Our "Best Friend" Honored Volunteer: Sandra Figge
Our Best Friend: Sandra Figge
"Our Best Friends" is a monthly 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, email the Best Friends LA Volunteer Department at volunteerla@bestfriends.org.
Sandra Figge - Honored April 2019
What BFLA programs/events/volunteer roles do you find yourself participating in?
On the dog team, I walk dogs twice a week, assist with first-day check-ins for new volunteers, and take a dog offsite once a week for Adventure Buddies. On the adoption team, I showcase dogs and I just started showcasing cats.
Why do you choose to volunteer with Best Friends LA?
I chose to volunteer with Best Friends because I have been a member for years and once did a volunteer vacation at the sanctuary.
How long have you been a BFLA/NKLA volunteer?
I knew I wanted to volunteer here in L.A. as soon as I retired, so I started volunteering in August 2016, after retiring in June of that year.
What do you do when you're not volunteering (career/extracurricular activities)?
I am a retired special education teacher. I do private tutoring for elementary age students. Besides running one half marathon a year, daily walking and taking classes with my dogs, I also line dance at a club and take a Tai Chi class weekly.
Do you have a favorite story to share about an experience volunteering with Best Friends LA? Share it!
I don't have one favorite story; I enjoy all my time at NKLA. The volunteers and staff are awesome!
Do you have any pets? Tell us about them!
Right now my husband and I have three dogs. One of my dogs takes weekly agility classes and one is retired from agility. Minnie (who was Sweet Pea at NKLA) is in an intermediate obedience class and will start agility classes in May.
What others are saying about Sandra:
Sandra is special! And we mean truly special! She is an incredible dog handler, an amazing mentor to new volunteers and an invaluable adoptions team volunteer! Her versatility, her positive energy and her true understanding of our animals is beyond compare! These qualities coupled with the fact she is one of the nicest people you will ever meet makes her one of our absolute favorite volunteers! We are honored to know her, work with her and have her as part of our volunteer family. Thank you for everything that you do Sandra! Your contributions to our mission are absolutely phenomenal! -NKLA Staff