Volunteer Feature: Melissa Tapp
Since June 2025, Melissa Tapp has been sharing her time, compassion, and love for animals with P.A.W.S. What began after rescuing a cat and realizing she could do more has grown into a meaningful commitment to helping animals find comfort, trust, and ultimately, loving homes.
Melissa is a lifelong animal lover. She currently shares her home with Angel, a two-year-old black cat, and has cared for several animals throughout the years. Her love for cats is especially evident in her volunteer work at the PetSmart in Greenfield, where she focuses on cleaning, training, and making sure the cats are comfortable while they wait for their forever families.
A typical shift for Melissa involves giving each animal individual attention. She lets the cats out one at a time, cleans their cages, and then takes time to play with them and simply enjoy their company. For Melissa, those moments are about more than keeping things clean—they're opportunities to help the cats feel safe, cared for, and loved.
Making sure the cats at PetSmart are comfortable is the part of rescue work that Melissa feels most passionate about. And while every cat has a story, kittens hold a special place in her heart. “Anytime there is a small kitten at PetSmart, it’s memorable,” she says. “I love kittens.”
One cat who made a lasting impression on Melissa was Morgana. She remembers her as one of the sweetest cats she encountered—and, fittingly, Morgana was black, just like her own beloved Angel.
Of course, volunteering with rescue animals isn't always easy. One of Melissa's biggest challenges is becoming attached to certain cats, only to see them adopted. While saying goodbye can be difficult, it also represents the ultimate goal: finding these animals loving homes.
Through her time with P.A.W.S., Melissa has learned that animal rescue can be a thankless job, but it is also incredibly rewarding. She has gained valuable experience, including learning how to handle combative cats. Her biggest lesson? Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply leave them be and give them the space they need.
For anyone considering volunteering, Melissa encourages patience and understanding. “Give them grace,” she says. “They have been through a lot and not all of them are going to trust you, and that’s ok.”
Even on difficult days, Melissa stays motivated by knowing the animals are depending on her. She believes successful volunteers need to be self-starters who are punctual, dependable, and, most importantly, animal lovers.
Looking toward the future, Melissa hopes to become more involved in training other volunteers and participating in events at PetSmart. She also hopes to see P.A.W.S. grow by providing more prevention resources and finding ways to reduce the amount of time some cats spend waiting for their forever homes.
At the heart of Melissa's volunteer journey is a simple but powerful belief: by giving her time, she has the opportunity to change an animal's life—and that opportunity has had a profound effect on her own.
P.A.W.S. is incredibly grateful for Melissa and the time, patience, and compassion she gives to the cats in our care. Her dependability and willingness to step up make a meaningful difference every time she walks through the doors at PetSmart. Thank you, Melissa, for being a voice, a friend, and a source of comfort for animals who need it most. We are so thankful to have you as part of the P.A.W.S. family!
Her final message to anyone who has ever loved an animal says it all:
“We don’t deserve animals.”
If you are interested in becoming a foster and would like to learn more or apply, feel free to check out our website here. We always need fosters, and we would love to have you join the P.A.W.S. family.
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