My Nonprofit Reviews

Saturday is my favorite day of the week because that is the day I spend at Gifford. I actually look forward to getting up by 7 AM on my day off to go to Gifford. The shelter not only provides a fulfilling and safe place for cats in need, it does the same for those of us who volunteer there - I think I can go ahead and speak for everyone when I say that.

Walking in the door to Gifford is like stepping through the threshold of your second home, where you live happily with 30 cats. The cage-free, ingeniously built environment allows the cats to live as normal a life as possible, peacefully sharing their communal space as they await the day when they will meet their new human friend. Cats who are new, or would just plain prefer their own space, are given the sanctuary of a personal room or pen (the size of a typical large dog run at other shelters) equipped with their own furniture and window to bask in the sun.

The care that is put into the environment, socialization and medical and emotional care of the cats at Gifford can turn even a terribly frightened and feral animal into a ready to trust, perfectly adoptable (if maybe a bit shy) treasure that you could not imagine not taking home with you. Thankfully, my cat prefers to be the only cat for me, or i would now be the proud owner of countless Gifford cats!

Gifford works hard for its cats. A no-kill shelter, Gifford makes a commitment to cats that they take in to be in it for the long haul and they never flinch in that promise. Gifford not only accepts cats that are FIV positive or have other ailments or conditions, they make enormous efforts to provide top notch care for every cat. Sometimes that means simply including vitamin supplements in the morning dish of wet food. Other times that means providing for surgeries that cost in the thousands to better the quality of life, or going to heroic lengths to try to save the life of the new ill, abused and neglected "stray" that finally found a place where people would care for him rather than ignore him.

Last year i started investigating shelters to volunteer at and I hit the jackpot when I stumbled upon this hidden (yet longest running shelter in the country!) gem. Gifford is not only the most wonderful place I would love to find if I were a cat in need, it is the most wonderful place for us humans who spend our time with the Gifford cats. Not only are we lucky enough to hang out with the amazing cats who pass through the doors, the shelter director Debbie never fails to let you know how thankful she is for our time. A sentiment I can always only ever respond to with a big - No, Thank You(!) for letting me come here!

Hello, my name is Stephanie and I am am a Gifford addict,
Come join me!!!!

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