Hearts and Hands

A Tale of Two Volunteers

Danni Duncan and Jo Flynn (pictured) have devoted time and love to the cats at the sanctuary for years.

Danni is known as "Mama" to both the cats and the staff. She spoils everyone with new treats each week.

"The challenge is to try and find something different all of the time - something the kitties don't already get here."

"I moved to Kanab with my husband, Douglas, because of his health and because I wanted to help the kitties, and it was the perfect place. That first Saturday I told Best Friends to put me where I was needed most. They sent me to the Kitty Motel, and I've been there ever since!"

Fellow volunteer angel Jo Flynn was a bookkeeper for a Las Vegas construction company when she saw an article on Best Friends and came up for a visit.

"This was just after Benton's House (the first special care building for cats) had opened. The tour guide left me alone for a moment, and I think it was a setup, because Benton came up and started purring on my shoulder and then Tong sat in my lap and I was hooked! I volunteered again the next day at Benton's House and have been helping ever since."

Jo made the four-hour drive from Las Vegas to Kanab every month for seven years before retiring. She now lives in Kanab with her own cats and a collection of silver and turquoise Navajo animal jewelry. She still helps out with the cats two days a week.

"I have a routine now. My favorite is Tango. When I first came, he was very shy and would hide in the rafters. Then he'd come down and hide in the cubbyholes. Then one day he let me groom him. I like watching the way he's changed so much!"

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