The cat came back from the crawlspace

April 12, 2010. For immediate release.

She was named Tinker by the BC SPCA's Surrey Branch, but within an hour of fostering the young mother cat with kittens, Muriel Goodwin wanted to name her Houdini.

A frightened former stray, Tinker abandoned her five young kittens and escaped from a room in Goodwin's home. The room had no open doors or windows; the only clue was a missing heat grate in the corner.

"There are things you just don't think about when you're not used to dealing with a young scared cat," said Goodwin.

The South Surrey resident and her friend followed the heat duct to the crawl space, where they could hear Tinker's agonizing cries. Removing a section of the heat duct freed Tinker, but they were no further ahead: Tinker immediately bolted into the crawlspace.

"Getting her out of the crawlspace proved to be just as difficult," says Goodwin, who had the chore of feeding Tinker's demanding young litter during their mom's absence.

Three days later, the smell of food, the promise of a warm bed and the mewing of her babies drew Tinker home, and with Goodwin's care, the kittens and their mom all found permanent homes. Goodwin still keeps in touch with Tinker's new guardians, who renamed her Maggie and are pleased to report she's no longer attracted to heating ducts and crawlspaces.

"What a wonderful experience, but lesson learned - check the vents."

A retired law office manager, Goodwin began volunteering for the local SPCA branch four years ago and quickly became a critical member of the volunteer team, helping some 4,000 cats find homes in her role as cat room coordinator and adoption counsellor.

She volunteers about 40 hours a week at the shelter and her home, and occasionally fosters animals at her home – much to the chagrin of her own cat.

"It is extremely rewarding to help in some way make their lives a little more tolerable and nothing can replace the feeling of watching one of the cats find a forever home."

Goodwin is one of the BC SPCA's 4,000 volunteers, who work in countless capacities across the province, from walking dogs and cuddling cats to organizing events and fundraising. The BC SPCA salutes these essential volunteers during National Volunteer Week April 18 to 24.

Goodwin says the Surrey Branch is always in need of new volunteers.

"People may not be aware of the different options in volunteering. If someone isn't able to go into the shelter, there is volunteer work that can be done from home and that works with their schedule."

Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age and able to commit to a minimum of two hours a week for six months. Visit spca.bc.ca/volunteer.

"If you can learn to focus on what you can do and not what you can't do, volunteering at the shelter is wonderful," says Goodwin.

Photo Caption: Dedicated volunteer Muriel Goodwin

For more information:

Melissa Major, coordinator of volunteers, BC SPCA, 604-681-7271

The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations. Our mission is to prevent cruelty and to promote the welfare of animals through a wide range of services, including cruelty investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm animal welfare, spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.