We recently had the pleasure of taking a tour of VOKRA, Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association. Their intake facility is based in East Vancouver on Wall Street. This non-profit was founded by two amazing ladies Karen Duncan and Maria Soroski who along with their army of volunteers do great work in our community. Army is a great way to describe the operation of this non-profit, particularly as it relates to the organization of it. From the volunteers, to the fosters which number over 350, the medical staff, the feeding and care of the cats in their care at the facility, the fundraising, the day-to-day operations of the facility. It takes an army to do the work that they are able to do. VOKRA started 19 years ago and became a non-profit organization 18 years ago. Karen and Maria created the organization in part to deal with the large feral population in Vancouver and have made great strides with their Trap-Spay-Neuter program. Through this program, their hard work and passion for what they do, they have now been able to keep down the numbers of feral cats/kitties coming into the facility. Their focus has shifted somewhat to focus more on lost, injured and abandoned cats. Unfortunately, due to rental restrictions in Vancouver, pet rescue organizations are seeing more abandoned cats. As one that’s assisted in reuniting pets that are lost, the sheer volume makes us wonder why cats are allowed outdoors. If you wish to adopt from VOKRA, note they do have a strict indoor cat policy. They’ve witnessed first hand what happens to cats that encounter coyotes, raccoons, cars and disease. Their focus is on education and responsible pet ownership which we applaud.
What we also learnt is the amazing support network that VOKRA has built up over the years. People volunteer their time and give resources to this organization, but VOKRA regularly gives back as well. They are located in an area where there is some low income housing and if a senior or low income resident comes looking for food for their cat, if they are short that month, VOKRA has them covered. This organization is a labour of love. We think these women deserve medals, keys to the City, or a day or two off. If you are interested in volunteering at VOKRA whether it’s fostering cats, helping with paperwork or fundraising, check out Volunteering at VOKRA.
Going forward we will be featuring some of the cats in foster waiting for their FURever families. For now, we leave with some photos of cats currently in their care.
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