Volunteer of the Month - March 2021

Tanita @ Cattea_Artistry

The days are getting warmer and at VORKA that can mean only one thing… kitten season is here. Kitten season, which typically runs from March - October, is the time of year when a majority of kittens come into our care. During kitten season we’ll rescue anywhere from 700 - 900 kittens and ensure they’re all adopted out to loving, forever homes.

This month we’re celebrating Tanita Egger, a member of our adoptions team who helps manage our list of approved adopters patiently waiting for kittens (it’s a VERY LONG list!).

Here Tanita tells us in her own words why she volunteers wit VOKRA:

How did you start volunteering with VOKRA? 

At my school, there was an ad by (then VOKRA volunteer) Becky Ahmed to join the medical team. I had just graduated and was looking to help in the vet field as I am a Veterinarian Assistant by career.

How long and in what capacity have you been volunteering?

Maverick, photo by Tanita @Cattea_Artistry

I started in January 2016 with the medical team and then joined the photography and adoptions teams in September 2017. Additionally, I joined the cat care team in March 2018. Last year with the COVID-19 restrictions I decided to just focus on adoptions. During kitten season I am a “kitten wrangler”, that means helping with our lengthy waitlist for kittens. Kitten season in 2020 started late and ended late, so we still have a lengthy waitlist but a great team to handle it.

What’s your favourite part of volunteering? 

I love helping people and animals. Maria, one of VOKRA’s co-founders, has taught me so much from my time at the Operations Centre. I am forever grateful for her tutelage. Seeing cats leave for foster was always a favourite moment of the day. Then hearing about the adoptions of long-term residents like Rennie and Samantha, and seeing them happy in their furever homes, would make me do a happy dance!

Do you have a favourite kitty you have met or a favourite story from your time with VOKRA?

Charlie, photo by Tania @Cattea_Artistry

Favourite kitty at VOKRA? I have loved them all, but Jorje and Charlie hold special places in my heart. I would spend time with them, reading aloud from whatever book I was reading at the time. I like to think Charlie preferred Hemmingway to Austen. Jorje I don’t think had a preference, he just enjoyed the attention. 

Jorje was the greatest conqueror of ringworm! He knew the drill about baths and meds and patiently went along with it all. He would talk a lot while he got his bath and I would sing back to him, mostly Sound of Music. Maybe he was trying to drown me out with his baritone meows. His last day at Ops, after his fluids treatment and before he left for his long-term home, we had a great cuddle and mini-photo shoot.

Peg Sullivan, the lead of our adoptions team, has this to say about Tanita:

photo by Tanita @Cattea_Artistry

“From Tanita’s first training session, she’s shown she can take on any task that’s asked of her. She’s also taken on many other roles and responsibilities with a smile and a "can do" attitude. She’s been a star with kitten wrangling in a very difficult year.  I wouldn’t be able to do this without her and my team.” 

THANK YOU Tanita for all the time and effort you put into helping ensure the kitties of VORKA find furever homes! We all truly appreciate your support and dedication!

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

VOKRA’s always in need of volunteers and we have many positions you can do from home. If you’re interested in volunteering click here.