Jens Christoph

Member since autumn 2009, member of the board since May 2012.
I’m a member because animal rights and animal protection are dear to my heart, and I can provide very practical support here. Being a financial professional, I found it natural to take the function of a treasurer for the shelter. Besides, I highly appreciate the voluntary engagement of everyone at our association. We are a nice team with every member providing valuable work that is beneficial and feels good to do.

Personally, I find it very important that our association stands out from other similar organisations through its beneficial performance. The clocks tick differently here. I am convinced that the concept of animal rights and practical work in animal welfare coexist. This is why our website comprehensively discusses animal rights too.

Ines Russew

Member since February 2012, member of the board since May 2012.

I first came across the shelter at the traditional Christmas market at Richardplatz. As I’m closely bonded to animals, cats in particular, and had also long been looking for a shelter to volunteer for, I quickly made up my mind and joined the team.
My regular visits for cuddles, playtime and helping out quickly grew into something more.

Today, as a member of the board I work on advancing our shelter, ensuring its smooth operation and creating an association that on the one hand, serves animal welfare and on the other hand, provides practical help to animals and people alike when they are in need.

Izabella Porcsalmy

volunteer since September 2012, member since May 2014 and prospective member of the board

Taking two cats home from the central shelter felt exciting and reassuring at the same time. The ever intensifying feeling however that I can offer a loving home only to two cats came unexpected and was upsetting; there are so many animals waiting for their guardians in shelters. Seeking a shelter with like-minded people was simply the logical step to take.

Today, I work at Samtpfoten on opening our doors also to those who speak little or no German. I manage our correspondence in English, translate the website and give a tour to those interested in volunteering with our cats. I also contribute to the elaboration of concepts essential for our shelter.

At Samtpfoten, cats’ health, a species-appropriate diet and the personality of each cat receive equal attention. We do not only rehome cats, we are also happy to share all the knowledge and experience we’ve gathered over the years.

Katrin Leschikar

Active member since 2013

I’ve been active in animal protection for long years now, mainly in protecting cats and providing care for stray animals. After I moved to Berlin I looked for a local shelter standing out from other associations, most of all in the way they treat animals. Each cat is different and they should all be loved and treated with their individual characteristics in mind. At Samtpfoten, this approach is made reality as much as possible. No cat will be adopted just to make room for another one – it’s the cats’ welfare that matters and this is what makes this shelter unique.

My main mission is to make others more sensitive in their ways of handling animals and to show them how wonderful creatures animals are. Everyone can do something for a better co-existence of man and animal.

Dr. Frank Erzner and Mario Guarino

active members since April 2014

We, Mario and Frank have both been interested in cats for decades. We were active volunteers at a cat shelter in Wedding, Berlin in 2002. Although this shelter closed its doors, our love for cats remained.

After years spent in the company of former shelter cats at home (and with their disabilities of various degrees) we now find ourselves alone. Saying goodbye to all these cats at the end of their lives was increasingly difficult to us, so we’d like to insert a private emotional pause in having cats.

Now we’d like to engage with Samtpfoten as volunteers, and sure there’s a lot to do. And then we may also have lots of cat-contact again “on the spot” in Neukölln.

Reinhard Schüchel

Active member since August 2011

I’d like to see the shelter’s objectives achieved and offer my knowledge and experience to this association from the distance as much as I can. What I find important is to join forces and work for the benefit of both people and cats, also because one simply cannot survive without the other on the long term.

I’m happy about this cooperation with like-minded people.