June 2026 Newsletter

Adoption Story: From Stray to Stevie Beans: Chase Finds His Forever Home

When Chase first came to Centerville Pet Rescue, he was found trying to get into someone’s house — clearly hoping to find safety, comfort, and maybe a family to love him. His foster mom quickly discovered what a special cat he was, describing him as a total lovebug who gave endless kisses and affectionate head bonks to everyone he met. It didn’t take long for Chase to charm his way into the hearts of his future family.

Today, Chase has a brand-new name — Steve, also lovingly known as Stevie or “Stevie Beans” — and he has fully embraced the indoor life.

“Steve has been with us for two months now, and he is such a joy,” his family shared. “He has settled into our home and hearts, bringing us so much fun and love — and endless purrs.”

From the very first night, Steve made himself at home, curling up beside his new family in bed. Since then, his personality has continued to shine brighter every day. After meals, Steve often gets the zoomies, racing up and down the stairs to burn off his extra energy. He also loves toys that roll and happily bats balls back and forth during playtime.

One of Steve’s favorite spots is his cat tree by the window, where he can bask in the sunshine while watching the world go by. Although his history suggested he spent time outdoors and may have been an escape artist at one point, his family says he now seems perfectly content observing the outdoors safely from inside.

Steve has also developed a few adorable quirks. He enjoys sneaking into the spare bedroom closet whenever he gets the chance, and every morning he loudly reminds his family that post-breakfast treats are very important business. When his family returns home from work, Steve greets them with enthusiastic head bonks to show just how much he missed them.

Stories like Steve’s are a wonderful reminder of how life-changing adoption can be — not only for the animals we rescue, but for the families who welcome them home.

Cat Tip of the Month: Planning a Summer Getaway? Don’t Forget Your Cat’s Routine

Vacation season is here, and a little planning can help keep your cat safe and comfortable while you’re away. Most cats do best staying in their familiar home environment with a trusted pet sitter checking in daily for food, fresh water, litter box cleaning, and companionship.

Before you leave, make sure emergency contact information and veterinary details are easy to find. And don’t forget — a little extra playtime and attention when you return home can help your feline friend settle back into their normal routine!

Thank You for Supporting Us During Give Local York

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who donated, shared our mission, and helped spread the word during the Give Local York fundraiser event. Your support means so much to our team, volunteers, and especially the animals in our care.

Because of your generosity, we can continue providing shelter, medical care, and loving homes for cats in need throughout our community.

Thank you for believing in what we do and for helping make a difference in the lives of homeless animals!”

Adoptable Cat of the Month: Darby Rose

Sometimes the best rescue stories begin by accident.

Darby Rose, a young white Domestic Shorthair, was originally brought in from a TNR program. TNR stands for Trap–Neuter–Return, a humane approach used for community (outdoor) cats. Cats are safely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and then returned to their outdoor home. When she arrived, it quickly became clear that she had other plans. Her sweet, affectionate personality won everyone over, and it was obvious that Darby Rose belonged in a home, not on the streets.

Friendly, gentle, and eager for attention, Darby Rose enjoys spending time with people and is always happy to make new friends. She has a calm, easygoing nature that makes her a wonderful companion for anyone looking to add a loving feline to their family.

Darby Rose is FIV-positive, but don’t let that discourage you. As you’ll see in our FIV Facts sidebar, cats with FIV can live long, happy lives and often make wonderful pets. Because of her friendly disposition and cat-friendly personality, Darby Rose may be adopted into a home with other welcoming feline companions.

Now safe, loved, and ready for her next chapter, Darby Rose is waiting patiently for the forever family she deserves.

You can meet Darby Rose at our satellite adoption location, The Felted Fox in East Petersburg. Stop by and say hello—you may just find your new best friend.

Our Rescue Director

Since Centerville Pet Rescue was founded in 2015, Heidi Noecker has been one of the driving forces behind the organization’s growth and success. As Rescue Director, she has helped shape the rescue from its earliest days into the thriving organization it is today.

Heidi’s journey into animal rescue began during a major life transition. After her divorce and living on her own for the first time, she found herself with extra time and a desire to make a difference for animals. A friend introduced her to cat rescue, and she quickly discovered a passion that would change her life.

“I wanted to do something with animals,” Heidi recalls. “A friend introduced me to cat rescue, and I have been hooked ever since.”

Over the years, Heidi has worn many hats at Centerville Pet Rescue. As Rescue Director, she serves as the organization’s operational leader, helping oversee virtually every aspect of daily operations. From volunteer coordination and fundraising to finances, purchasing, intake management, and medical scheduling, Heidi works tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure both the cats and the organization receive the care and support they need.

While her responsibilities are extensive, her favorite part of rescue work remains the cats themselves—especially those who need a little extra help.

“I love working with the cats who are scared or have behavioral challenges,” Heidi says. “Being able to help them learn to trust humans, identify the root cause of their behavior, and get it corrected so they can find happy new homes is the best feeling ever.”

Heidi’s dedication to helping cats succeed is backed by specialized training and certification. She is a certified Cat Behavior Counselor through the Humane Society of the United States, giving her additional expertise in helping cats and their families navigate common behavioral challenges such as litter box issues, introductions to new pets, and multi-cat household dynamics. Her training has helped countless cats overcome behavioral obstacles that might otherwise prevent them from finding and keeping loving homes.

Heidi also brings more than 20 years of professional experience in third-party logistics, with expertise in project implementation, inventory management, order processing, package fulfillment, and customer service. Those organizational skills have proven invaluable in helping Centerville Pet Rescue grow while maintaining a strong focus on animal welfare.

When asked about a favorite rescue memory, Heidi laughed and replied, “Have you met Morti? With him around, I am always laughing!” She quickly added that one of the best parts of rescue is the amazing team she works alongside. “I have a great team, and there is always something silly happening.”

If she had to describe Centerville Pet Rescue in just three words, Heidi chose: Entertaining, Educational, and Rewarding.

At home, Heidi shares her life with two beloved feline companions. Ozzy earned his name from Ozzy Osbourne because, as a kitten, he was fearless, adventurous, and just a little bit wild. Teek was named after the Ewok character from Star Wars because when Heidi first saw her at just three days old, she looked exactly like a tiny Ewok.

Above all else, Heidi is a passionate advocate for cats and animal welfare. Her compassion, kindness, and unwavering commitment to every cat who enters our care help guide the decisions she makes each day. Since Centerville Pet Rescue was founded, our mission has always been to put the welfare of the animals first, and Heidi’s leadership helps ensure that commitment remains at the heart of everything we do.

We are incredibly grateful for Heidi’s dedication, expertise, and countless hours of service. Alongside an incredible team of staff, volunteers, foster families, supporters, and fellow leaders, Heidi has helped build Centerville Pet Rescue into the organization it is today. Her impact can be seen not only in the thousands of cats whose lives have been changed through rescue, but also in the people she has inspired along the way.