My Nonprofit Reviews

I am a Volunteer at Gifford. I help out with the cats when I can and I assist in fund raising for the shelter. That is what T do for them. What they do for me is so much more. In May of 2010 I moved back to Boston from 8 years in South Florida. While in Florida I rescued 2 cats. One was born with a deformed left rear leg. I named that cat AC (Another Cat). The other one was solid black, not a spot of white on her, so I called her Snowball. Because the house I was moving to in Boston had serious allergies, my cats stayed in Florida with my neighbors who had grown to love them. But once back here I was catless. Not happy. So a friend mentioned Gifford and i fell in love with the place, the people and of course the residents. I would visit a couple of times a week, bringing roast turkey as a treat for the cats. Then in 2014 I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Lymphoma, and began a series of Chemo therapy. Due to a weakened immune system, my medical team did not want me visiting that many cats. So, for almost a year and a half I had to stay away. But once I was able to go again, the cats welcomed me with meows and leg rubs waiting for some turkey. (at least those who were still residents and that included a feral colony that has now been taken into the population, socialized and some have been adopted). There are of course many new faces that have come to know me and it seems each time one really attaches to me, they find a furever home. It is sad for me but great for the cats and the new families. Now that the cancer has been beaten, my kidneys are/have failed and my strength is not what it used to be. So each visit to Gifford is special to me. To sit in a room with a shy cat and wait for them to come to me and when they do, is a special time for me. To finally hold a cat that has been abused by humans and to know that they trust me enough, gives me a great feeling. To simply play with kittens while they get used to people. keeps a smile on my face. So, I thank Gifford for being there when I really need them and wish them at least another 130 years of being there for all cats, regardless of their age or medical needs.