Lauren started volunteering at AAC in November 2014, inspired by her own adoptions from the shelter. "My Mia chose me, and then I went back for her friend who got left behind (now my hockey-watching boy Zhivago), and finally, I adopted my Finnegan from foster."

More than a decade later, Lauren still loves enriching cats' lives and watching "scaredy cats and broken cats" transform into "happy, healthy little lovebugs." She especially enjoys seeing ICU cats heal.

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“The best Christmas present I ever got was one Christmas Day when I saw ICU cat Cratchit (named after Bob Cratchit because he was so warm and friendly and radiated Christmas cheer) stand on all four legs for the first time after being hit by a car. I happy cried.”

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To Lauren, volunteering is the best way to surround herself with homeless cats instead of adopting them all. Relatable.

Lauren is a versatile mentor, guiding new cat volunteers and cat ICU volunteers on shelter functions, kennel cleaning, customer service, and cat behavior. She helped form the cat behavior team in 2019, working with "problem cats" who are scared or acting out.

Let's go Red Wings!

If you want to learn more about caring for "bad cats or broken cats," or simply want to talk about ice hockey (Lauren plays every Monday night on the Buccaneers), hit her up!