Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) has been selected by the Jackson Galaxy Project — a signature program of GreaterGood.org, a nonprofit organization — to run a program that teaches people how to take care of animals as foster parents. They are also taught to transition these four-legged companions to adoption. 

Jackson Galaxy is the founder of the project. He is also an animal advocate and host of Animal Planet’s “My Cat From Hell.” According to Galaxy’s statement in beginning this project, his mission as a rescue worker is to promote the well being of sheltered animals with knowledge and innovation that can save lives. 

“Pima Animal Care Center was selected for the Cat Pawsitive Pro program because of their proven commitment to innovation and the expansion of their cat care program in 2018.” said Cat Pawsitive Program Manager Christie Rogero. 

          RELATED: OPINION: Dogs vs. cats: which is better?

“They have the staff and volunteers to make the program work, and they have passion and the drive to save lives,” Rogero said.

According to Rogero, cats can shut down, become withdrawn and even downright terrified in a shelter setting. When they arrive, they may have lost the only family they’ve ever known, or they may have come from a difficult life as a stray on the street.

“We have cats that live here for a long periods of time, and obviously a kennel is not a home” said PACC Cat Program Coordinator Stephanie Stryker.  

Rogero also pointed out that whatever the cats’ previous circumstance was, a sheltered environment is new and often seems scary. And according to Stryker, even though PACC tries its best to make everything as appealing for these cats with a new facility, a kennel is still not a home. 

“It’s depressing seeing these cats get ripped out of their home either by the owner’s decision to not keep the cat anymore or because their person (owner) died” Stryker said. 

          RELATED: Ready for a feline frenzy

There is always the need for volunteers in shelters, not only for cats, but for any of the animals in their facilities. “We have a variety of programs here [at PACC] for the Cat Pawsitive Program since we are also getting our first formal run with it.”

According to Stryker, PACC has cat care and even dog walking opportunities for volunteers, students or anyone interested in helping. “There are very simple ways students and members of the community can get involved, even writing cute short bios for the animals helps.” 

For more information on the Jackson Galaxy foundation or Pima Animal Care Center, please visit the links below: 

http://www.thejacksongalaxyproject.org/About-Us/The-JGP

https://webcms.pima.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalid=169&pageid=10658

Follow Victor Garcia on Twitter