Jennifer Belk

In this photo, I am holding my very first pet. Toby, the family cat, was my best friend. As a child he showed me how to be responsible for another being and what it means to love. Sadly Toby passed away only a few years later. However, he began a long line of events that have gotten me where I am today. For a few years after his passing, we didn't have a family pet. Eventually the grief passed and we were ready to welcome a new member into the family, Shadow. Both Toby and Shadow were rescued from the local shelter where they were sure to face certain death. I had always had a passion for animals, but these cats, who I consider a part of the family, changed my life. As I grew up I realized that I wanted to do something to give back to the community, whether it be a job or just volunteering. In May 2010 I found what I had been searching for. I saw a volunteer cleaning cages in a local pet store and I inquired as to how I could get involved. Not too long after this encounter I began volunteering with a local kitten and cat rescue. After a few months of volunteering on the weekends, I decided that I would like to foster kittens. I began slowly, at first one kitten, and progressed to fostering litters of wonderful fur balls. These animals taught me that, no matter what you may have been through, everyone can forgive and learn to trust again. This work ignited my passion for animals and put me on a course to fulfilling my childhood dream, becoming a vet.