By Tracy McCormick-Dishman
editor@floridanewsline.com
Angela Soriano has been rescuing animals since she was in preschool, but she never planned to start an animal rescue. The 30-year-old founder of Celestial Pet Rescue operates a foster-based cat rescue that manages about 20 cats through a network of foster families. She also operates two TNR (trap-neuter-return) colony programs and dreams of opening a sanctuary where cats can roam free to show their true personalities to potential adopters.
Q: What was the moment that made you realize you had to start Celestial Pet Rescue?
A: The memory still makes my voice catch. I was finishing a long shift at work when I witnessed something that would change my life forever: someone throwing a kitten out of their car in the parking lot. I immediately went over to this kitten. She was infested with fleas, had scabies, and her front leg was broken. But that feeling of saving this kitten and giving her a chance – that’s what I want to do.
Q: How did you come up with the name Celestial Pet Rescue?
A: The name came from a friend who believed we all lived under the same sky – the friend who first got me involved in organized animal rescue. I’ve been rescuing animals since I was in preschool, but this friend really helped me understand the bigger picture of what we could accomplish together.
Q: What makes your rescue different from traditional animal shelters?
A: We operate a completely foster-based cat rescue, caring for about 20 cats through a network of just five or six foster families. Unlike traditional shelters, our cats live in homes while awaiting adoption, giving them a better chance to show their personalities to potential families. We don’t like cats sitting in cages all day. I dream of opening a sanctuary where cats roam free inside a building where visitors can see their true personalities.
Q: What’s the biggest challenge you face in animal rescue work?
A: Animal abandonment is my biggest challenge. I recently rescued a spayed cat dumped at one of my colonies – surveillance footage showed someone simply opening their car door and driving away. Ninety-five percent of cats that we have seen that have not survived are dumped. They’re not used to hunting for their own food. The foster-based model keeps overhead low but creates constant capacity issues. We’re always looking for more fosters, sometimes more than donations.
Q: What can the community do to help solve the pet overpopulation problem?
A: I manage two cat colonies – groups of cats that establish territory together – working through TNR programs to control population without euthanasia. In Florida, we don’t have an off season for kitten season. We get kittens year-round, so they just repopulate. The humane thing is to end that repopulation without euthanasia. When people ask what the community can do to help end the overpopulation problem, my answer is simple but powerful: If you see something, don’t wait for someone else to handle it. Be the change you want to see in the world.
Q: How can people support Celestial Pet Rescue or get involved?A: Celestial Pet Rescue operates solely on donations and we desperately need more foster families. People can reach us by email to celestialpetrescue@gmail.com or through Facebook.
