Katie’s Place animal shelter has a book out.

The Cat Who Sang tells the stories of different animals that have passed through the shelter’s doors in the past 10 years, with all their humour and pathos.

The author, Brigitta MacMillan, has volunteered for the shelter since its inception.

Specializing in last-chance cases, Katie’s Place used to receive animals from the municipal shelters when they had issues requiring more time or resources.

Once settled at Katie’s Place, these animals often astonished the volunteers, sometimes won their admiration, and always won their affection: Kris Kringle stole the latch pins for the cages and delighted in watching people search for them; Hannah proved her devotion when she sprang to the defense of a volunteer; Curmudgeonly Cubby would swat his own tail for waving in his face.

 The world of animal rescue draws people in and affects them deeply. Animal lovers who begin volunteering just want to help out. The animals capture their hearts, and each person is changed by the experience.

“Scooping litter pans is inglorious work, hardly the kind of thing you’d rush home from your job to do,” MacMillan said. “It’s the intangible benefits that pull people back.

“The Cat Who Sang is about the intangible benefits. It’s about laughing at the critters’ foibles and about cuddling strays that are starved for love. It’s about watching pairs of animals form lifelong bonds and watching traumatized animals begin to trust. It’s about seeing animals near death begin to recover, or holding them as they slip away, knowing you eased their passing.

“If others could only see what the Katie’s Place people have seen, they might look differently at a stray slinking across their property.”

Volunteers hope the book will raise awareness about homeless animals and increase shelter adoptions and increase support.

All profits from the book will go to Katie’s Place’s vet bills. The price is $24.95. Copies will be available at the shelter and from establishments around Maple Ridge including Bosley’s, Alouette Animal Hospital, Pet Food ‘N More, and Maple Ridge Veterinary Hospital.