She provides love and comfort to senior & ailing cats

When Jessica Vigos took in an abandoned elderly cat with health issues, she found herself thinking about all the other senior and sick cats who would never find a loving forever home. She created a sanctuary for these special kitties because Jessica knows how healing a second chance can be!

- Bill Holton

Jessica Vigos sighed in relief when she finally scooped up the feral cat a friend had told her was living behind an empty house on her block. The Holladay, Utah, animal society worker's heart went out to the half-starved Siamese that weighed less than 4 pounds. "She called him Sweet Rick," a neighbor said of the deceased homeowner, who had been feeding the cat. After the woman died, the stray didn't trust anyone else.

Jessica had the cat checked out by a vet, who discovered Sweet Rick was at least 18 years old, half blind and nearly deaf.He was also already neutered. "Somebody loved you at one time," Jessica said. "What you need right now is a second chance."

Life-changing decision

Jessica knew all about second chances. As a young, stressed-out single mom, she had gotten involved with drugs. Things got so bad, she finally asked her mom to take in her daughter. And then she got arrested. But instead of jail time, the judge sent Jessica to a drug rehab center to give her a chance to turn her life around.

Jessica took advantage of her second chance and completed the program. She lived in a sober living house with her daughter for a year, found a great job, then a new home. She also returned to her lifelong passion-volunteering to help care for unwanted animals.