Jenaya Grace Watkins Volunteer Spotlight
I have been volunteering with Furry Friends since August 2023, but I previously volunteered with them for a few months back in 2016 or 2017, when I was still in high school.
Always passionate about animals, I had been looking into some local shelters and animal organizations to get involved with, and I happened upon the website for Furry Friends. I’m so glad I did!
Volunteering for two hours every week as a shift worker, I feed and water the cats, clean their enclosures/litter boxes, and socialize with them and love on them when I have extra time. My favorite part is meeting so many different cats from so many different backgrounds, earning their trust, making a connection with them, and playing a small part in their rehabilitation and recovery. It is very gratifying to witness the journeys of these incredible cats from their initial intake to their adoption. I also love interacting with my fellow volunteers! I work with a wonderful group of people.
I give back because I believe every cat (and every creature in general) deserves to feel safe, loved and cared for. I have always been passionate about caring for sick or traumatized animals, and I think being a part of Furry Friends is a beautiful way of putting that passion into action.
Although I don’t currently volunteer for other organizations, I’m fairly involved with my church, which has a lot of volunteering and outreach opportunities. I also house sit and pet sit for private clients and friends, as well as through the Rover app. In the past, I volunteered for several local ranches, where I cleaned the horses’ stalls and assisted young kids with grooming, tacking up and riding the horses. It was a lot of fun, and I’d love to get back into it!
Besides caring for animals, I am most passionate about listening to and giving a voice to those in our community who are often marginalized and heavily judged (especially within the church). It is one of my deepest desires that every human being, regardless of our differences, feels safe, worthy and loved.
At home I have an 8-year-old black DSH named Marelle. She is a feisty one for sure! Fun fact: I named her after the two friends who gave her to me. Their names are Mary and Ellie, so I combined their names and came up with “Marelle.” As for “hidden” talents, I played the violin for 13 years while growing up. I don’t play often now, but I occasionally like to pick it up and play some piano/violin duets with my mom, who is an excellent pianist.
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Furry Friends Volunteer Spotlights are compiled and written by Nomi Berger who is the bestselling author of seven novels, one work of non-fiction, two volumes of poetry, and hundreds of articles. She is a volunteer writer for Furry Friends in Vancouver, WA and also volunteers her writing skills to animal rescue groups in Canada and the USA.
