Rescued cat lands gig at garden center

Boots is a star employee who has never taken a day off at Millcreek Gardens in Salt Lake City. In fact, when the garden center’s doors open in the morning, she’s already there, patrolling the aisles of plants and flowers. As soon as she hears her teammates coming in to start their day, she’ll run out to greet them.

[A cat who works from home]

The team at the garden center takes turns buying Boots food, and they all chip in for her veterinary care. When it gets cold outside, she can rest in the center’s heated gazebo, and when it’s hot, she cools off in the shade. But usually, when the center is open, she can be found walking around, greeting people, and making them smile.

Having her around gives the garden center the kind of coziness that you’d find in a bookstore or a coffeehouse where cats are welcome, says Paul Mulder of Millcreek Gardens.

She’s been good for employee morale, too. Every day, everyone on the team makes sure to check in on her. “She’s got a family of about 25 people I suppose,” says Paul. “It’s a nice way to break up the workday.”

In fact, when she claims a chair in the office, no one dares to suggest she move or share it. Given her talent for making customers feel comfortable and her ability to close deals, she has certainly earned her own seat at the garden center.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill by 2025. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.