Meet Lisa, one of our cat fostering and cattery volunteers who has fostered over 100 cats!
Please tell us a little bit about your life outside of BCDH
Most of my time is spent looking after fosters! But I also enjoy gardening, nature, cinema and theatre. I’ve always loved animals and spent many years in Borneo volunteering and working for various orang-utan charities. This is where I become more involved with conservation and worked in Indonesia for International Animal Rescue. I’m a trustee for a fantastic charity for orang-utan vets called OVAID ? Orangutan Veterinary Aid and I also do dog walking for The Cinnamon Trust.
How long have you been volunteering at BCDH?
Since February 2016, so nearly 7 years.
What do you do here?
Twice a week I help in Hurle cattery, socialising cats and kittens, as well as helping out with general duties like cleaning and stocking up supplies.
I also foster cats and kittens. I mainly take in kittens - sometimes litters with their mum, orphaned kittens, older kittens. But I also foster adult cats who are not coping so well in the cattery environment.
Why did you want to volunteer for BCDH?
When I returned to the UK after working in Indonesia, I wanted to continue helping an animal charity so looked to BCDH. I’ve always had cats in my life, so I signed up to help in the cattery and then started fostering.
What do you most enjoy about volunteering?
Feeling like I’m making a difference to the animal’s lives. With kittens, it’s nice to know I’m setting them up for their life to be as stress free as possible in their forever homes.
With the older cats who struggle in the cattery, it’s nice to see their confidence grow and their characters shine through. Which helps to find them their forever home as quickly as possible.
What would you like to say to anyone considering volunteering for BCDH?
Go for it! It’s very fulfilling to help to make a difference in an animal’s life.
Interested in fostering? » Click here to visit our fostering page for more information.