CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — For Connie Garza, the name "cat lady" was a title she wore proudly. It was well earned too, after more than a decade working in the Gulf Coast Humane Society's cat room.
Her co-workers said she worked day in and day out to socialize the felines with hope of getting them adopted.
"We work with a lot of different animals, from feral to domesticated," GCHS volunteer Hannah Abbott said.
Abbott worked alongside Connie inside the cattery and said you'd often see her in her favorite chair, cuddled up with even the most unadoptable of felines. Abbot said she had a special gift.
"It was Connie that taught me everything that I know to this day," she said. "When I came here, I did not know one single thing about cats."
Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Humane Society Alisa Mills agreed that what Connie brought to the shelter was integral to their mission. She connected with the animals and then helped them connect with a forever home.
"She was so great with the cats," Mills said. "I mean, she loved every single one. She wanted to know them really well, so they got a good home. She spent so much time with them and she was really fun to hang around."
Mills said there have been dozens of testimonies where Connie was credited for families having successful adoptions. Including Jennifer Soto who says she is forever grateful to Connie for placing her with her beloved "Fonzie."
"He thinks that I saved him, but he actually saved me," Soto said. "She knew specifically about Fonzie and she knew he was meant for me. And he was. He was."
Connie died at the age of 62 on March 9 leaving behind her husband Gumbo, — who also works at the GCHS — her children and her fur children.
Mills said, she will be greatly missed.
"The outreach of the community when they found out about it was truly amazing," she said. "And that chair is going to be really hard to fill."
Here is what some more of her co-workers had to add about Connie.
"Connie was a very special person to me, I'll miss my everyday talks with her," certified dot trainer Blanca Reyes said. "She was there for my hard times, and she was the only person I could run to when I needed a shoulder to cry. I'll always remember her every time I pass the cat room."
"Connie was the type of person who was everyone's best friend, you'd meet her and it was like you'd known her for years," adoption floor manager Jacob Sanchez said. "She was hard-working and was dedicated to helping the animals in her care. She had a personality like no other and was great to be around, she will be deeply missed. We thank her for her years of service she gave to animals here at the GCHS."
"She was basically the mother hen of the shelter," intake manager Sarah Spence said. "If anyone was having a bad day or just needed to vent, her room was the therapy office. The cat room will never be the same."
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