Forever Love Rescue, a volunteer-powered nonprofit located at 39 Queen St. just off Steinwehr Ave. Avenue in Gettysburg brought in $4,625 in donations as it welcomed visitors to a grand reopening on Saturday.

The mission of the non-profit is to find homes for cats who need them and reduce the feral cat population through its Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) program.

“It’s rewarding,” said co-owner Stephanie Baum, reflecting on a decade of cat rescue work. “It feels good to watch them get a happy home—and to see the pictures come back later, showing them right where they belong.”

The event, which celebrated major renovations to the facility, provided an opportunity to interact with a room full of felines, as well as a bake sale, silent auctions, and a home-made lemonade stand.
Stephanie and her husband Jeff run the shelter, which houses 130 to 150 cats at any given time, with capacity rising to 200 during peak kitten season. The organization is staffed with the help of one full-time and one part-time employee as well as more than 100 volunteers who clean, foster, transport, and promote adoptable cats online.

Baum said the organization started by rescuing dogs, but soon realized that in our area there was a bigger need for cats. “This is more than just a hobby,” she said. “It’s a labor of love and we’re seeing real change.”

Last year, the rescue placed 443 cats in adoptive homes and performed 860 TNR procedures on outdoor cats. Stephanie credits the TNR program—offered for only $40 per cat, with some cats being subsidized for free — for helping stabilize feral cat populations. “We’ve really seen a delay in kitten season starting around here,” she said. “It used to feel like scooping the ocean with a teaspoon. Now, it’s more manageable.”

TNR nvolves trapping free-roaming cats, sterilizing them, and returning them to their home territory. The process protects the feline colony from overpopulation which leads to fighting and disease, while allowing the cats to live out their lives outside. “It’s good for the health of the colony, said Baum. “We make sure that they have their basic vaccinations and we treat any sicknesses we find that they come in with. You’re left with a happier, healthier colony.”

Forever Love Rescue works with trained trappers who respond to colony reports and coordinate with residents to ensure safe and effective processing. The group also partners with local vets and animal welfare organizations to make TNR accessible and efficient.

Though Jeff focuses on his computer repair business in the next room, Stephanie calls him “my rock” in supporting the shelter’s daily efforts.

Originally housed across from the Gettysburg post office, Forever Love moved to its current location in 2019 and nearly relocated again—until the Baums decided to invest in remodeling instead. Baum said the new space better reflects the dedication behind the mission.

“We’re not just giving cats a second chance,” she said. “We’re giving people the joy that comes with finding a new companion.”

Photos by Jim Bargas. Click on any image to start the slideshow.