Val has volunteered with Lort Smith as a foster carer since 2012. As a foster carer, Val takes home animals who aren't quite ready to be adopted. Some stay with her for just a few weeks, while others stay long-term as they start new medication, grow stronger after an operation, or simply get a break from the busy shelter.
Val studied feline behaviour and psychology, and is particularly passionate about supporting fearful and under-socialised cats. She mostly takes on what are affectionately called "scaredy cats": cats who seem aggressive, but are often experiencing fear, anxiety and stress.
"It's so rewarding putting in the work and getting to see who they really are. It's incredible when you see the change in them, they go from hiding away in your cupboards to sleeping on the pillows with you!" says Val.
Val explains that some of her foster animals are too nervous even to come back to the shelter, and in a few cases they've stayed with Val until they're adopted. In these cases, potential adopters visit the cat at Val's home instead of at Lort Smith. Meeting the cats somewhere they're more comfortable and relaxed shows potential adopters their true personalities, and makes adoption more likely.
It's incredible when you see the change in them, they go from hiding away in your cupboards to sleeping on the pillows with you!
Val
Clicker training cats
Val takes great pride in keeping up to date with new training methods for cats, and has spent countless hours over the years at training courses and workshops. "Recently I attended a 'behavioural day' hosted in the US, but it was fortunately streamed online. Less fortunate was the time difference, which meant I was in the conference from midnight until 7.00am!"
Val's specialty is clicker training, a method that might be familiar to people with dogs. She's found it equally effective with cats, especially when paired with treats! While training her own cats and fosters, Val also takes the time to share her progress and wisdom with other Lort Smith volunteers and staff who might be less familiar with it.
Val has four cats of her own at home: Claude, Harry, Bart and Elliot. Bart and Elliot were both "foster fails", animals Val fostered from Lort Smith before realising they had already found a home with her.
"I first fostered Bart because he had some food allergies and the vets were trying to establish what those were. He was on an elimination diet when I brought him home, and we eventually discovered he is allergic to fish, of all things! But he just fit right in with my other cats and I couldn't let him go."
As well as her work with scaredy cats, Val finds one of the most rewarding parts of volunteering is looking after the pets of people in crisis, through Lort Smith's Emergency Welfare Assistance program. "I've cared for animals who just need a bit more love than usual, and I really feel like I'm giving someone a helping hand when they need it."
When she isn't volunteering with Lort Smith, Val runs a nail salon in the city, and loves to travel overseas to visit animal shelters and sanctuaries. She has visited animal shelters in Fiji, Bali and Thailand, and is looking forward to the day she can visit Creamy, the cat she sponsors at a sanctuary in Greece.
Val is an amazing volunteer who gives so much energy and love to all the animals she cares for. Thank you, Val.