When Susan Horne Steltenpohl first walked through the doors of the Wake County Animal Center in summer 2021, she was looking for connection and a way to make a difference. Five years later, she has become an indispensable part of the shelter's heartbeat, bringing warmth and dedication to every cat, visitor, and staff member she encounters.

A North Carolina native with a background in math and systems analysis, Susan spent her career at Labcorp before retiring and diving into community work. After her mother passed away and her sons moved out to start their own lives, Susan felt drawn to volunteer work. She missed having cats around her home, where she lives with her husband, their 60-pound staffy mix Peaches, and 15-year-old cat Betty.

"So I filled out the online volunteer application, went to orientation and slowly started meeting people and fitting in," Susan recalls. "The time I spent on the cat floor made a real difference in the lives of the cats and the people looking to adopt them."

What started as a way to be around felines again quickly blossomed into a profound calling. Susan discovered what she had always known deep down: cats are her heart and soul. Whether she is working with social and friendly cats, shy and feral ones, or tiny sick kittens, her natural ability to understand their needs shines through.

Today, Susan's impact reaches every corner of the animal center. On any given day, you might find her at the front desk answering calls from concerned community members who have found stray animals, or serving as a lobby greeter helping visitors navigate the building. But it is on the cat floor where her magic truly happens. She greets visitors, helps them meet potential new family members, checks on kittens, tidies rooms, takes photos, updates signage, and fills out personality cards that help each cat show their best self to adopters.

"Every cat needs something different," Susan explains with the patience that defines her approach. "Our job is to figure out what they need in that moment to feel safe and healthy."

Her background in computer programming translates beautifully to her volunteer work. Being detail oriented and skilled at finding the root cause of problems helps her understand what each animal needs. Her years of professional experience also taught her how to talk with anyone who walks through the door, offering the listening ear and empathy that people seeking to adopt or surrender animals often desperately need.

Sunny's Take: What makes Susan's story so heartwarming is how she found her purpose in service. After decades of professional work and raising her family, including welcoming a daughter-in-law next year, she chose to spend her time making vulnerable animals feel seen and loved. She believes deeply in the power of volunteers to give animals enrichment and help them feel special while supporting the dedicated staff who care for them daily.

For anyone considering volunteering, Susan offers encouragement rooted in five years of experience. "There are so many ways to help. You can make it what you want. Yes, it can be challenging and emotional, but it is also such a joy. You will meet people you have a lot in common with."

Susan's volunteer work is not just something she does between gardening and cheering on the Carolina Hurricanes. It is a way of living, built one moment of kindness, one cat, and one conversation at a time. Through her steady presence and genuine care, she reminds us that retirement can be the beginning of our most meaningful work.