Volunteer Stories Stories

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Volunteer makes 600 masks for animal welfare workers

Longtime Los Angeles volunteer Gilly Hurley channels her grief into helping hundreds of staff and volunteers caring for shelter pets during the COVID-19 crisis.
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Three (million) cheers for Best Friends volunteers

This National Volunteer Appreciation week we celebrate and honor volunteers who make the Best Friends mission and vision possible.
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Championing a dog you can’t have

Marianna fell in love with Brandy and adopted her, but when it didn't work out, she made it her mission to ensure the next one did
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L.A. volunteer has a soft spot for senior cats and those with special needs

To Belle Henderson there's no greater reward than helping cats at the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in Los Angeles get adopted
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Volunteer extraordinaire helps pets and people who need her

When Ranko Fukuda isn't helping youth in foster homes, she's helping senior pups and neonatal kittens at Best Friends in Los Angeles.
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Volunteer’s passion for helping pets spans two continents

Fabio Vitolla loved visiting the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in New York City, so when he relocated from Switzerland he knew exactly where he wanted to volunteer
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Like daughter, like father: Teen encourages her father to save homeless cats

Sixteen-year-old inspires her dad to volunteer with her at the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in Salt Lake City, as a fun father-daughter activity.
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Twelve-year-old forgoes his birthday party, has all his friends volunteer with homeless pets instead

Preteen and his friends volunteer with animals at Best Friends in Atlanta to celebrate his birthday and that he's now old enough to volunteer.
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Pilot uses ‘compassion flights’ to save the lives of homeless cats and kittens

Pilot Larry Erdman with Pilots N Paws flies cats and kittens from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary to shelters in other states where they'll be adopted.
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Busy event producer still finds time every week to make a difference for homeless pets

Lauren Fishman, who owns a special events and consulting company, volunteers to help homeless pets and with Best Friends events.
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Volunteer learns powerful lessons in love from animals

A volunteer who works with homeless dogs and cats at Best Friends in L.A. learns powerful lessons in love and compassion from them.
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Dedicated couple has made 33 (and counting) trips to the Sanctuary

Committed volunteer couple Andrea Kraus and Mike Lorrig have made numerous trips to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary and helped with events and programs.
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Etch a Sketch

Etch A Sketch artist draws portraits of homeless pets to help them get adopted

How an iconic drawing toy helped raise awareness for rescued dogs and cats in Salt Lake City
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Adorable couple in their 80s spend all their free time saving animals, and the photos say it all

Senior volunteer couple in their 80s help pets in need at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, Simply Cats Animal Center, and West Valley Humane Society.
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Etch A Sketch artist draws pictures of homeless pets to help them get adopted from the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in Salt Lake City.

Artist Britt West uses her Etch A Sketch to create drawings of homeless dogs and cats for adoption at Best Friends in Salt Lake City, Utah.
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