You can tell a lot about a person based on the way they treat other living things. This particular person treats animals of all sizes as well as any human could ask for themselves; with a healing hand and compassion, Bridgette Porto-Venturelli cares for those who cannot care for themselves and, in doing so, saves dozens of lives.
Porto-Venturelli is the kind of person to see a creature struggling and do something about it. She has opened her home to over 67 kittens, 35 cats, eight dogs, countless birds, fish, squirrels, possums, frogs, toads, turtles, snakes, and even a duckling to give them the care they need and rehabilitate them for life. As her personal friend, I frequently see Bridgette’s stories on social media about late nights holding bottles to sick kittens, about feeding and sheltering homeless animals, and about treating any and every animal brought to her attention. She sacrifices much of her own sleep and sanity to see these creatures get well again – and even with her very best efforts, sometimes fate has other plans, and the constant heartbreak from losing these animals cannot be an easy load to bear. Porto-Venturelli’s huge heart affords her critters the best care and attention, greatly enriching their lives while they are here.
Porto-Venturelli came to Central Florida from upstate New York and worked at a number of odd jobs, including work in pre-arranged funeral sales and an art gallery. Currently, she is the Orlando sales manager for the largest privately-owned transportation company on the East Coast, Academy Bus. In addition to working full-time, this hero comes home to animals that need her care, and she happily and tirelessly provides it.
“It’s changed me because I’m grateful for the small things,” Porto-Venturelli said. “When a stray and sick little kitten is still alive in the morning after I’ve done everything in my power to treat and feed it … I know I can make a difference, and I know it doesn’t always work out that way, with a happy ending, but I know I will always try. I know that many people don’t have that ethic, but I do.”
Much about Porto-Venturelli’s upbringing encouraged her to care for living things in this fashion. She always had a number of pets and watched her mother closely as she treated everything with a heartbeat with respect and kindness. Much of their lives were spent enhancing the lives of others. When Porto-Venturelli met her husband on a work trip, the call to action within her grew even stronger. He has a background in Army medical and veterinary services and, when coupled with an ingrained passion for animals, brought out the urgency to help within Bridgette.
“I do what I can, and he helps me. So, it started with my mom, but he really brought the ‘I-have-to-help’ out in me. No matter how many times I bring something home that I’ve found on the way, get called out on Facebook for help, or agree to foster a feral mom who just had kittens, he just gives me ‘the look,’” she explained.
Porto-Venturelli comes armed with assistance from Whisker Town Cats, who partners with her to provide food, litter, medical supplies and medical procedures, like neutering, to prepare the felines for adoption. She fosters animals and gets them healthy enough to find their forever homes, if she doesn’t end up giving them a home herself.
She and her husband have three dogs, a community of cats, and various other critters that call their property their home. Their dogs and failed foster cat, Sammy, keep them on a tight schedule, beginning every morning just after 5 a.m. Porto-Venturelli makes her rounds feeding the “trap, neuter and release” kitty community, Karla the Crow, and any other animals looking for a meal. Her foster critters receive their food and water, and any bottle babies get their fill. All of this, by the way, happens before her work day even begins. The spectacular amounts of selflessness and energy required for every single day make Bridgette a true force of nature, a hero and the purest source of compassion.
Aside from her work, both unpaid and paid, this whirlwind of a woman often works in her garden. She nurtures plants with as much love as she does animals – until it’s time to eat the vegetables she’s grown, of course. I’m beginning to sense a theme of respecting living things here – anyone else?
Bridgette Porto-Venturelli is fun, caring, creative and loyal – exactly what these animals need. She is full of passion and, as her husband would put it, has a big heart and an even bigger hammer. One day, you may see a book of photos by this hero on the shelves of your local bookstore; only she can find profound meaning in abandoned pillows on the side of the road. She frequently talks about compiling photos of forgotten pillows into a book and exemplifying the narrative of comfort and abandonment. Until then, she will be providing the deepest care to those without a voice – and trying to keep her swearing under wraps.
