Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Liu.
Hi Jen, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2018 I left my job at CVS Pharmacy in order to finish college; this was a large transition from both working and going to school full time; I needed something to add to my day. I had been watching YouTube videos of Kittenlady and had fallen in love with the idea of fostering kittens in need and helping the vulnerable and voiceless. Before I knew it, I was applying to local rescues to see how I could help. Christine with Love Your Feral Felines (LYFF) was the first to reach out to me about different opportunities for her rescue. I wasn’t sure of my place just yet, so I started small by going around my neighborhood and collecting donations like used bath towels and expired or unused cat foods. Soon I was making bimonthly trips to the director’s house to drop off donations.
I quickly occupied myself with other small volunteer jobs until one day, another foster needed help kitty sitting her 4-week-old foster kittens, and I was ready to help! I pitched it to my husband, and with a guaranteed “end date” when the kittens would be leaving, we were confident it wouldn’t be overwhelming with my school work as well.
After I kitty sat them, I was hooked. These little kittens were adorable, and the task itself was easy in my eyes. They had just transitioned from a bottle to wet food, so they were right in between, in that “sweet spot” of triangle tails and cute little mews.
From here on, I continued to challenge myself with different ages, experiences, and the number of kittens at a time. With my prior experience in medicine and my interest to learn more. I continued to do more and more medical cases and wasn’t afraid to turn down vulnerable, sick kittens because I knew I would give them my all and wasn’t afraid to try whatever was necessary.
In the last four years, through adoption events, onboarding new volunteers, foster medical care, and scooping litterboxes, I have helped thousands of kitties find homes through the various ways I have been a part of LYFF Rescue, and the days of heartbreak, exhaustion and stress are worth every second of it.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It is always a struggle to find a balance between life and rescue; there are always kitties in need, but is important to understand limits to avoid burnout and emotional fatigue. Every loss is a struggle; you question what could have been done differently or if it’s your fault, even when you have vets telling you that’s not the case.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I have 13+ years of pharmacy experience before I started fostering and have always had an interest in medicine, so I have always been one to take complicated medical cases in order to nurse them back to health. From having to mix medications or use my pharmacy education to calculate medication dosing, I have always had a knack for medical cases.
I have had some amazing medical recoveries on some very sick kitties by providing them the care and support they need to get through some of the worst illnesses. From panleuk, FIP, calici, and broken limbs, I am not afraid of a challenge if it means the possibility of recovery and the long life of that kitty.
Contact Info:
- Website: loveyourferalfelines.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zozofoshosho_/?hl=en
