This month we’re celebrating Diana Berris, a volunteer who spends her time at our barn sanctuary ensuring the kitties who live there are fed, have a clean environment and their health is monitored.

Here Diana tells us in her own words how she became involved in VOKRA and about her volunteer work:

Tucked away in the Southlands neighbourhood on a privately owned horse farm is a VOKRA shelter many may not know about. The "barn" was set up for VOKRA as a sanctuary for feral and semi-feral cats in need of a safe space. The cats who live there have either lost their homes or had injuries that made living outside too dangerous. Over the years, some 60 cats have come and gone from the barn. Many were tamed and adopted or moved to foster homes.

In 2017, while searching for volunteer opportunities, I discovered VOKRA was looking for people to help at the barn and I applied. Earlier in my life I would have balked at the prospect of being surrounded by cats. The briefest feline encounter would launch me into fits of sneezing and make me want to scratch my eyes out. Today, I spend hours at the barn with fur flying up my nose and am none the worse for wear. Go figure!

My official shift is Monday morning but, like the other Southlands volunteers, I'll sometimes take other shifts if no one else is available. Volunteers feed the cats, ensure they have fresh water, sweep the shelter, change bedding, clean the litter boxes and, of course, visit with the kitties and monitor their health. When I began at the barn there were almost 20 cats; today there are 10 and they're all older. It's always painful for me when a barn kitty passes away, but I guess that's just part of loving them so much. The positive side is knowing they've had a life of comfort and care rather than fending for themselves.

The barn is made up of a small, heated room and two larger, fully enclosed outdoor areas, which need to be winterized and summerized as the seasons change. In winter, plastic sheeting is put up around the outside of the shelter to provide protection from the elements. Heavy blankets are draped over the many cat trees so the kitties have cozy nooks to curl up in. In summer, the plastic is removed to promote air flow and the blankets are replaced with lightweight bedsheets. Keeping the cats cool during this past summer's heat dome was a particular challenge. I have a vivid image of VOKRA co-founder Maria running around the shelter flinging pails of cool water in the general direction of fleeing kitties.

Unlike at VOKRA’s Operations Centre, where cats come and go, the residents of Southlands barn have lived there for years and volunteers get to know their unique personalities and quirks. There's Grover, a chonky black and white boy with half a tail, who, despite his girth, manages to climb to the highest perches to snooze; Purrito, a sweet-natured boy who regards the entire barn as his personal litter box (as many of the cats do, although plenty of "real" boxes are provided); and Suki, an elusive beauty who wears a cloak of invisibility that often makes her impossible to find.

Brando in foster care celebrating his last Christmas

And then there was Brando. My heart. Brando was living behind a chicken slaughterhouse when he was rescued by VOKRA. I met him my first day at the barn when he greeted me at the door, which he would do from then on. Brando was a dishevelled tabby with a squinty eye and a cauliflower ear. He was FIV+ and suffered from chronic rhinitis, so he wheezed constantly. He was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. And a real love bug. I remember thinking to myself during my first weeks at the barn, "this one is gonna break my heart." Well Brando did break my heart -- he passed away earlier this year. Along with the grief, however, is the comfort of knowing he had many good years at the barn with his kitty pals and he spent the last part of his life in a warm home with a loving foster mom.

Going to the barn, for me, is like stepping into another world. There are horses, donkeys (including a newborn at one point!), raccoons, eagles, crows, herons, and of course, the kitties, all in a tranquil farm setting. Once I get there, I become so immersed in my tasks and surroundings I tend to lose track of time. Indeed, there have been occasions when I’ve emerged from the barn, looked at my phone, and been shocked to discover five or six hours had passed. In this mad, mad world, it truly is therapy for the soul.

I'm grateful to VOKRA for the opportunity to work at Southlands and would like to thank Maria, Rebecca and the other barn volunteers for their support and their commitment to our little residents.

Rebecca Love, team lead at the Southlands barn, has this to say,

"Diana rises to the occasion whenever asked, always coming out to help with special projects or emergencies. She goes out of her way to care for our cats, catering to their individual needs with ease and kindness. We are grateful for her time and contributions."

THANK YOU Diana for your dedication to all the cats at Southlands. The time and effort you spend ensuring they are well taken care of is much appreciated.

As a volunteer-driven non-profit, we clearly couldn’t do what we do without our extremely dedicated and hardworking team of volunteers. Thank you to each and every one of you!

VOKRA’s always in need of volunteers. If you’re interested in volunteering click here.

Volunteer of the Month - December 2021

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