She is not a “crazy cat lady” by any stretch of the imagination.
For 46 years now Madeline Gilmore has been caring for stray cats in the Aldergrove area and finding them good homes through her TLC Pet Adoption service.
Even now in her early 70s she still resolutely pursues her goal of finding a forever home for every stray.
“I’ve thought of quitting but it is so difficult now,” said Gilmore.
“If I don’t carry on so many of them will die, they will be euthanized if there is no other place for them.”
Since the Bosley’s by Pet Valu store opened in Adergrove, they have been acting as a place where the public can pick out a cat from TLC’s selection inside the Bosley’s store.
The adoption fee of $170 for a mature cat and $135 for a kitten covers all the costs of the veterinary fees for the spaying, vaccinating and other required treatments each cat receives before it is adopted out. All cats must have a clean bill of health from a vet before adoption is considered.
“Bosley’s has found the most homes for our cats. You also have a month to have a refund if you have to return the cat because it didn’t work out, if say, it didn’t get along with your other pets,” said Gilmore.
“We have found homes for 286 cats since we opened Bosley’s here,” said store owner Darwin Handford. “It has worked out very well for TLC.
“And we also raised another $4,553. for TLC with our “Paw” fundraiser. Our customers bought a paper ‘paw’ which we displayed in the store and the funds were collected by us for head office, which has issued the cheque for TLC.”
“That money is going to cover a lot of veterinary cheques,” said an appreciative Gilmore, who operates her no-kill shelter in Aldergrove.
TLC Pet Adoption has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TLCpetadoption/ and Madeline Gilmore can be reached at 604-309-5388.