With so many animals in need of a home, one Bay area woman has made it her mission to help as many of them as she can. 

Janet Saunders has been caring for shelter animals for 17 years. 

Saunders has been volunteering at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay for seven years. For 10 years before that, she assisted the Humane Society in Jacksonville. 

Saunders not only cares for the animals but often helps gets them placed in loving homes. 

"There are thousands of local families that have happy, furry companions in their homes because of what Janet does," said Humane Society Volunteer Manager Liz McCoy. "She dedicates thousands of hours a year to us. Mostly as a foster parent." 

Saunders and her husband open their hearts and home to special needs cats and kittens. Some of those animals have to be bottle fed because they were separated from their mothers too soon. 

"Last year, I had 17 at one time," Saunders said laughing. "I had two adult moms with their kittens and I had a few kittens who didn't have their moms."

And while Janet agrees the kittens and puppies are cute, she is partial to the older cats. 

"We adopted an eight-year-old and a ten-year old," she said. "I think the senior animals are the best.

"I don't think I'm a hero. I just think I'm doing what God put me here for, which is taking care of his creations."