Wendy Ohryn, the woman responsible for saving upwards of 1000 cats in the Parkland, is getting ready to say farewell to the Humane Society.
Wendy spoke with CKDM about ending this era, one that she truly loved,
"I've retired from my career, and I am actually relocating out of Dauphin. After well over a decade, it's time for somebody else to take over I think. I loved what I did. It was very stressful because it was never-ending, and it was a full-time job. But I loved most of it, and saving cats was just something I really wanted to do, and that's how I wanted to give back to the community."
Ohryn says some of her favourite memories would have to be seeing the evolution of cats and getting them into new homes,
"Sometimes we will take kittens that are maybe not feral, but they are certainly not tame, and I know last year we brought in four of them, and we had them in one of our cat structures, like you could barely touch them. Watching the progression of them being tamed, that's always rewarding. And then just every time you adopt a cat to a home, and they're going to their family, you celebrate that day."
Wendy carried on about her passion for helping the underdogs, or under-cats if you will,
"We've have had cats come in that they looked like they were starving to death, and maybe they shouldn't have made it, then they make it. You watch them get adopted, and they look so good, they've gone from looking so unhealthy to looking so good and then when they get adopted and go to their home, that's just awesome."
Wendy tearfully mentioned that there were too many people to thank during her time at the shelter.
She praised the work of all of the volunteers, foster parents, and individuals who have helped send cats out of province,
"I don't want to list too many and then miss a bunch of them, and then I'll feel terrible about that. But, thank goodness for people like that, who really genuinely care and want to make a difference for the animals."
Ohryn added that while she's leaving her role here, her mission won't stop,
"When I relocate, I've already made connections with two cat shelters. I think I'm destined to be connected to cat shelters. Cats everywhere in Manitoba, it's pretty bleak at times, so just helping other rescues."
Ohryn says that while she would guess the shelter has given roughly 1000 cats a new home during her tenure, she wishes it could have been more.
Even though Wendy is leaving, she says a part of her heart will always be with the Parkland Humane Society.
