Vana’s love for cats began at just three years old, when she adopted
her very first rescue from a local shelter — and that spark of
compassion has only grown stronger over the years. Now with over a decade of experience as an independent rescuer, Vana has dedicated her life to saving cats and practicing Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) for both domesticated and feral feline populations.

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Every week, Vana traps as many cats as she can — sometimes even more during kitten season — and drives an hour and a half to a spay and neuter clinic before heading to work. After her workday ends, she picks the cats up, brings them home to recover for a day or two, and ensures each one is safe and ready to be returned to their original
colony. Her dedication doesn’t stop there: Vana also feeds and cares for over 100 community cats, with that number continuing to grow.

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Vana’s dream is to help even more cats and to raise awareness about the importance of spaying, neutering, and vaccinating all cats — whether they’re pets, strays, or ferals. We’re thrilled to announce that Vana has officially joined Belly Rub N Grub as the head of our TNR Department, where she will continue to make an incredible impact with us, as well as continue to do so independently.​

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Our incredibly dedicated and compassionate volunteer who wears many hats—and wears them all with heart.

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Raul is not only a full-time working dad and an amazing friend, but also a true animal lover and a vital part of our rescue family. Between work and being a devoted father to his children, he still finds time to be here—volunteering, helping, and making a difference.

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He’s always ready to lend a hand—whether it’s feeding dogs, walking them, lifting, building cat shelters, or assembling anything we need. Need something heavy moved? Raul’s on it. Need a new structure built?
Raul’s your guy. Need a calm, caring soul to bottle-feed fragile
kittens and even help them poop? (Yes, it’s a thing!) Raul rolls up
his sleeves without hesitation.

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His love for animals shines through in everything he does. Whether he’s caring for bottle babies or doting on his own beloved kitty (who’s very lucky to have him), Raul brings warmth, kindness, and quiet strength to every task.

We are endlessly grateful for Raul’s big heart and steady hands. We honestly don’t know what we’d do without him.

Thank you, Raul, for being the amazing human you are—for your time, your love, and your unwavering support. The animals (and all of us) are so lucky to have you!

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For Ilana, rescuing animals is not just a passion — it’s who she is.
It all began when she was just three years old, the moment she locked eyes with “Goliath“, a gentle English Mastiff who became her first love. From that day on, her heart has belonged to animals of all kinds, dogs, cats, rabbits, and more.

She’s grown up surrounded by furry companions, always giving them a safe, loving forever home. Her bond with animals runs deep — just ask “Buh-Boo“, her 15-year-old pup who’s been by her side through it all. Today, she shares her life with a senior dog, a curious puppy, a loyal cat, and a playful kitten.

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Ilana plays a vital role in our organization. Not only is she a “Home Checker”, she also oversees pet adoptions that require out-of-state transporting.

Thanks to the help of Ilana, we can make sure every animal adopted from Belly Rub n Grub finds not just a safe shelter, but a warm, loving place to call home. 

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Gabi absolutely adores cats. While she loves all animals, cats have
always held a special place in her heart. Growing up in a cat-loving
household, it was only natural that she’d share her life with two
furry companions of her own—Dingy and Jelly.

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As our dedicated home checker in Colorado, Gabi goes above and beyond to ensure that every animal finds a loving and safe forever home. Her passion recently took her out of state to prevent a cat from being
surrendered to a shelter. She took the time to search for the perfect adoptive parent, conducted an in-depth interview, and personally completed a home check to ensure everything was just right.

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Thanks to Gabi, that lucky cat is now thriving in a wonderful new home. Her commitment and compassion remind us what rescue is all about. 

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Meet Big Joe, our gentle giant with a heart just as big as his
presence. Joe might tower over most of us, but when it comes to caring for animals, he’s the softest soul you’ll ever meet. Some of the new rescues are a little unsure when he first approaches—his size and excitement can be a bit overwhelming—but he quickly wins them over with his kindness, patience, and pure love, even for our most abused animals. Joe is proof that size truly doesn’t matter when it comes to
compassion.

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He does it all: feeding, cleaning litter boxes, picking up poop,
letting the dogs out (even at odd hours for bathroom breaks or those much-needed zoomies). Rain or shine, tired or not, Joe shows up for the animals without fail.

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Every time a new rescue comes in, his first question is always, “OMG,
can we keep him?” The answer is usually no—but we made an exception once, and that’s how Joe ended up adopting one of our cats, “Negan”. NOW, THE CAT ON HIS SHOULDER LOVING ON HIM ISN'T NEGAN, BUT OUR SMUDGE WHO IS AVAILABLE FOR ADOTION.

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Joe has always shared his home with pets, and now he shares his heart with every animal that passes through our doors. We’re endlessly grateful to have him on the team.

Martiza is the heartbeat of our animal care team. As our go-to
caretaker, she makes sure every animal feels safe, loved, and
comfortable—especially when we’re on the road for rescue missions or personal reasons. Knowing she’s there means we can leave with peace of mind, confident that our babies are in the best hands.

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Martiza actually started out with a fear of big dogs, but you’d never know it now. Since volunteering with us, she’s blossomed into a confident, calm, and loving presence. The dogs adore her—and the feeling is mutual. What makes Martiza truly special is her selflessness. From cleaning litter boxes to picking up poop, she does whatever is needed, no questions asked. She doesn’t wait for direction. Instead, she just jumps in and gets
it done!  There is nothing Martiza would not do to ensure the comfort and happiness of our rescue animals  We are truly grateful to have her on our team.
Simply put, Martiza is amazing!.

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Marisa HAS loved animals for as long as SHE can remember. Rescue has always been close to HER heart, but over the years it’s grown into a true passion and purpose in HER life. SHE HAS spent countless hours helping care for vulnerable kittens and cats, assisting with fostering, socialization, medical support, networking, and finding loving homes for animals in need.

As a volunteer, SHE helpS oversee marketing and outreach for the rescue. SHE believeS every animal deserves compassion, safety, and a chance to be loved. Being part of rescue work is both emotionally challenging and incredibly rewarding, and SHE'S grateful to help make a difference — one life at a time.

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KIM HAS been involved in animal rescue and fostering for the last 2 1/2 years, although SHE'S been an animal lover HER entire life. About six months ago, with the help of vana, SHE got involved in TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), and ever since then SHE HAS looked forward to every trapping day.

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TNR is incredibly rewarding because you know you are helping control the pet population while also saving lives. Every cat trapped means fewer kittens suffering on the streets and a better future for the cats already out there. It’s hard work, but it’s worth every second.

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Over the last 2 1/2 years, SHE HAS learned so much and met so many wonderful people through rescue. The rescue community is full of compassionate, dedicated people who truly care about animals and making a difference.

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SHE HAS had pets all HER life and grew up with both cats and dogs. Right now, HER little family includes three potbelly pigs, four dogs, three rabbits, and far more cats than SHE should probably admit to! But every one of them is loved.

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