Today marks the beginning of my 7th year as a volunteer photographer at the Dumb Friends League animal shelter in Denver.
What a journey.
Blur was the first cat I photographed.
Riley is the most recent cat I photographed.
There have been hundreds, probably thousands in between. Each one more precious than the last.
My 7 year old Kukki is the reason I signed up to volunteer (after three training classes, a background check and a one-on-one interview). Adopting him at age 1 in 2018 was my introduction to the [at the time] newly remodeled shelter. I was intrigued with the place, with the people I met.
Just a few weeks into my volunteering gig I fell in love with Tobie.
Tobie was 10 years old, had a 4/6 heart murmur, some additional minor medical needs and was extremely charming. We took him home on Easter Sunday in 2019 and renamed him Kobie. Upon his first visit to our Vet Clinic we discovered his heart murmur was more like 2/6 and the skin disease he was diagnosed with no longer existed.
He is almost 16 now and despite being diabetic (in remission) and hyperthyroid, is thriving and still our loving, affectionate boy.
Is it difficult not to adopt more? Does the Earth rotate around the sun? Of course it is. I fall in love every time I set foot in the building. I’ve come close a few times, but having a full house of rescues of my own even I know when to put on the brakes. I’ve only come this close once and that was with Gabby.
Gabby was a 13 year old girl with chronic kidney disease. It’s a malady that occurs often in cats as they age. It can be managed nicely often for years, but eventually it does get more serious. Having had a few senior cats in my life and having dealt with CKD I was worried about Gabby’s adoption possibilities. So I introduced her to my husband, who somewhat reluctantly agreed that if she wasn’t adopted by xxxx date, we would take her home.
She was adopted the next day. And not by us.
I have learned so much. I have developed a fondness for senior cats with all their gentle and settled ways. Cats like timid 13 year old Brownie who found a beautiful, loving home.
The ones, like seniors, who are often overlooked ~ missing an eye or missing a limb or have a chronic, but manageable disease like Cerebellar Hypoplasia, similar to Cerebral Palsy in humans.
I have learned what FeLV is (feline leukemia) and what panleuk is – both dangerous to felines and the dreaded ringworm, not fatal but a pesky thing to deal with. I know about URIs and UTIs and Calici. I have fallen in love so many cats with a condition called FIV (Feline immunodeficiency virus) which simply means a cat’s immune system is slightly weakened. What I have discovered spending time with them is their charming personalities!
Hans was the first FIV cat I came to know and he stole my heart.
There have been many, many FIV cats who have crossed my path since Hans and what I have seen in each one is a common thread. They are, more often than not, rough and tumble boys of the street; once in awhile we will see a girl FIV cat, but most often boys. Oscar was in the shelter for a long time, eventually went into a loving foster home and then got adopted.
They exude gratitude. Gratitude to be safe and loved. I say they have something extra in their DNA, a special love gene. They are across the board affectionate, funny and loving. I remember one particular FIV cat (although his name escapes me) - the only cat I have met who sat on my lap, put his paws on my shoulders and hugged me. More than once. Is your heart melting? Because mine is.
I’m a huge advocate for the FIV kids. You can see that on full display with my pal, Buddy (and Bucky in the background) in 2021.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention a few kittens who snuck their way into my heart. There was Billie who turned out to be a working cat, but a social one. She liked me but didn't want me to know it. She would hiss as I approached her but would eventually give in and let me pet her. When she was getting ready to go to her new home I whispered to her, "You text me if you need me and I'll come get you."
Then there was Spitfire, whose name was eventually Clay, but my colleague and partner in all things cat, originally named him Spitfire. This little one liked to hiss, too. He was large and in charge. (Not really.) I didn't fall for his little hissy fits. We learned quickly that was just a defense mechanism and he was merely a timid little guy looking for love.
I have learned that different breeds of cats have different personalities, not always but often. Red tabbies also known as orange tabbies or ginger cats are personality plus (like my Kukki). They are social, outgoing, quirky, funny, clever and mischievous. Brown tabbies (I have one of those, too) are a lot like gingers, affectionate, loving and a little mischievous as well. Tuxedo cats are whip smart, torties are spicy, ragdolls are cuddle bugs and lynx point mixes can be very curious and clever. The list goes on and on.
I have learned a lot about photography (and trial and error), how to best edit photos to show cats in their best shining light. I have learned how to approach timid cats, working cats, feral cats and the drop dead gorgeous cats (who make my job easy).
And the unexpected bonus has been making some very like-minded human friends. The ones who teach me, guide me, laugh with me and cry with me.
In these times, more than ever, I am humbled and grateful to do what I do. Here’s to Year Seven!
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