Diego finds new life with Furry Friends.
Furry Friends focuses on saving cats in need. This is just one of the many stories about how cats find a new life once they are rescued by us.
Diego had been living on the streets, possibly abandoned, and life on the outside had taken its toll—he was ragged, worn, and tired in a way that went beyond his years. When a kind person finally brought him to a local pet emergency hospital, it was clear Diego was in rough shape. But due to laws regarding stray animals, the ER couldn’t treat him. Instead, animal control had to be called.
That could’ve been the end of the road for Diego—but fate had other plans. The animal control officer on duty that day wasn’t just anyone. They had worked with our Furry Friends Executive Director before and knew her heart for animals in need. One phone call later, everything changed. Without hesitation, our Executive Director said, “Yes. We’ll help him.”
And so, Diego came to Furry Friends.
When he arrived, he was a shadow of the cat he could be—withdrawn, sullen, and clearly in pain. A fractured canine tooth with exposed roots made it painful to eat, and even worse, Diego had entropion in both eyes—a condition where the eyelids roll inward, causing the eyelashes to scratch and damage the eyes constantly. Every blink was agony.
But that was about to change.
Thanks to your support and the loving care of our team, Diego received the dental surgery he needed and underwent a delicate procedure to repair his eyes. The transformation was nothing short of miraculous.
The cat who once cowered in the back of his kennel now greets every visitor by rolling around and endless purrs. Diego has discovered toys, caring hands, soft beds, and—most importantly—love. He’s a new man, and he knows it.
Today, Diego is living proof of what compassion, quick action, and community support can do. This is just one of the stories about many needy cats that Furry Friends helps.
Furry Friends: A Love-Filled Lifeline for Cats
Founded in 1999 in a volunteer’s home, Furry Friends has grown to become the largest "cat-only" rescue organization in the area. What started with a small group of passionate individuals has blossomed into a full-fledged shelter supported by 200 dedicated volunteers. Over the years, Furry Friends has made significant strides, adopting out 725 cats and kittens in 2024 alone, setting a new record for the organization.
Jenn Hutchman, Furry Friends’ Executive Director, shares, “Without our help and the support of our community, many of these cats would have faced euthanasia, been left to fend for themselves on the streets, or continued to contribute to the overwhelming overpopulation issue.” The crisis of homeless, abandoned, and abused cats in the region is at critical levels, prompting Furry Friends to focus on the most vulnerable.
As Marketing Director Diane Stevens explains, “The number of cat hoarding situations we encounter in Clark County is staggering. Many of the cats we rescue come from these heartbreaking environments.”
Despite the overwhelming need, Furry Friends does not receive city, county, or state funding. The organization relies heavily on fundraising and small grants to keep operations running smoothly.
Giving Back to the Community
· Cat Food Pantry. Sometimes the difference between keeping your cat or having to relinquish them can be not having the means for a few months’ worth of food. One of our Furry Friends missions is to help keep pets in their homes through temporary hardships by supplying food. All food has been donated to Furry Friends. We can also help supply food for feral colonies.
· Pet Resource Page. We have a pet resource page on our website itemizing organizations that can help the community with spay/neuter, pet food, and medical assistance that can be found at: http://furryfriendswa.org/pet-resources/.
· Education. We publish cat education stories for the public as a way of educating them about the best ways to care for their own cats and the feral cats in our community. Cat Tale stories are written by award winning writer and Furry Friends volunteer Nomi Berger. http://blogs.columbian.com/cat-tales/
About Furry Friends
Furry Friends is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit no-kill cat rescue serving Clark County, Washington and adjacent counties. Founded in 1999, we are an organization that rescues and then adopts out homeless, relinquished, and abused cats. We shelter and care for them as long as it takes to find them forever homes. For more information about Furry Friends, please visit the website at https://www.furryfriendswa.org/ or contact us at information@furryfriendsWA.org.