Our Best Friend Honored Volunteer: Debbie Guyer
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.
Debbie Guyer - Honored July 2018
What BFLA programs/events/volunteer roles do you find yourself participating in?
I love hanging with the kitties doing whatever needs to be done to make them happy and comfortable...whether it's cleaning, playing or simply just being a patient friend. I enjoy seeing them able to be just who they are. Each one of them is a gift.
Why do you choose to volunteer with Best Friends LA?
It's an awesome organization that's changed the lives of so many animals and it just keeps getting better. I like being a part of that.
How long have you been a BFLA/NKLA volunteer?
I began volunteering at NKLA in January 2014 after another animal foundation I volunteered with was sadly forced to close its doors. All the animals were safely rehomed.
What do you do when you're not volunteering (career/extracurricular activities)?
I'm retired but I stay pretty active spending time with my own pack; a dog, 2 kitties and my human family. I also have 3 beautiful grandkids, and 3 days a week I help out by watching them. We have so much fun! They've all been brought up around animals and show a real appreciation and respect for them.
Do you have a favorite story to share about an experience volunteering with Best Friends LA? Share it!
I've fallen for many kitties at NKLA, but one of my first crushes was Teddy, a handsome tabby who just didn't seem interested in much. And no adopters seemed interested in him. He patiently waited, feisty at times. Through trial and error, a fellow volunteer and I discovered he was a champion ping pong ball player and it seemed to bring out a playfulness in him not many had seen before. It was quite a wait, but eventually he got his loving forever home, but we enjoyed many a ping pong ball matches while waiting. I still follow him on Instagram :)
Do you have any pets? Tell us about them!
I do; Belle, my chihuahua mix, is 13. We adopted her just before Christmas last year. She's my little angel. Perny, my oldest cat is a gray beauty. Graceful, poised and gentle. We rescued her a few years ago. Budd, our newest kitty, is a 10 month old tabby boy we adopted July 1st from NKLA. He's full of mischief and energy. He's awesome. Things have been a little difficult since Budd joined us, but we're determined to work it out. I love them all dearly.
What others are saying about Debbie:
Debbie is awesome! She is a foundation of our cat team here at the center - with both our adult cats and kittens. She is not only an extremely talented cat handler, she is the most kind, positive and lovely person to work with! She is also an incredible teacher who is always willing to help support new volunteers as they begin volunteering with cats at the center. Debbie really is one of our all-time favorite volunteers who has made a great difference in the lives of the animals she cares for with us at the center. We are remarkably grateful to know her and work with her! Thank you for everything you do Debbie, you are the best!
Justin (NKLA Volunteer Coordinator)