Volunteer of the Month - November 2022

This month we are celebrating Todd Sprague from the cat care team! Todd’s help has been invaluable not only with the kitties but with other volunteers as well. He has helped train new volunteers, and he is a pro at finding cats who need to be rescued. His dedication and years of service are more appreciated than he could ever know.

Here is Todd's story in his own words:

How did you start volunteering with VOKRA?

I was interested in looking for an organization that was helping to save stray and homeless cats from living on the streets in Vancouver. The question of where to take a stray cat with no home often crossed my mind, but more concerning was what type of treatment the cat would receive. Upon checking online to see if there was anything out there, I discovered VOKRA and was immediately drawn into becoming a volunteer to join their team.

How long and in what capacity have you been volunteering?

I joined VOKRA in the autumn of 2017, and chose to work with the cat care team. I figured it would be a good fit for me since I am quite shy and more interested in a "hands on" type of position. The work performed involves maintaining a daily feeding routine, ensuring the cats & kittens are given the correct diet that is specified in their logbooks. It is also important to do a visual inspection so that I can notify the medical personnel if there is anything that seems abnormal such as, missed bowel movements or wounds that are causing discomfort. And last but not least, a general cleanup and tidying of their litterbox and kennel, as well as cleaning up their food bowls.

What is your favourite part of volunteering?

My favorite part of volunteering is, knowing that our team's efforts are going toward keeping Vancouver's kitties safe and healthy as well as finding good homes for them to be loved and spoiled.

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

I have always been crazy about cats since I was a child, so it's hard to pick and choose one that stands out. Every cat has a unique personality that makes them special and quirky. I currently have two cats, Harold and Mimi. Harold is a big boy that wandered from the alley into my home one night, and he has never left since. And Mimi is a feisty little girl that I adopted from VOKRA, she is obsessed with jumping on my back and falling asleep!

Cat care team lead Angie says: "Todd has been a consistent, kind and flexible volunteer for more years than we have records for! He is a champ at training new volunteers, patient and diligent in all he does. He is even great great at choosing friendly cats that need rescue, having saved a local stray who stole the hearts of all at VOKRA, Hot Toddy, a handsome ginger. His dedication to the kitties and his fellow volunteers has made him a delight to work with. He came in during some of the most strenuous COVID times, always making sure the kitties were cared for. He is an asset to the organization and volunteer of the month!"

VOKRA co-founder Karen Duncan has this to say: "Todd has been a wonderful volunteer since the beginning. He is very observant on health issues and so kind and careful with the cats. He has recently had yet another cat find him and ask for help. We took the cat in and the very happy owner was found and reunited with it . We were able to help have this one neutered for the family and hopefully it won't wander off anymore. He has become a great member of the team and even puts up with our wacky sense of humour at OPs. Thank you Todd for all you do for the cats ! "

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

If you are interested in volunteering for VOKRA apply here.