A non-profit organization that shows an infectious love for cats has been chosen as one of the finalists in the A-List category for favourite charitable organization.
Katie’s Place Animal Shelter is a no-kill animal shelter that treats every cat as precious, regardless of their age or health.
Gina Schulli is a board member with the organization, and she handles adoptions and social media, posting photos of the many cats – the cute ones and the characters.
“Our community engagement has been through the roof,” she said, and she talks to would-be cat owners on social media platforms, answering their questions and giving them advice.
On any weekend, members of the public can come to see the cats, and they come from across Maple Ridge and as far away as Vancouver Island.
They have had a record number of adoptions so far this year, averaging about 50 per month, but going as high as 70 in September.
They work out of a facility on Jackson Road, right next to the SPCA. There are nine rooms, each with an enclosed “catio,” for fresh air, and there’s between six and 20 cats per room. In the middle of October, they had around 110-115 cats.
They started in the early 2000s, as a barn that would help feral cats – half wild, shy cats that were deemed unadoptable.
The first cat they took in was a matriarch named Katie.
Schulli noted that Katie’s Place is run by a great team of volunteers, and nobody is getting paid.
“We’re doing it on top of our full-time jobs, because we love it,” she said.
It’s gratifying work, as they often take cats that other shelters have not been able to adopt out – some are challenging to place in a home.
“It’s a wonderful community of supporters we have,” said Schulli. “There’s something really gratifying about finding a 20-year-old cat that’s palliative their forever home.”
Katie’s Place will offer financial assistance to those who adopt cats needing veterinary care.
“I’ve volunteered at a lot of shelters, and one difference with us is the post-adoption support we give.”
To be chosen as a favourite charitable organization on the A-List is an honour.
“It means the world to us – we work really closely with the community,” said Schulli. “It’s nice to know the work we do is appreciated and valued.”
Two other charitable organizations were also among this year’s finalists for favourites: Cythera Transition House Society and the Friends in Need Food Bank.
Cythera offers a safe refuge and the necessities for women and children fleeing from abusive situations, providing emotional support without judgment, in a confidential environment.
Friends in Need Food Bank has been feeding people in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows since the early 1980s, and each month supports almost 3,000 individuals by sending them home with groceries.