and is often here multiple times a week.

Emily has volunteered with Furry Friends since July of 2022. She had wanted to volunteer for a cat rescue ever since adopting her kitty from a cat rescue in Portland. When she and her husband moved to the Vancouver area, she was determined to find somewhere to both volunteer and photograph kitties to help get them adopte

Caitlin has played an active and satisfying role in Furry Friends for nearly two years. She joined us after one of her sweet kitties passed away. To help grieve, she thought the ideal solution would be to volunteer with cats. When she discovered us, she found that, together, we were a perfect fit.

A longtime feline fancier, Bill translated his love of cats into helping cats by volunteering for Furry Friends beginning in 2021.

Dr. Marci Koski is a certified feline behavior and training consultant in Vancouver, Washington but works with cat guardians all over the world. She earned specialized and advanced certificates in Feline Training and Behavior from the Animal Behavior Institute, and established her business, Feline Behavior Solutions, in 2014. She also has a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Fishery and Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University and had a career as a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for over ten years, where she worked toward the conservation and recovery of threatened and endangered species.

Kate Goudschaal has become an expert in caring for newborns—newborn kittens, that is. In her 15 years of fostering, she has volunteered for various animal rescue organizations, including Furry Friends, which she joined more than two years ago.

National holidays, while celebrated by people, aren’t always cause for celebration by our cats. For them, a holiday like the Fourth of July means one thing: fireworks. Or simply put: NOISES, LOUD and SUDDEN noises.

Heather Steinmann has a rich history with Furry Friends.
She and her husband Jon joined the cat rescue organization about nine years ago after they adopted a kitten and its Mamma from the non-profit. When the couple learned that Furry Friends had a shelter, Heather said, “Oh there’s somewhere I can volunteer, and I started.”

I know it seems really contradictory to say not all rescuing is responsible rescuing. Rescuing, by definition, means “to save,” so how can anyone rescuing an animal not be doing what is right?

I’m unique in that I volunteer my writing skills to this amazing rescue in Vancouver, WA from my home in Toronto, Ontario, Canada! As for the journey that brought me here? Words are my passion and were my profession. A journalism graduate from The American University in Washington, D.C., I’m the bestselling author of seven novels, one work of non-fiction, two volumes of poetry, and hundreds of articles.

Nothing gives Betsy Sanford more joy than getting to know the cats who live at the Furry Friends house and giving them “cuddles and a little fun.”
“They are each so unique,” she said. “I really enjoy trying to help a cat adjust to human touch and maybe relax a little if they are stressed.”

Furry Friends is a nonprofit no-kill cat rescue and adoption organization based in Vancouver. Serving the greater Vancouver-Portland metro area, Furry Friends seeks to provide local cats in need with proper medical and emotional care while waiting for a forever home, rescuing abused, abandoned, or otherwise unhoused or unadopted cats with a safe place to stay while searching for their perfect human companion.

April 30th is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day and we at Furry Friends ask that you consider saving a life by adopting a pet – purr-eferably one (or two) of the fabulous felines WE shelter.

Don’t let the Easter Bunny forget about your fluffy feline when he comes a hopping down the bunny trail. Remember the kitties with a basket filled with goodies they will like.
For the container, use a plastic basket or bucket, a decorative box or container made with untreated wood. Some of the purchased Easter baskets may be treated with toxic chemicals or paint. Handling the basket may be okay, but if your pet likes to chew on these tempting baskets, he/she may end up with an upset stomach.

  When Jack and Rayne, both 14, passed away, Donne was “not in a position to get a new cat”; so she researched volunteer opportunities with cats in Vancouver and found Furry Friends. She has been a member for a year and is a shift lead on Wednesday nights.

A true animal lover, Lorien Kelly owns five cats and fosters others as needed, and she has a “little back patio sanctuary” where she feeds a family of raccoons and a pair of opossums.  Lorien became involved with Furry Friends in April 2018 while she was caring for an injured stray that showed up one day on her patio.

Fury Friends and our supporters are ending a most challenging year as 2022 draws to a close. The aftereffects of Covid on the veterinary profession and on animal welfare overall caused many trials, but we have risen to the challenges and look forward to growing and improving in 2023 with the help of our many dedicated volunteers.