Our "Best Friend" - Honored Volunteer

"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.

Erin, tell us.....

What programs and projects do you volunteer with at Best Friends LA?
I volunteer mostly with the dogs. However, I also really like spending time with cats, helping with photo shoots, festivals and mobile events, and lately, doing video shoots. I can also be found doing the laundry.

Why do you choose to volunteer with Best Friends LA?
I found out about Best Friends Animal Society through watching Dog Town. I love what Best Friends stands for and am proud to be a part of this No Kill Los Angeles goal. I think every person should have an animal in their life. They truly make people healthier and life better.

How long have you been a Best Friends LA volunteer?
I have been volunteering since September 2013.

What type of fun stuff do you do when you're not volunteering?
I work at an Independent movie Theatre, which is a fun place to be. I also spend time volunteering with Heal the Bay doing beach clean ups and the YMCA as a summer camp Director. I like to work out and meditate, and if I can accomplish that with a beach bike ride, then I’m in heaven! I’m also on a correspondence committee that works with writing to people in recovery that are in jails. And last, but definitely NOT least, I love to spend the best parts of my day with my fur babies.

Do you have a favorite story to share about an experience volunteering with Best Friends LA? 
My favorite experience at NKLA has been with a Grey Paw dog named Cinnamon. She was my girl and I was on a mission to get her a home. She was so scared of 
everything, except other dogs, and so she didn’t like to go on walks. So, we played. We ran in the enclosed area - in circles. She seemed happy to see me when I showed up at her kennel. I knew that when the right people came around, she would pick them and it would be perfect. When I read about her adoption, I cried. I cried HARD tears of joy!!!! And that is my favorite experience...so far, at NKLA.

Do you have any pets?
I have 6 rescue dogs. They each came about year apart from each other. I have an Irish setter, Briesha, she’s shy and thinks she’s a lap dog. The next one is a long-haired Chihuahua mix, Gizmo. He’s scared of his own shadow and is a momma’s boy. Next is the cute little white Malti-poo, Sofie. She broke out of a puppy mill. She has NO hard feelings towards humans and acts like a momma to everyone else, her permanent family, and the fosters in between. She’s also little miss bossy and lets the other dogs know she’s in charge. The fourth one is my man, Chester. He’s a Shih-Tzu poodle who is a funny character and a foster failure. He looks AND acts like a Muppet. Always curious about what’s going on and not afraid of anything. Number five is an adorable mini yorkie-poo, Fiona. Six pounds of perfect! She’s a dainty, polite and sweet as pie, little angel! Last is the miracle dog, a teacup yorkie, named Wookie. She is a warrior princess. My mom rescued her from the shelter, as she was knocking on death’s door. She was in such POOR health; no teeth, no bottom jaw, mammary tumors ALL OVER her tummy, and had pneumonia. We did not think she was going to last more than a week. But we gave her all our love, and did whatever we could with the Vet’s help, and she decided it wasn’t her time to go. She has a good home now. It’s been two years, and she’s a reminder that all animals deserve a fighting chance. I’m in love with all of my babies, and if I could I would save more so we can save them all!

What others are saying about Erin LaBrie:
“Erin is an absolute doll! She is so helpful and amazing with every aspect of 
volunteering with Best Friends! No tasks are too big or small for her!! Erin thinks 
of everyone, including me bringing me my fix of movie theater popcorn! We are 
so lucky to have her apart of the Best Friends family.” Tamara Gvozdenovic, 
Volunteer Coordinator