If you're like me, you just loveanimals. I mean getting excited when you pass someone walking a happy dog on the street and exhilaration when an animal decides it wants to be your friend. Maybe I'm slightly more eccentric about my love of animals than most people (I mean if there's any sort of creature at the party, you will find me by that animal without exception.) But no matter what your background is as a pet-owner reading this article, I'm sure we can all agree that animals are adorable, and the happiness they can bring into our lives cannot easily be described in words. I've come home to my pug on a bad day, and it's like he knows; he'll just climb onto my lap and give me kisses. And then there are cats, too. I've never owned a cat, but several of my friends do. (I love them just as much as dogs. I can't choose what type of person I am! Judge me for it.)
Recently, I've gotten to spend a lot of time with many furry felines at the Central Ny Spay Neuter Assistance Program also known as CNY SNAP. I volunteer at this shelter on Central Avenue Cortland a few times a week. I'm not going to lie, the building smells of cats as soon as you enter, but the cute kitties love when the people come to help and feed them. So many of them approach you when you walk through the door or when you open their ages; they're friendly and want to be pet and loved. Some are feral and scared though (,but these cats are kept in cages marked with red dots so volunteers know.)
The shelter houses a lot of cats that have been surrendered, or given up because they couldn't be cared for, many of which have medical issues. CNY SNAP gives them a temporary home with the medicine and care they need, and they also hold clinics for local pets to get spayed and neutered.
This is a picture of me and a cat that was recently adopted named O'Malley. He was around ten years old, and his purr was like the hum of a lawnmower because his vocal chords had been slightly severed when he was younger. He was one of the friendliest cats I've ever met, and I'm so happy to have cared for him during his success story in finding a forever home.
To be honest, there are so many cats that I cannot remember all of their names. I rely on the medicine sheets and collars to identify them while I'm there. All of the cats below are at CNY SNAP, and those that are not in cages are able to be adopted.
Volunteering at CNY SNAP includes refilling the food and water dishes, scooping the litter boxes, wiping the floors of the cages, and playing with the cats to socialize them. Many of them love to interact with people after being alone or with their one or two buddies in the cages.
This is a picture of my favorite cat currently at the shelter named Fabio climbing on my shoulder. He loves to climb on people and be cuddled. Currently, he has an infection in his eye and is undergoing treatment. Regardless of his sickness, he is one of the most optimistic, loving cats I've ever met.
This is half of what CNY SNAP refers to as the West Room. This is before I swept, so please excuse the mess. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'm sure it's apparent why I've grown to love a decent amount of these cats.
If you want to add an animal to the family, why not adopt? There are animals in need everywhere, and some pet stores have a reputation of mistreating and abusing animals. Shelters were founded to foster animals who need homes, so if you're interested in volunteering or adopting a kitty who needs a home in Cortland, please leave a message at (607) 756-2561.
