Shannon Ragsdale did not set out to become one of Fresno TNR’s most dedicated trappers. Like many people who find their way into rescue, it started with a few kittens who needed help. Shannon works as an appraiser for the Fresno County Assessor-Recorder’s Office. She spends three days a week in the office and two days in the field, and she genuinely enjoys what she does. She is one of the top producers on her team and in her office, and she recently received some of the highest praise in her yearly performance review. When she is not working, trapping, fostering, or volunteering with Fresno TNR, Shannon enjoys hockey. She loves going to games with her daughter and cheering on the Fresno Monsters. She is a huge Chicago Blackhawks fan, and when they are not playing in California, she supports her second favorite team, the San Jose Sharks. Shannon calls her three-year mark with Fresno TNR her “Cataversary.” She started working with Brandi and Fresno TNR in July 2023, but the path that brought her here began before that. Her daughter’s boyfriend and his roommate found a litter of tiny kittens on their patio. They were so small that Shannon had to syringe feed them. Not long after, someone posted about kittens in the McDonald’s parking lot in Kerman. Shannon went to get them. She was able to pick one up, but the other one made her work a little harder. She brought them home, began fostering them, and once they were tame, she found them homes. Those kittens made her a foster mom, and from there, her place in rescue only grew. Shannon started talking with Shawna, the director of Focus in Kerman, who helped her learn about fostering and rescuing kittens. At first, Shannon fostered kittens and mamas with babies. About two years later, she began doing TNR through Fresno TNR. She already knew Brandi from childhood, since Brandi was her sister’s age and they had gone to school together. Before long, Shannon was trapping and volunteering with Fresno TNR. Today, Shannon helps in more ways than just trapping and fostering. She has a gift for research, so she helps search for grants, while another volunteer, Juliet Doty, who enjoys writing them, handles the grant-writing side. The two began looking for funding opportunities after Fresno TNR acquired its facility and needed steady support to help pay for it. Their work has since grown to include efforts with Central Valley Community Foundation, State Farm, and more. Shannon also spends many Fridays volunteering at the facility. She helps with the everyday work that keeps things moving, including cleaning traps and transfer cages, moving cats from transfer cages back into their carriers, checking cats out to trappers, answering trapping questions, and helping wherever she is needed. Since Shannon began trapping in Kerman, she has TNR’d 412 cats and sent 282 kittens to rescue. At one point, she had 30 fosters in her care, including moms with babies. She also had one feral adult cat and one friendly adult cat. What keeps her going is the hope of seeing fewer kittens born outside and knowing that more cats are getting the help they need. She has helped so many people in Kerman who were overwhelmed and didn't know what to do. Without her, many of them would have been drowning in kittens. One of Shannon’s most memorable colony stories involved a self-employed mechanic who had a large number of cats on and around his property. The cats kept having kittens, and he felt completely overwhelmed. He lived in an apartment next to his family’s house, and there were cats everywhere. They were coming out from under vehicles, behind bushes, under steps, and all around the property. Shannon helped TNR 12 cats and sent 20 kittens to rescue. The man was so thankful that he now helps her in return. When he is driving around town and sees a colony or hears about one from someone else, he finds Shannon and lets her know. What started as one person needing help has become a partnership that allows her to reach cats she might otherwise never have known about. For Shannon, kittens are one of the biggest challenges. Not because she does not love to have them around, but because there is never enough room. She tries to move kittens to rescue as quickly as she can so she can help more, but she also wants to make sure they are healthy and socialized before they go. One part of the work Shannon has had to grow into is approaching people she has never met. TNR often means walking into unfamiliar situations, starting conversations, and asking people to trust you with the cats they care about. Shannon often traps alone, so she has learned to rely on her own patience, instincts, and determination. Still, having a trapping partner from time to time would make the long nights, tough cases, and emotional parts of the work easier to carry. Her advice to anyone new to TNR is simple. “Just jump in and start. If you don't start, you'll never get anywhere. Ask lots of questions and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. We have all made mistakes and will make new mistakes, but that is how we learn and how we help more cats.” Shannon believes readers can best support Fresno TNR by donating when they can, spreading the word about what Fresno TNR does, and stepping up to trap in their own neighborhoods. So many people are afraid to trap or to take the first step. Shannon understands that fear, but she also believes no one is incapable of helping in some way. Ask for help, learn as you go, and be willing to do the work. "And most importantly, Volunteer! There is always something you can do."

