Since stepping into leadership at the end of 2012, Karen Green has redefined what’s possible for shelter cats in our community. With vision, compassion, and bold action, she helped CAT go from 25,000 adoptions to more than 65,000 today — saving more than 40,000 lives during her tenure.
Karen made a landmark change in 2014 by moving to a new shelter housing model. This shift cut the number of cats in the shelter’s care by about half and doubled (at least) the living space for each cat. The results were transformational: average length-of-stay and number of long-term residents plunged, while adoptions climbed. Personalized care became possible, including alternative housing, enrichment, and behavior modification. Karen also oversaw the introduction of a massive program for senior cats; a treatment program for FIP-positive cats; an adoption program for FeLV-positive cats; and other advances.
Karen’s passion for people led to another revolution — in the organization’s culture. She led the development and implementation of a Workplace Culture Agreement in 2016. The commitment to organizational health has made CAT a fixture on the list of the 100 Best Nonprofits to Work for in Oregon for nine of the last 12 years. Karen also established and co-chaired CAT’s DEI Committee.
Karen did all this while stewarding the organizations’ financial health. Over her 12 years, CAT’s operating budget increased by 130%, allowing for growth in programs, services, and employee compensation, as well as capital improvements. Karen also oversaw the growth of CAT’s reserve account from $200,000 to $5 million, providing an emergency fund as well as earnings to support operations.
Please join us in celebrating and thanking Karen for her service!
Now, as Karen prepares to pass the torch, we invite you to honor her contributions with a special gift to our Legacy Circle – a way to donate in honor of a special person or pet. Your donation today will help us build on the momentum CAT has developed under Karen’s leadership.
Please consider a Legacy Circle donation in honor of Karen’s 12 years of services: $12, $120, $1,200, $12,000, or any amount. Your compassionate gift of any amount helps fund lifesaving programs and services for cats, kittens, and people in our community.
I adopted my Calico kitty as a kitten from agency 6 years ago. She is the sweetest!
Marianne
Amalia
