Our "Best Friend" Honored Volunteer: Dick J
Many thanks to our early morning and "honorary Cat Caregiver" volunteer, Dick!
By
Best Friends Animal Society
"Our Best Friends" is a weekly installment to honor just a few of our outstanding Best Friends LA volunteers. This is your chance to get to know some of the shining stars in the Best Friends LA volunteer program! Volunteers are either nominated by Best Friends LA staff or other volunteers in our program. If you would like to volunteer, e-mail the Best Friends LA Volunteer Department at volunteerLA@bestfriends.org
Dick J. - honored December 14, 2015
Dick tell us.....
What programs and projects do you volunteer with at Best Friends LA?
Cat cleaning, early morning shift. I am a morning person, usually up at 3 a.m. so I like to get there early and help out. The cats don’t seem to mind being disturbed.
Why do you choose to volunteer with Best Friends LA?
Two reasons - it is a non-profit, no kill shelter and it is close by.
How long have you been a Best Friends LA volunteer?
Since February 2015. Would have started earlier but you didn’t have any available orientation classes sooner.
What type of fun stuff do you do when you're not volunteering?
I am retired now so I don’t have to “work” any more. My husband is still partially working. I still take care of his bookkeeping as well as other household chores. Since he is self employed we have the freedom to take off from time-to-time and do some traveling.
Do you have a favorite story to share about an experience volunteering with Best Friends LA?
All I can say is that this is the best paying job I have ever had in my life. The purrs, head-bumps, the cats that want attention and petting are more rewarding to me than any money I have ever earned in the past. Of course it helps that I was in information technology in my working life so I made a good living which allows me to be comfortable with my life now.
Do you have any pets?
Every life should have nine cats. This is my life. I have had my nine cats. I don’t want to adopt now because I don’t want to leave any orphans. Older cats would work except even though we are comfortable I don’t bring in big paychecks anymore so I can’t afford big veterinarian bills.
What others are saying about Dick:
"Dick is our 'honorary Cat Caregiver' he is always consistent, thorough, and amazingly helpful every single weekday. Each day we look forward to seeing his smiling face, and the cats just love him. Thank you Dick, for being one of the best volunteers ever!" -- Janette Nevils, Cat Care Manager