Gloria Lionz Volunteer Spotlight
“I began volunteering in early December of 2023,” Gloria says. “I got involved because I’d decided that I wanted to work with cats in need, and a Google search led me to Furry Friends. I was subsequently connected with Gail Bauhs, Supervisor of Socializers.
“I’m currently a Socializer, working every Tuesday afternoon for between 1 and 1.5 hours depending on my availability. It goes without saying that my favorite part of volunteering is being with the cats and getting to know my fellow volunteers. My biggest challenge, on the other hand, is occasionally having to miss Tuesday’s session. I ALWAYS MISS THE CATS!
“I spend time getting to know and comfort the newly arrived cats to make them feel safe, seen and loved. I work with the other volunteers to provide the kind of interactions that help them acclimate to a life of calmness and joy. Prior to each shift, I learn from the other volunteers about which ones are new, which ones are ‘fussy,’ which ones need extra TLC, and so on. Then I check in with them and let them ‘show me’ what they need or want on that particular day. Our ultimate goal: help them find their forever pet parents.
“My proudest moments as a volunteer?
(1) When I met ‘Sam,’ a 6-month resident who had been returned to the shelter because her ‘mom’ couldn’t give her a calm environment. She was traumatized and had serious PTSD. Everyone cautioned me against expecting to be allowed anywhere near her. After several minutes of singing to her and sitting beside her cat tree, she allowed me to pick her up and love on her. In 45 minutes, she was totally relaxed. At the end of my shift (1.5 hours), she was well on her way to a new life.
(2) In July of 2024, I organized a fundraiser asking friends to donate $$ so that I could purchase high-quality food for the shelter kitties. To my delight, I was able, with the help of additional donations from the companies that participated, to purchase $1,000 worth of cat food for them!
“The reason I give back is because I love cats, and on strict ‘orders’ from my own cat, Apollo, a 7-year-old Snowshoe Siamese adopted from a Portland shelter in 2018, I’m allowed to visit the kitties provided I don’t bring any home. He doesn’t want to share his mom.
“While I still work as a Life Coach, I’m also a party/event planner, and enjoy writing poetry and stories (some published).”
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Furry Friends Volunteer Spotlights are compiled and written by Nomi Berger who is the bestselling author of seven novels, one work of non-fiction, two volumes of poetry, and hundreds of articles. She is a volunteer writer for Furry Friends in Vancouver, WA and also volunteers her writing skills to animal rescue groups in Canada and the USA.
