Glenda Nichols spends her lunch breaks cuddling the adoptable cats at the Selma Animal Shelter.

For the last four years, Nichols has volunteered with Selma’s Purrrfect Pals and every moment spent caring for the cats is worth it to her.

“I started fostering and going to the adoption events,” she said. “I love [fostering]. You know you’re saving lives.”

Even though she devotes a lot of her time to caring for the animals, she still enjoys her many different hobbies. She loves spending time fishing and doing yard work at home in her flower garden. When she is not doing those things, she is reading up on the latest in pet care and researching how to care for her fur babies.

According to Nichols, one of the biggest problems facing the domestic animal community is Selma is people failing to spay and neuter their animals. She said the shelters are full, and the volunteers are constantly working so hard because of pet owners’ lack of spaying and neutering their animals.

“We really try to get [the message] out there to people to please spay and neuter your pets,” she said.

The main goal of the organization is to improve the cats’ socialization skills and ensure their health is up to standards. After they are healthy and socialized, the cats are then ready for adoption.

“It’s a great group of people to work with,” Nichols said. “We all try so hard to get the cats healthy and ready to go to a new home.”

Giving her time and efforts to the animals in need is near and dear to Nichols and she would not have it any other way.

“[Volunteering] is very fulfilling,” she said. “It’s something that I really enjoy. It gives me a good feeling that I know I’m getting the cats and kittens ready to go to a new home.”

Nichols said it is a good feeling to know that she has made a positive difference in a cat’s life, and that even if she has saved one it is good enough for her.

For more information on how to donate to the Selma Purrrfect Pals call the Selma Animal Shelter at (334) 877-220 or visit www.hscalabama.org.