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Central Humane Society Volunteer finds purpose, acceptance

Mirror photo by Patt Keith / Portage resident Beverlee Billings, 58, pets a cat at the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society in Altoona. Billings, who was born with achondroplasia, has been volunteering with the shelter since 2019.

“I’ve always been partial to the underdog,” said Beverlee Billings of Portage, as she scratched behind the ears of an older cat with healed scars on his face. “Or, in this case, the undercat.”

The cat is one of dozens available at the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society in Altoona.

Billings, 57, knows about being an underdog.

At 4 feet tall, Billings was born with achondroplasia, a genetic disorder that causes abnormal bone growth and occurs in about one in 20,000 to 30,000 live births, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.

Her parents and siblings are “normal sized,” she said, but another family member also has achondroplasia.

The youngest of six children, Billings said, a first cousin on her mother’s side is also a little person, the term she prefers to describe her condition.

A shelter volunteer since March 2019, Billings socializes with the cats and kittens, does mountains of laundry, prepares newspapers for use by the dogs and, during COVID-19, greets patrons at the door to make sure they are wearing masks and sanitize their hands when entering.

She’s also helped with the few fundraisers the organization has had since the pandemic began.

“Beverlee is like a breath of fresh air,” said Becky Felton, director of outreach and development for the Central PA Humane Society. “She is always smiling and eager to help. Whether it’s laundry or helping with events for the fur babies, she’s up for it.”

Billings is among the 40-some people who volunteer consistently week in and week out, said Dylan Kotrick, volunteer coordinator. An additional 50 volunteers often help with special events and fundraising.

With a warm outgoing personality, Kotrick said, Billings fits right in with the staff and other volunteers because of her love for the animals and her willingness to do whatever is needed.

“She’ll come to me every day and ask what she can help me with. She’ll say, ‘What didn’t you have time to do and how can I help you?'” Kotrick said. “No matter what the job, she is willing to do it.”

And she doesn’t let her short-stature prevent her from accomplishing tasks, he said, because she has brought in step stools so she can reach items on high shelves.

“I don’t even notice,” he said of her being a little person.

Such acceptance has been important to Billings.

“I’ve never felt more at home than I do among my humane society family,” she said.

Like her four-legged charges who are often born wild or abandoned through no fault of their own, being born a little person wasn’t her fault, but life hasn’t been fair, gentle or kind to Billings. She was and is often stared and pointed at for being a little person.

“People can be very cruel. Unfortunately, we live in a world where people are pointed out when they are different,” Billings said. “They don’t treat me any differently. They treat me as one of them — just not as tall. It hasn’t been easy but working here makes all that go away.”

Being of short stature is one of many consequences of the genetic bone mutation. She has joint and back malformations that have required three spine surgeries in one year, including rods to straighten and strengthen her spine, plus a replacement of a shoulder with an artificial joint.

Doctor-directed limitations on bending, lifting and twisting necessitated that she retire as a nutritionist with the WIC program because of the rods in her spine.

Then, she became caretaker for her elderly mother until her death in November 2018.

Billings uses a car especially equipped with hand controls to make the 32-minute drive to the shelter from her apartment.

Working with the animals satisfies a childhood desire to work with animals, she said.

Billings became acquainted with humane society staff when she adopted two cats from the shelter over the years, including her current “fur baby” Beasley.

“I wanted to give something back and do something for these animals. I love animals, in some ways, more than some humans,” she said. During cat socialization periods, Billings helps cats that have had little contact with humans, overcome their fear of human movement, voices and touch so they can be adopted.

“Some cats may not have had a lot of human contact so you take it very slowly and develop a lot of patience,” she said, noting one cat has gone from hiding under her bedding in her cage to allowing Billings to stroke her fur from head to shoulders.

“The first time she purred when I stroked her was the best feeling in the world,” she said. “It’s a great feeling when you see them turn around and go from being petrified to showing you so much love and kindness. Love, kindness and acceptance is all the animals want. It’s easier to be patient with an animal than a person in some ways because the outcome is so rewarding. I’ve never enjoyed anything as much as I enjoy volunteering here,” she said.

With her many health challenges and daily chronic pain, Billings said she has suffered with depression for most of her life. But volunteering and caring for the animals has lifted her far beyond her physical and emotional pain because her thoughts are caring for the animals..

“This is like my relief. This is better than any medication I could take. My physician and psychiatrist are amazed at what a difference being here has done. Everyone here does their part and they appreciate anything you do to help. This is such wonderful therapy for me. I can’t even describe it. It’s my home away from home.”

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