As a 100% volunteer run animal rescue, AARF literally wouldn’t exist without our volunteers. We’re shining a light on what it takes to make a volunteer rescue work by spotlighting the people who make AARF happen!
Ásta can often be found with a cat on or about her person.
For the past six years, one of the people working persistently behind the scenes has been Ásta Ottey. Ásta’s journey to rescue began with the heartbreak of losing her 18-year-old cat. After he passed, donated his items to a local shelter. Three weeks later she realized her house felt too empty, began fostering for the shelter, and had to restock her home with cat supplies!
A few years later she took in a cat who was not a good fit for a high-volume shelter and a friend suggested she reach out to AARF. As she says, “Fortunately, AARF had space for an old, grumpy kitty and her foster, and I’ve been with AARF ever since.” Fortunate for AARF, that’s for sure! (That old, grumpy kitty? She became a foster fail and lived with Ásta for the rest of her life.)
Like many AARF volunteers, Ásta does a little of this and a little of that. In addition to being a cat foster, she does data entry and the occasional transport. Her newest role is keeping track of medical records for all cats and kittens who come into AARF as singletons, and finalizing their adoptions. As a foster, Ásta has fostered around 50 cats, eight of which were AARFies. She has a soft spot for stressed adult cats, for whom she is able to give long-term support. No dogs (“so far,” she says) as her resident cat Milton is afraid of dogs.
Prince (right, the furry one) pictured with his mom, dad, and sister – fellow AARFie Zoe.
Even so, when asked for the story of an AARFie who really impacted her, it was a canine happy tail that came to mind. Prince was a young dog who came to AARF in 2023 after losing the function of his back legs due to severe neglect. He spent a year with his AARF foster where he discovered a new lease on life. By the time he was adopted, he was the happiest of dogs who loved humans despite his horrendous beginnings. To Asta, “Prince is such a good example of what AARF is all about. We take the animals that need extra help and give them the love and care they need to heal, regardless of how long it takes.”
In addition to Milton, Ásta’s happy-go-lucky cow cat who serves as uncle to her fosters, Ásta shares her home with Tildy the “semi-housecat.” Tildy was trapped with her mom as a feral kitten, but was a bit too old for proper socializing by the time she made it to foster – but Ásta ensured she had a qualified home by adopting her. “She has figured out that she can sit in the stairwell and EEP for attention and does tricks for treats, so I don’t think semi-feral really fits her anymore.” Ásta previously loved two AARF foster fails who have since passed on to the Great Treat Fields in Sky. “They were both older when we took them in, and it seemed unfair to disturb their naps with a change of address.”
If there’s one thing Ásta wants potential volunteers to know, it’s this: You don’t need to foster if you want to be a part of AARF! You can transport kitties and doggies to foster homes, do data entry, help out at events, bake for the annual bake sales… there are lots of opportunities available.
But if she has a little more time to convince you, she’d say that AARF is such a positive and supportive group. “I never had the courage to foster kittens, but after joining AARF I took home my first litter of kittens. I had plenty of questions and no clue what I was doing, but AARF was with me every step of the way. The other fosters are very supportive and if any urgent issues arise, the foster leads are quick to help.”
Thank you, Ásta, for opening up your heart and home to animals in need!