Meet Maria!

Occupation: Loan Closing Administration – Banking

Years with Purrfect Match: 5

My personal pets:

For most of my adult life I have either had 2 cats and 1 dog, or vice versa. Last year I said goodbye to my sweet dog, Rockie. I had the absolute pleasure of loving and caring for almost all of her thirteen-year life. I am the happy caretaker of four cats at my house – Sammy, Kate, Mona, and Poppyseed. All of my pets have come from rescue groups - all but Sammy were taken in by Purrfect Match. Sammy was found as a kitten next to a dumpster in West Memphis with a bum leg and crusty eyes. Kate came from Tipton County Animal Shelter as a young cat and got so sick from her time there she came home with me to recover. She fit in with me, Sammy, and Rockie so well that I adopted her. Mona's previous owner, an older gentleman, surrendered her to Purrfect Match when he started to lose his vision and feared he wouldn't be able to care for her well. Poppyseed came from a hoarding situation where I could tell she was loved, but she was emaciated and lacked social skills due to that environment. 

My favorite part about volunteering with PM:

There are so many wonderful things about volunteering with PM that it has been very hard to decide which favorite part to share. I will say one of the coolest things is being the first one at the house for the day. I work on Saturday mornings and when I am the first to arrive, I am the first human the kitties are seeing that day. Some are vocal, saying hi or even, I’m hungry, haha! Some are still sleeping, some are already awake and comfortably lounging in their beds or hammocks. Some start eating their dry kibble which makes me think they are happy for the company, but it is also the morning so maybe they are just eating breakfast. There’s a gentle stillness in the quiet of the house as the kitties know the day has begun. They know they are about to get fresh food and water, clean litter and bedding, and meds if they need it. They know they will be petted, held, or hugged, or all of the above! And I know I’m the lucky one that gets to spend a few hours of my day with them.