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Work Spacer Laura Walker to the rescue |
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Written by Leah Kientz
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Thursday, 15 March 2007 |
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Heidi Muller | for NEXTnc
Laura Walker holds her cat, Duchess. Walker hopes to eventually raise enough money for a shelter to help cats find homes and care.
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Laura Walker always knew the reason she was put on earth. Her passion for helping animals began as a young girl and has grown with age.
“When I was 14, I made a promise to myself to collect all of my money to buy a shelter by the time I was 18,” said Walker, 36, of Fort Collins. “Now I am revisiting that dream.”
She started working at pet stores as a high school student in Colorado Springs and continued through college while attending Franklin and Marshal University of Pennsylvania.
Her love for animals grew and when she returned to Colorado, her life’s mission was awaiting. While working at the Pike’s Peak Rescue, Walker became enchanted by a neglected stray Persian cat named Duchess.
“I fell in love with her,” she said. “I would be across the room and she would stretch her paw out trying to reach me.”
Duchess was on the verge of being euthanized because of improper breeding. Her nostrils were too small for her to breathe and other health problems caused her teeth to decay.
The nostrils of Persian cats, as well as other flat-faced cats like Himalayans, are a main concern when breeding because the amount of air they can breathe is important to their normal functioning. Many of these cats become strays.
Walker was driving away from the shelter when she turned around and drove back.
“I realized I left my cat back there,” she said.
Duchess became Walker’s inspiration to begin the Flat Faced Friends Rescue. Starting small, she tried to rescue at least two cats a year, to cover the licensing fee. That was just the beginning.
“I saw the number of Persians that could be saved but weren’t,” she said. “They didn’t have the chance to be adopted.”
Flat Faced Friends relies on the support of the community until it obtains an actual shelter. Most of the cats only need to be looked after for two weeks by a foster care provider before they can be adopted.
“You have to be able to let them go and know that there are other good homes besides yours,” she said.
Through donations and foster care homes, the rescue has managed to save about 780 cats.
Her goal for the future is to save enough money to buy a building to house and care for the animals. This would expand her capacity and allow her to eventually offer veterinary care.
“I can’t save them all, but I can save some,” she said.
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TO HELP
www.flatfacedfriends.com
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VITAL STATS
Name: Laura Walker, 36, Fort Collins
Company: Flat Faced Friends Rescue
Title: Director and founder
How long have you worked there? Seven years
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IN HER WORDS
Did you ever think in a million years you would work here?
Yes and no. When I was 14, I found out about the euthanasia that happens at shelters. I vowed to save my allowance until I was 18, so I could buy a place for all the kitties that would otherwise be euthanized. That determination lasted a whole three months — a lifetime of not going to movies or buying music at that age! Then I finally realized that even if I saved every penny, it still wouldn’t be enough to buy a shelter, so I went on a spending spree at the music store.
What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever done at work?
Um... I sent a male cat to get spayed (ovaries removed) once. Now, in my defense, he had a very dense coat and the shelter I got him from had labeled him as female, so I didn’t look that close. But yeah, my face was pretty red over that one.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever done to make money?
Hmm... would that be working as a counselor at a dating service or selling fake dirt? Probably both.
What do you do during your breaks?
Sit down and relax. It’s about the only time I can.
What’s one thing in your life that really prepared you for this job?
A lifetime of having animals around. My family had cats from when I was 3 years old. I was an only child, so the kitties were a great source of companionship. They were also great scapegoats, since I didn’t have any siblings to blame things on. :)
Name one thing about your job that you would do even if you weren’t paid to do it?
Well, every single bit of the rescue, since I’ve never been paid to do it. As far as pet training, I’d keep on doing that, too.
What do you do when you are not working?
I’ll let you know if that ever happens...
How many cats and other animals do you have? What kinds?
I own four cats — Duchess (my only flat-faced cat), Toga, Smokey, and Goldie. I own three dogs — corgi Gryffin, Australian Shepherd/corgi mix, Tucker, and wheelchair-bound wonder pug, Sugar. Ah yes, and three corn snakes. | Only registered users can write comments.
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