What inspired you to start volunteering with Rancho Coastal Humane Society, and how long have you been involved?

A friend of mine volunteered at her local shelter. When she told me about this, I knew that’s what I wanted to do when I retired. I’ve been volunteering with Rancho Coastal for more than 8 years now.

What does your volunteer role look like, and what do you enjoy most about it?

I’m a volunteer mentor; I show new volunteers the protocols.  What I enjoy most is working with the dogs that are having a challenging time at the shelter.  I feel extremely fortunate to be able to work with these dogs, it’s very rewarding.

Is there a moment or experience that made you feel especially proud to volunteer here?

There are so many moments and experiences. Most are centered on dogs that are having a difficult time adjusting to shelter life. It’s the breakthroughs with these dogs, when they start to trust you. For a dog to go from being fearful, withdrawn, extremely shy, to lighting up when they see me, with their tail wagging and a happy face. That’s everything!

Tell us about your special connection to Tippy and what you love about this dog?

I adore Tippy, she is my number one dog at the shelter. I remember when she first came to Rancho Coastal as an excited pup. She’s grown so much in so many ways. Every time I visit Tippy the first thing she does is eagerly greet me at the gate and gently put her head between my knees, positioning herself for a nice long massage. These moments are very endearing to me. She’s very loving and affectionate along with so many other wonderful traits. If my circumstances were different, I would adopt Tip in a heartbeat!

What would you say to someone who’s considering volunteering but hasn’t taken the first step yet?

It’s a great place to make connections with people and animals. You’re doing something good for yourself as well as the animals and the rewards are plentiful!