Towne Salute Meet

TOWNE SALUTE

By Lisa A. Lewis

hen Marianne Petschke saw a notice seeking cat cuddler volunteers at Talbot Humane, she was thrilled. A lifelong cat lover, she immediately knew that she had to pursue this exciting opportunity. Not surprisingly, she fell in love with the work and has been a dedicated volunteer at Talbot Humane for the past eight years.

A dream job for cat lovers, cat cuddlers help socialize kittens in the adoption program, helping them feel comfortable around people, so they are ready to go to their forever homes. Cat cuddlers also spend a lot of time with the adult cats who are up for adoption. The circumstances that ultimately brought these cats to the shelter may differ. Some are strays; others have lost their homes because their previous owners can no longer care for them. But the cats’ current situation is the same: They are in an unfamiliar environment, and many of them are scared.

“Our primary job as cat cuddlers is to make the cats feel safe, loved, and ready to reach out a paw to a visitor who wants to adopt,” Petschke says. “The same is true for the group of dog walkers at Talbot Humane. Our goal is to get all of our furry friends adopted!”

Since 1932, Talbot Humane, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has been fulfilling its mission to “provide a safe and healthy environment for unwanted companion animals in its care, place adoptable companion animals in good homes, protect all animals from cruelty and neglect, and reduce the unwanted companion animal population through spay/ neuter and educational services in Talbot County.”

“I get as much out of cat cuddling as the cats do,” Petschke says. “Meeting a cat for the first time and winning over their trust is an amazing feeling. Sometimes [they take] baby steps, and you may just get to pet them. Or maybe it’s allout playtime with the laser pointer or some other toy. When they have fun, you have fun. Other times, they may climb into your lap and settle in. When you hold a scared cat and feel them finally relax and exhale, you do the same thing. You relax. You exhale. It’s a gift you both get to share.”

Like all organizations, Talbot Humane has adapted to meet the challenges presented by the COVID-19 health crisis. Although the pandemic slowed down some programs and shut down others for a period of time, the Talbot Humane team continued to work hard to place many animals in foster homes.

Petschke is excited that cat cuddlers, dog walking, PetSmart adoption center, Talbot Humane Pet Pantry, and the PAWS to Read Club are all operating once again. Indeed, Talbot Humane is proud to offer programs that serve the community and provide opportunities for youth. The shelter has been the Easton PetSmart store’s main adoption partner since 2008. The pet pantry provides free pet food to owners in need, so they don’t have to surrender their pets. And the PAWS to Read Club allows children to read to a shelter cat or dog.

Although being a cat cuddler is Petschke’s primary role as a volunteer at Talbot Humane, she has also assisted with orientation for the PAWS to Read Club, helping the children and their parents or guardians become familiar with the cat condo environment. In addition, she has also been a trainer for new cat cuddler volunteers for the past few years.

“Marianne is a special part of our team,” says Patty Crankshaw-Quimby, executive director of Talbot Humane. “Her calm and caring energy is a comfort to the cats, and she is patient and passionate about sharing the work of our organization. Marianne also helps train new volunteers and bakes a mean cookie for our annual holiday cookie sale. She is always willing to help make a difference for the organization and the animals we serve. We’re so thankful to have her as a member of our team.”

Petschke, who relocated from Connecticut to Easton in 2009, has been married to her husband, Hal, for 29 years. In addition to their collective four grown children and granddaughter, they have adopted three adult cats from Talbot Humane. Currently, their furry kids are Morgan and Winston. Sadly, Rhetta, their other adoptee, has crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

“Volunteering at Talbot Humane has given me a greater understanding of the breadth of services they offer in their effort to keep pets in their loving homes and to find new homes for those who need them,” Petschke says. “It warms my soul to see absolute angels walk into the shelter and ask to adopt the animal who has been there the longest. The staff is awesome to work with. Their commitment to the animals is incredible, and they truly appreciate their volunteers.”

For more information about Talbot Humane, visit talbothumane.org.