Jean Luc Interviews Volunteer Teri C.

JL:  Hi Teri and thank you so much for agreeing to this interview.

TC:  It’s a pleasure to be talking to you!

JL:  Even though we have, in accordance with CDC guidance, loosened some of our COVID safety protocols, just to be on the safe side I am going to lay on this chair and you can sit on the floor approximately 6 feet away from me, ok?

TC:  Uhm, sure…that would be fine.

JL:  How long have you been volunteering with SPCA and the Orlando Cat Café?

TC:  I’ve been volunteering with the Orlando Cat Cafe since January 2018.

JL:  I’ve known you for a very long time now!  What made you interested in volunteering at The Orlando Cat Café?

TC:  I’ve always been interested in working with animals. When we moved to this area in 2017, I began to explore options for volunteering and came across the Cat Cafe. My husband and I visited and loved it. I signed up right away for Volunteer Orientation!

JL:  It’s a tale as old as time!  One look and it’s really all it takes!  What do you enjoy the most about your job?
TC:  I love trying to match up people with the best cat for them. I especially like to try and find a match for the older and shyer cats. I just helped to get Gabby and Desmond, two older cats, adopted!

JL:  I loved Gabby and Desmond and I love that you helped in finding their purr-fect match!   What do you enjoy the least about your job?

TC:  Seeing cats who keep getting passed over. Most cats get adopted rather quickly; however, there are some that don’t. I’ve seen a few cats that seem to be sad and that makes me sad.

JL:  Do you have any advice for people who want to work in the animal welfare arena?

TC:  It is sometimes difficult because there are many cats that you want to bring home. The best advice is to continue to advocate for them all but especially the older, shyer, passed over ones.

JL:  I couldn’t agree with you more.  And at Orlando Cat Café you know they all eventually find their purr-fect match!

TC:  Yes, and that makes me so happy!

JL:  What do you like to do outside of work?

TC:  I am an avid Orangetheory Fitness member. I also love to travel. We haven’t been on many trips in the past year but hopefully we can start traveling again soon.

JL:  I don’t know anything about Orangetheory but I do know quite a lot about “Cookie Theory”.  If you want, I can explain it to you after this interview is over.

TC:  I would be very interested in hearing all about Cookie Theory!

JL:  Last question, because you are starting to look a little uncomfortable sitting on the floor – do you have any pets of your own?

JL:  Yes, I adopted Amber who I absolutely adore from the Orlando Cat Cafe back in 2018. She was adoption number 163. Now the Cat Cafe is over 1,300 adoptions! I like to think that I’ve been a big part of that success.

JL:  You absolutely are, Teri!  On behalf of all the kitties at Orlando Cat Café we thank you for everything that you and all the other SPCA volunteers do for us!

TC:  Thank you so much for this opportunity, Jean Luc!  And let’s hear about this Cookie Theory of yours…