Our "Best Friend" Honored Volunteer: Barbara L.
Barbara, who walks and trains dogs at NKLA, has been a long time supporter of Best Friends and a wonderful volunteer!
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
Barbara Leake - honored March, 18, 2016
Barbara tell us.....
What programs and projects do you volunteer with at Best Friends LA?
Primarily dog walking. Before construction at the center, I did some training work but that's hard to do now with the green room being occupied.
Why do you choose to volunteer with Best Friends LA?
I have always loved animals, particularly dogs and horses, and I've given to Best Friends for many years. When I cut down to part-time work and learned that a BF shelter was looking for volunteers on the Westside, I was delighted.
How long have you been a Best Friends LA volunteer?
Since Sept of 2014, I believe.
What type of fun stuff do you do when you're not volunteering?
Primarily part-time work for the UCLA Dept of Family Medicine. Also some agility training of my dog.
Do you have a favorite story to share about an experience volunteering with Best Friends LA?
I enjoy playing gentle games of tug with Rex in his kennel for a few minutes before I had to leave.
Do you have any pets?
One very bright terrier mix that I adopted from NKLA after my previous dog died. He had been there for some time since he scared off potential adopters by jumping a lot. He has morphed from a hyperactive, relatively quiet dog to a relatively composed chatterbox who walks along nicely on a loose leash until he sees a bicycle, motorcycle, someone in uniform, etc. Old habits die hard but he's improving. Except for insisting on trying to mark in the agility ring.
What others are saying about Barbara:
"Barbara is so kind! She comes in each week taking our dogs out on walks and spending time with them at the center. Her help is so appreciated!" - Erika, Volunteer Coordinator