Volunteer Spotlight: Jean Billingsley

When the Best Buddy Pet Center in Maryland Heights opened in 2017, Jean Billingsley jumped at the chance to volunteer. She was retired and looking for something to do. A love of cats led her to the feline enrichment program.

She spends Monday and Friday mornings socializing with the cats and helping them become more comfortable in the shelter environment.

She takes them one by one to a get acquainted room, where she will play with the cats and give them lots of love. Other times, cats aren’t comfortable coming out for play time, and she will talk to them and pet them in their kennels.

“I enjoy working with cats of all different personalities, from cats that are afraid of human touch to cats that climb and sit on my shoulder,” she says. “The most rewarding part of this role is when a cat gets adopted.”

Jean encourages anyone who is considering volunteering with the feline enrichment program to give it a try, and to “be committed to a time and day that works with your schedule.”

Learn more about volunteering by clicking here.