Laurie and Ron Peterson are the heart behind Cats of the Boardwalk — together, they lead our volunteers with hands-on dedication that comes from truly loving this work.
Their path to animal rescue started long before Myrtle Beach. Laurie fostered more than 150 dogs while working with rescue organizations in San Diego and Oklahoma City, welcoming animals into her home and preparing them for the families they deserved. Caring for animals isn’t simply something Laurie does — it’s part of who she is.
Ron brings a different kind of dedication, forged over 25 years in the Navy as an Electronics Technician Chief. After retiring, he taught electronics maintenance, passing that discipline on to others. Today, he puts those qualities to work for the cats — checking traps at all hours, making sure every trap is set right.
Together, Laurie and Ron have built Cats of the Boardwalk into a true team effort. Laurie handles humane trapping, coordinates spay/neuter services and veterinary care, and monitors colonies, while Ron keeps the trapping side running smoothly, often at odd hours. Between them, meaningful change takes patience, consistency, and trust.
“Interesting fact: I used to be highly allergic to cats. I believe God had a new purpose for me in mind and took that away.” — Laurie
They also believe animal welfare is strongest when the whole community works together. Through Cats of the Boardwalk, they collaborate with other rescue groups, city officials, local businesses, and officers working the boardwalk beat, creating practical, humane solutions that respect the people and neighborhoods that share their environment.
Their mission centers on responsible population management through Trap-Neuter-Return, public education, and compassionate intervention. Every cat matters, but Laurie and Ron also keep their eyes on the larger goal: healthier, more stable cat populations for the future.
Cats of the Boardwalk represents Laurie and Ron’s shared belief that retirement can still be filled with purpose and meaningful work. Whether Ron is checking a trap, Laurie is coordinating with a rescue group, or the two are speaking with a city official together, they lead with compassion and follow through with action — as a team, every time.
“I trust God, I love my family, and I enjoy retirement at the beach. Helping animals has always been in my blood. Today, I work to help feral cat populations—and I do this for the cats of the boardwalk and beyond.” — Laurie
Their work is local, but their commitment reaches farther: to every animal that deserves care, every community that needs a humane solution, and every person willing to help.
Based in Hubbard, Ohio, Shannon helps Cats of the Boardwalk from afar by administering our Facebook group. A self-described travel addict, cat mom, and coffee enthusiast, she studied Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh (Class of 2019) and brings that same care for community wellbeing to keeping our online group running smoothly. Shannon’s future plans involve moving to Myrtle Beach.
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After retiring to Myrtle Beach in 2017, Isabelle and her husband often talked about finding a way to help the cats they saw at the beach. A chance meeting with Cats of the Boardwalk founder Laurie Peterson in 2025 turned that idea into reality. Drawing on 25 years of media experience, she now supports the organization through content and communications, helping tell the stories of the cats, the people who care for them, and the work happening behind the scenes.
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Brandy (Bee) was raised on her family’s farm in Monroe, NC, and has called Myrtle Beach home for 31 years. A lifelong cat lover “owned by housecats” her whole life, she treasures her family, her three cats, and the beach cats she helps care for. After years as an elementary school food service provider and PTO Vice President, she’s now in her seventh year on the boardwalk, and loves every chance to meet visitors and locals. Her favorite boardwalk cat is Remy — “I love her fuzzy buns,” she says.
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Jonathan, originally from New York City, spent his career in executive-level application development within the financial industry. Now retired and living outside Myrtle Beach in Forestbrook, he’s the heart of our technology — handling the creative and technical development behind Cats of the Boardwalk, including our branding and this website. He studied Psychology at Hunter College (Class of 1997), and finds that background still shapes how he approaches building tools people actually want to use.
Email JonathanAt this time it is illegal to feed the cats at the boardwalk. City ordinance 14-315-e
Cats of the Boardwalk is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 42-4280904. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Gifts purchased for us through Amazon are not tax-deductible.
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Cats of the Boardwalk is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 42-4280904. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Gifts purchased for us through Amazon are not tax-deductible.
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