Chris Scronce

"Even if you can only devote a small amount of time, your efforts can make a big difference. Your life will be so much richer and happier."

How long have you been volunteering with PAWS Chicago? What originally drew you to the organization?

I grew up in a family of animal lovers, and my siblings and I were always finding strays in the neighborhood and coaxing them to “follow” us home. When I moved to the city eight years ago, I was excited to see that the PAWS Chicago adoption center was right in my neighborhood, and I started volunteering right away. It was like no other shelter I had ever seen, and it quickly became my happy place. I am glad to support their No Kill mission and I admire that PAWS makes a lifetime commitment to the animals they rescue.

Which PAWS Chicago programs/areas do you volunteer in and why?

I’m a Level 2 Kitty City volunteer and weekend Location Manager at the adoption center. Kitty City is so serene (well, most of the time). Cats have unique and sometimes enigmatic personalities, and I love getting to know them and helping visitors find their perfect match. I started fostering in 2016 following the heartbreaking loss of my 21-year-old kitty. She had kidney disease, and I had to learn how to administer fluids and injections for the last few years of her life. Over the last two years, I’ve fostered over two dozen kitties and foster “failed” twice, adopting two new cats. Fostering kittens is such fun, but it has been especially rewarding to foster senior and special needs cats in honor of my late kitty. Several times, I’ve gotten to help my former foster cats meet their new families at the adoption center; being the person to take their first family photo together and to put that kitty in the carrier to go home is just about the most gratifying feeling you can imagine. Last year, I was invited to join the team of foster counselors at the adoption center. I help match foster parents with cats in need of foster, and then I follow up throughout the foster period, providing support and assistance. I have learned so much from our experienced foster team, especially our smart and compassionate feline behaviorist, Erin.

Do you have a favorite experience or memory from your time volunteering?

I have so many wonderful memories, but my favorite experience has been serving as a counselor for Aaron’s foster mom. Aaron is a beautiful eight-year-old gray cat who was at PAWS for a year and a half after having been adopted and returned. He was hard to place because he requires an experienced owner, and he also has special needs—he is blind and needs ongoing medical treatment because of his kidney disease. He is a sweet boy but seemed to be getting depressed after spending so long at the adoption center. Last fall, we found a new foster, Amanda, who was willing to learn how to care for him. Aaron and Amanda just clicked, and Aaron’s transformation was dramatic. Amanda started sending me hilarious photos showing the silly side of Aaron, like the way he tucked himself in her bed and slept with his head on her pillow, or made himself a little nest in her hair. Despite his blindness, he got around just fine and even started playing with toys. He became more outgoing, confident, and affectionate. Amanda told me caring for Aaron was particularly rewarding for her. She had recently been struggling with a newly diagnosed medical condition and she was inspired by the way Aaron dealt with his disabilities. She said Aaron seemed to understand when she didn’t feel well, and he would come lie next to her while she rested. I told her she had given Aaron not just a loving home but a purpose, and I believed it was the reason he flourished in her home. Sadly, in recent months, Aaron’s medical condition has deteriorated, despite Amanda’s vigilant care. After his last trip to the medical center, the vets told Amanda there was not much more that could be done for him but that she could take him home for a few days to say goodbye. But Aaron surprised us again. As soon as he heard Amanda’s voice when she picked him up, he became more alert and pressed himself to the front of the carrier to try to get close to her. When he got home, he started eating heartily and curling up to her, purring. That was four weeks ago, and he is still holding his own and enjoying life. We don’t know how much time he may have left, but we are grateful for every good day, and we know when the time comes to say goodbye, Amanda will be by his side. I believe these two were meant to find one another at a time in their lives when both needed the other, and I feel privileged that I have been able to play a role in bringing them together.

What motivates you to continue volunteering with PAWS Chicago?

There will always be another animal to help and new things to learn and do. Recently, I’ve learned more about our important work in community outreach and am excited to add to my volunteer activities. It is incredibly rewarding to play a part in rescuing pets and helping them find good homes. I love seeing the excitement on visitors faces when a cat “picks” them, especially if it’s a kitty that I have fostered. Many adopters have kept in touch with me, and it is pure joy to see our cats enjoying the good life. I’ve met so many wonderful people at the adoption center--fellow volunteers, staff, adopters, fosters—many of whom have become my close friends.

Do you have any advice for someone who is considering becoming a volunteer?

Do it! You will have a great time, and it is so fulfilling. Even if you can only devote a small amount of time, your efforts can make a big difference. There are so many things you can do to help--working with the animals, helping with chores, donating money or goods, fostering or adopting a pet. Your life will be so much richer and happier.