URSULA

Please tell us a little bit about yourself

My name is Ursula and I moved to Ireland from Germany at the beginning of 2023. I believe that volunteering is the best way to settle into a new community and I love animals, so when I saw the KLAWS poster at the Kenmare shopping centre I knew I found the right place to do so.

How do you volunteer with KLAWS?

I am assistant treasurer, and I foster kittens, especially bottle-fed kittens.

Why did you decide to become a volunteer with an animal rescue charity?

I have always volunteered throughout my adult life.

What have you learnt from volunteering?

I have learned to love and let go. It is not the easiest thing to pour all your love and effort into the survival and wellbeing of an animal and then let them go to their forever home. But love shouldn't be selfish, and this is good training.

Is there anything about volunteering that you didn’t expect?

I had to actually be more honest with myself and not take too much on.

We know that working with rescue animals can be challenging — it can be stressful and heartbreaking at times. How do you cope with difficulties?

I have my two adult cats Socks and Bazi who are there for me. If I have a bad or overwhelming day, their purrs get me through the night.

What have been the high and low points of your time as a volunteer? Maybe you have some standout (foster) stories to tell?

Some time ago, I took in a foster cat when I was still living in Cork. Nobody thought he would make it. He was very ill, full of parasites and feral. People said he looked like he would kill me in my sleep.

He did look a bit frightening, so I called him Pretty (I am a bit stubborn) and told him that he would be the prettiest cat ever if he just pushed through with me. After 3 months he was the biggest most beautiful teddy bear that everybody fell in love with.

This year I raised four bottle-kittens whose mom was killed on the road when they were just over one week old. It was very hard work and many sleepless nights. But seeing them now as cuddly, beautiful kittens thriving in their new homes, makes it all worth it.

What would you say to someone who’s thinking about volunteering?

I think volunteering is one of the best ways to look after your own mental health. You connect with your community and can contribute in a meaningful way to whatever area you spend your time in.