Meet the Founders of The Florida Cat & Dog Project
- Natalia Camden
- Oct 28
- 4 min read
On a humid morning, Matthew is out before sunrise, a humane trap in the truck and an energy drink sitting on the dash. He knows the routine: quiet steps, soft towel, a patient wait. By mid-day he’s logging notes and texting updates; by evening he’s back home - just in time for the 11 p.m. shift, when he and Natalia warm bottles, prep syringes for assisted feeding, and turn the kitchen into a tiny NICU. This is what rescue looks like in real life: early mornings, late nights, and a thousand small decisions that add up to a second chance.
How “one more” became a mission
We didn’t plan a rescue; we planned to help “one more.” One more cat circling a parking lot, one more dog left behind in a move-out, one more senior who needed a soft landing. But “one more” keeps multiplying when you live in a community you love. The Florida Cat & Dog Project grew from that feeling - compassion turned into logistics, hope turned into a plan.
Who we are
Matthew Camden is a Marine veteran and a master’s student in Information Security who believes good systems save lives - whether you’re securing a network or coordinating a rescue. Animals trust his steady presence. He’s the first awake on trap mornings, the calm driver on intake runs, the person who can re-rig a crate door with zip ties and gentleness.
Natalia Camden is a lifelong animal advocate, copywriter, and forensic psychology student who believes stories can change systems. She’s the one who turns compassion into a checklist - scheduling vet runs, administering meds, deciding what’s next on the ever-growing to-do list of running a rescue, and reminding everyone (including us) that progress is a string of small wins.
At home, four very opinionated dogs, Ava, Griffin, Dexter, and Rice, are our daily reminder of why this matters. They are routine, comic relief, and therapy all rolled into wagging tails.
What we believe
Dignity first. Every animal is a someone. We use fear-free handling, species-appropriate enrichment, and honest medical care.
Prevention works. TNVR, spay/neuter, and pet-retention support keep families together and reduce shelter intake.
Community is the engine. Adopters, fosters, volunteers, vets, neighbors - rescues run on all of us.
Transparency builds trust. We share wins and hard days, budgets and barriers, so donors and adopters can see the road we’re walking.
How we work (the everyday playbook)
Rescue & Rehab. We triage with veterinary partners, write simple care plans, and set clear goals - stability first, progress next.
Foster-first model. Most animals decompress in foster homes. We provide starter kits, quick text support, and short how-to videos.
Adoption with support. We focus on successful placements, home-ready checklists, realistic expectations, and follow-ups that actually happen.
TNVR & Community help. Targeted trap–neuter–vaccinate–return projects, food support for colony caregivers, and easy guides to low-cost clinics.
Education you can use. “First 48 Hours Home,” “The Litter Box Playbook,” “Why Pair Adoptions Work”- short, friendly resources for real life.
What impact looks like (and how you can see it)
Impact, to us, is a cat who finally rests on day three. It’s a shy dog who takes a treat from a new hand. It’s the text from a foster that says, “We can keep her one more week.” We track the numbers - intakes, TNVR surgeries, retention rates - because accountability matters. But we also track the intangibles: the first purr after antibiotics kick in, the moment an anxious dog chooses you. Those are the milestones that keep a small team moving.
The long game
Matthew’s security mindset and Natalia’s systems-plus-story approach keep us building for the long term: better intake forms, clearer foster playbooks, shared calendars with vets, and community partnerships that make help faster and kinder. The goal isn’t just to save the animal in front of us - it’s to make saving the next one easier.
How you can help today
Follow & share. Your engagement puts urgent posts in front of the right fosters and adopters.
Foster for a weekend. Forty-eight hours can completely change a case; we supply everything.
Donate. Vetting, transport, and TNVR are where your dollars have instant impact.
Micro-volunteer. Photos, short transport legs, crafting enrichment toys, grant leads - small tasks, big difference.
A note from us
At 7:00 a.m., there’s a trap in the truck. At 11:00 p.m., there are bottles and syringes on the counter. In between, there’s a community that keeps saying yes. If you’ve adopted, fostered, donated, shared, or simply cheered us on - thank you. You are part of every “after” photo we post.
With gratitude,
Natalia & Matthew Camden
About Natalia Camden
Natalia is a writer, an explorer, and researcher. She studies Forensic Psychology at the Southern New Hampshire University. Natalia writes and speaks about taking risks, exploring cultural and generational diversities and how they affect our society today. She has been writing content for over 16 years. Natalia and her husband, Matthew, are enthusiastic animal lovers, and have provided a loving home for five rescued pups - Griffin, Ava, Rice, Dexter and Mary. Beyond writing, Natalia finds fulfilment in spending time with nature; from nurturing blossoming gardens to delving deep into the wilderness on her hikes. For her, nothing is more spiritually nourishing than exploring the great outdoors. "Our evolution continues despite our resistance to it – and resistance is exactly what continues to drive me forward" - Natalia Camden. Read more
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