KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - NewsPurring for 30 Years with Volunteers for Inter-Valley Animals

Purring for 30 Years with Volunteers for Inter-Valley Animals

LOMPOC - Before Shirley Cram and the VIVA co-founders started their shelter, thirty years ago, cats and dogs were killed within 72 hours if they weren't adopted in the Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Santa Ynez Valley.

The V.I.V.A., which stands for Volunteers for Inter-Valley Animals, Shelter has been taking in cats for thirty years.

The shelter started small and now are celebrating 30 years of being in the community. 

"We were worried because there were so many wonderful animals that were being put down." Shirley Cram tells us, Friday afternoon.

So Shirley started rescuing cats and would take them to her and her husband's hardware store they owned in Lompoc.

At one time, Shirley says they had 26 cats running around.

"Someone would come in to buy a pound of nails and they'd go out with a cat under their arm." Shirley says.

They moved on from the hardware store to a house the volunteers rented and eventually were able to buy a piece of property where VIVA has been ever since.

Florence and Jerry Dunn, a couple from Santa Barbara, drive twice a week to volunteer at the cattery.

"We love the cats, we have a lot of cats at home...I don't want to see how many." Florence Dunn tells Your Central Coast News.

Cats of all ages are able to run around in a cage free rooms, from the ones who've been at VIVA for a while. 

"Most people don't want to adopt a cat once it's 12, 15 years old so they just live out there life here." Shirley tells us.

And for the newcomers. 

Shirley opens the doors, "This room here, is a bunch of little kittens."

As the kittens play around with each other, volunteers are gearing up for a fundraising event, to make sure this shelter remains open.

"Our mission was to help the animals, to make a better life for the animals and our community."

The Holiday Open house is the group's largest fundraiser of the year, complete with refreshments, a silent auction, raffle prizes, a Country Store and plenty of kitties to welcome residents of all ages.

The VIVA Cattery is located at 133 North D Street, with the Open House held SUnday from 1p.m. to 4p.m.