CBS: A De Pere man is gaining national attention after a Facebook post about his work with the felines at Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary went viral this week.
Safe Haven Pet Sanctuary may be a shelter. But the felines who live here aren’t orphans.
Volunteer Terry Lauerman says “I adopted all these cats here.”
After his 35 year career as a teacher, Terry is spending his golden years volunteering.
“When I retired I decided I wanted to do something fun,” says Lauerman.
Something fun, and just a little different.
“I’m the car brusher,” says Lauerman.
It’s a job Terry tends to six days a week.
“I come in and I basically brush every one of the cats so, lots of cats have fur that needs to be taken off and it feels good to them and they like to be brushed,” says Lauerman.
Terry often takes naps with his feline friends. And those moments are the ones featured in a viral Facebook post.
“I was on this couch, sleeping with, well I was petting a cat and I kind of dozed off and the cat dozed off and they took a picture. That’s that,” says Lauerman.
The post has brought recognition to the work he does for these special needs cats.
“Milo is a diabetic and he is blind, but he likes to come and say hello,” says Lauerman.
You might say it’s a calling.
“For me it’s natural. When I look at a cat it clicks, oh this one needs this or that one needs that,” says Lauerman.
And Terry’s planning on many future returns.
“As long as I can, as long as my health permits, this is what I look forward to every day.”
Because he knows, there’s nothing more relaxing than a cat nap.
