Check Out Michele Hoffman’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michele Hoffman.

Michele, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I have always loved animals, especially cats. To me, they are the most beautiful, mysterious, and magical creatures on this planet.

As a child, I was always bringing home stray animals that were injured, abandoned, and lost. My mother taught me how to care for and nurture them. It was just a natural progression over the years of first getting involved with local rescues and fostering cats and kittens. One of my heroines is Scarlett the Cat who saved her kittens from a burning building and was badly burned but survived. To me she was beautiful and brave and an example of loyalty and love.

One day at a local high-kill shelter I was waiting for a mom and babies to foster and one of the Animal Control Officers who knew my love of cats asked if I could take a blind cat. I asked her what would happen to her if I didn’t take her? She told me should would be “put down”. She was in the back area that the public had no access to so no one even knew that she was there. I took one look at her and little did I know that one moment would change my life forever.

I named her Valentine and fell in love. She taught me so much about how special needs cats adapt and do almost everything that normal cats could do. I decided then and there to help the special needs cats of the world as much as I could. The blind, the abused, injured, those that are seniors and are born with birth defects.

I spent many years fostering for other rescues to learn all I can could and then took the next step and quit my then-current job and enrolled in Veterinarian Technician school to learn the medical care of animals. During my time in school, I envisioned Milo’s Sanctuary as a safe haven for the forgotten cats of the world.

It took a long time, a lot of work, sacrifice, and setbacks but I never gave up on my dream of having a Sanctuary. The day finally came and I was lucky enough to get the property on what is now “Milo’s Sanctuary’s Trueheart Haven.”

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Dreams are often fraught with setbacks, different paths than you intended to walk, and life lessons all along the way.

It has simply been the hardest and most amazing journey of my life. I’ve learned a lot about people and animals. I often say rescue has shown me the best of humanity and the worse.

It was a struggle financially, especially at first, and the budget is always tight as we rely solely on donations, grants, and sponsorships to keep the sanctuary going. But I always knew if I couldn’t do it the “right” way I would walk away. The animals will always have the best of everything, food, medical care, and love.

I think to this day the biggest struggle for me is to see the beautiful and innocent souls that have been tossed away when they are old, injured, or abused. I just do not and never will understand hurting an animal or tossing it away because it’s no longer “convenient” in your world.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I work in the movie industry as a rights management specialist for an amazing company. I have worked in the movie industry for most of my adult life. I handle all the rights associated with making a movie or a TV show.

I’m very good at reading a contract and breaking it down to the essential elements of what needs to be done with certain portions of it to fulfill any obligations.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Unfortunately working basically 2 full-time jobs (my paying job and the Sanctuary) I don’t have a lot of time for relaxation or hobbies.

I love to make jewelry, read anything medical, and often will take a few minutes to play a silly game on my phone. Keeping current on medical changes or inventions helps me to be the best I can be for the animals we rescue.

There is nothing more that I love than curling up on the couch covered in purring cats and reading.

Contact Info:

• Email: info@milossanctuary.org
• Website: www.milossanctuary.org
• Instagram: @milos_sanctuary
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milosssanctuary
• Twitter: @miloscats
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/miloscats