Whiskers, a volunteer-run nonprofit, is working to minimize euthanasia for high-risk pets across Utah by focusing on senior, medical, and special needs animals. The organization, which operates without a brick-and-mortar facility, relies on a network of foster homes to provide medical care and second chances to cats often overlooked by traditional shelters.
Mission and Specialized Care
The nonprofit's mission centers on three primary actions: rescuing high-risk pets from Utah shelter partners, keeping pets in their homes through education and spay and neuter programs, and providing essential veterinary care to animals initially considered difficult to adopt. By bringing these animals back to health, Whiskers aims to ensure they can find new homes without imposing major medical expenses on future adopters.
Regional Impact and Focus
Whiskers specifically targets animals that are often deemed not "highly" adoptable due to age or medical conditions. The organization focuses its efforts on Davis, Weber, and Salt Lake counties, though it may take in animals from surrounding areas as resources and space allow. By providing medical and emotional recovery in foster homes, the group seeks to transform the lives of cats that might otherwise be euthanized in municipal shelters.
Founding and Inspiration
The organization's founder, Executive Director Jessica Vigos, began her involvement in animal welfare in 2012. After five years of performing trap-neuter-return (TNR) work for a large animal welfare organization, Vigos founded Whiskers in 2018. The decision to focus on cats was driven by the devastating realization that cats are the number one euthanized animal in the world.
The Story of Sweet Rick
A defining moment for the organization involved a 16-year-old cat named Sweet Rick. Vigos discovered the cat in a fragile state—partially blind, partially deaf, and weighing only 4 pounds—after his caregiver had passed away. Vigos described the two-year journey to restore the cat's health as a miracle that changed the trajectory of her life, noting that Sweet Rick has since become a mascot and inspiration for the organization's mission.
A Foster-Based Model
Because Whiskers does not maintain a physical facility, the organization relies heavily on foster homes to serve as its primary tool for recovery. To be eligible to foster, individuals must be at least 21 years old and reside in a home that allows pets. The group also maintains a presence in the community through adoption events and retail partnerships, such as rotating cats through Petco locations in Bountiful and Farmington, Utah, to increase visibility for adoptable animals.
Organizational Leadership
The organization's leadership includes Board President Julie Davis, Treasurer Melody Gritton, Foster and Adoptions Coordinator Meka Hilton, Community Engagement and Marketing Coordinator Erin McMullin, and Web Administrator Kenan Karalic. As of the end of 2024, Whiskers reported having changed the lives of over 850 high-risk feline friends through its various programs.
Broader Utah Animal Welfare Efforts
Other regional efforts to support animal welfare include the Salt Lake City Pet Adoption Center, which is a foster-based center that takes in over 2,500 animals annually. This center works alongside various rescue groups and city shelters to support the goal of making Utah a no-kill state. Additionally, Salt Lake County Animal Services offers resources such as free microchipping for all pets adopted through their services.