On July 3, 2026, Fresno TNR hosted its first free vaccine clinic, made possible through the generous support of Petco Love. We partnered with Westside Rescue to provide vaccines for both cats and dogs and reach even more families in our community. During the clinic, we vaccinated 125 cats and approximately 75 dogs. Petco Love provided enough vaccines for 250 cats and 250 dogs, so the impact of the event continued even after the clinic ended. The remaining cat vaccines were distributed to the public through the Fresno TNR facility, while Westside Rescue distributed the remaining dog vaccines through its community outreach efforts. One very friendly German Shepherd mix received much-needed help for ticks that covered him from head to toe. Despite everything he had been through, he was gentle, well-behaved, and incredibly lovable. His previous owner had sadly passed away, and the owner’s extended family had been doing their best to care for him while searching for a permanent home. Westside Rescue was able to step in and help him begin his search for a wonderful new family. What began as a visit to the vaccine clinic became the start of an entirely new chapter in his life. One of the cats vaccinated that day turned out to be very pregnant, much to her owner’s surprise. According to the owner, she had never been allowed outside. Fortunately, Fresno TNR was also holding a spay and neuter event that day, and we were able to fit her in for a spay-abort procedure, preventing another unwanted litter from being born. The clinic also gave community members an opportunity to learn more about the other services Fresno TNR provides and take additional steps toward giving their pets healthier futures. Many people were surprised to learn that we offer low-cost vaccines during normal business hours, along with affordable flea treatment, dewormer, and microchips. Volunteers were also available to educate the public about how to humanely trap community cats living in their neighborhoods and surrounding areas. They answered questions, explained the trapping process, and directed pet owners to additional resources for affordable spay and neuter services. Our first free vaccine clinic was a wonderful success, but its impact extended far beyond a single day. Hundreds of vaccines were placed directly into the hands of the people who needed them, pets received important protection and care, and community members learned about resources that can help them continue caring for their animals. We are grateful for the opportunity to provide these services to our community. We are especially thankful to Petco Love for making this event possible and to Westside Rescue for partnering with us to ensure both cats and dogs received the care they needed.

When I interviewed Cindy Curry, one thing became clear very quickly: Cindy is someone who sees a need and chooses to help. Cindy is a single mother to one son, works full time, and spends much of her free time volunteering with Fresno TNR. She also enjoys reading, crocheting, spending time with her son, and caring for her many animals. At home, Cindy has four cats, three dogs, and a parrot. As though that were not enough, she also fosters cats with serious medical needs. She usually cares for cats with cryptococcosis and currently has five of them in her care. Cindy first discovered Fresno TNR in 2022 after finding a lost cat in her yard. She searched Facebook for groups where she could post about the cat and came across Fresno TNR. That one small action eventually led her to become an important part of the organization. These days, Cindy primarily helps with intake at the Fresno TNR facility. She also assists with vaccinations, helps Brandi with medication dosing, and cares for what she affectionately calls the “eyeball kitties,” cats who arrive with severe eye infections. When I asked Cindy what she enjoys most about volunteering, she spoke about the people involved. “I really enjoy seeing the community engagement,” she said. “I enjoy meeting the trappers.” One cat Cindy will never forget is Moose. Cindy first learned about Moose through a Facebook post and went to pick him up. She immediately realized that he was far too friendly to be returned to where he had been living. “He was just the absolute sweetest cat,” Cindy recalled. After Moose was neutered and his mange was brought under control, he became the Fresno TNR shop cat. Everyone loved him, and his sweet personality made him a special part of the organization. Sadly, Moose was with Fresno TNR for only about four months before his liver and kidneys failed. Although his time there was brief, he spent those final months surrounded by people who loved and cared for him. “He was so loved and had such a great personality,” Cindy said. “I still get teary thinking about him.” Volunteering with Fresno TNR has given Cindy a sense of purpose and reinforced how important this work truly is. What keeps her motivated is the knowledge that the need is not going away. “We’re not running out of cats,” she said. “We still fill all of the spots every week. There is so much more to be done.” Cindy is especially proud of the new skills she has learned from Brandi. She is also proud that she pushed herself beyond her comfort zone and made the decision to volunteer. When I asked what she wishes more people understood about community cats and TNR, her answer was simple but powerful. “They’re everyone’s responsibility,” she said. “Helping them shows you care.” Her advice for anyone thinking about volunteering or trapping is just as direct. “Just come in and show up,” Cindy said. “Don’t be afraid to come in and help. There is plenty to do for all skill sets.” After speaking with Cindy, I kept thinking about how easy it is to notice the desperate needs of community cats and look the other way. Cindy could have chosen to use her limited free time entirely for herself, but instead, she took one small step. She volunteered, found her niche, and became an amazing volunteer and an invaluable asset to Fresno TNR. This interview was eye-opening for me as well. It reminded me that there is always something we can contribute to help the cause. We do not all have to foster medically fragile cats, administer medications, or take on the most difficult jobs. Sometimes, helping begins by simply walking through the door and asking what needs to be done. Whether the action is big or small, each of us can make a difference in the lives of community cats and in our community. Cindy is proof of what can happen when someone decides not to look the other way.