Veronica (Roni) Roderick Volunteer Spotlight
“I have been fostering kitties for Furry Friends since June 2013,” Roni says. “To date, I’ve fostered a total of 23 litters which included 18 mama cats and 115 kittens. I’ve even done a round of ‘bottle babies.’
“When I looked up agencies on the Internet, I was extremely impressed with Furry Friends’ mission. I promptly called and spoke to Linda Rader who not only brought me my first litter but proved to be a source of great information and help during her tenure with Furry Friends.
“What I especially love is dealing with pregnant moms: going through the birth process, watching the kittens’ eyes first open, seeing them take their first steps, weaning them from their moms, and, ultimately seeing them all be adopted. The first pregnant mom I fostered stressed me out so much because I wasn’t sure what to expect that I swore I’d never foster any pregnant moms again. It has since become an addiction!
“One of my proudest moments as a foster was having a pregnant mama who gave birth to five kittens, all of whom were adopted by friends of mine based on all of the Facebook postings I create for each litter.
As to why Roni gives back? “I believe that we’re put on this earth for many different reasons,” she explains. “My main reason is to help those who can’t help themselves. Being such an animal lover, fostering kittens was something that I could do. And I love it!
“I used to work full time and when I began working part time, it gave me the time I needed to be the best foster mom possible. I also volunteered for a while at a Hippotherapy ranch. Hippotherapy is a treatment that uses a horse’s movements to help improve their sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems.
“I’m passionate about such issues as animal welfare and the preservation of wildlife habitats. Also, after having my in-laws live with us for the last few years of their lives, I’m trying to educate myself about benefits for the elderly. Once again, this is my ongoing desire to help those who can’t help themselves.
“We have seven cats at home: one older cat from another rescue before my involvement with Furry Friends, two ‘foster fails’ from two of my Furry Friends’ foster litters, and four from other Furry Friends’ fosters (two of those were from Jenn Hutchman).”
As creative as she is compassionate and generous, Roni loves knitting baby hats for charities, scrapbooking and, according to her, hopefully starting their own brood of chickens this year.
___________________________________________________________
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.
