Our "Best Friend" Honored Volunteer: Sophia Lim
A dedicated volunteer for 6 years, Sophia makes a tremendous impact in the kitten nursery and is an enormous help at outreach events!
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
Sophia Lim - November 27, 2015
Sophia tell us.....
What programs and projects do you volunteer with at Best Friends LA?
I am mostly in the kitten nursery cleaning/feeding but I also enjoy going to Outreaches because I get an opportunity to inform the public of BFAS/NKLA. I have been volunteering with Super Adoptions,CatCon and Strut Your Mutt. Also, I have volunteered at the Utah sanctuary in 2009 and will be returning to volunteer at the sanctuary again this year.
Why do you choose to volunteer with Best Friends LA?
I believe in Best Friends' mission of saving them all. And, it's so important to feel appreciated. I actually received a Thank You card for volunteering at CatCon this year! And Best Friends has appreciation parties for the volunteers! Thank you! The staff is unbelievable in their dedication and love for the animals and has definitely influenced me to get more involved.
How long have you been a Best Friends LA volunteer?
My first volunteer experience was with the cats, dogs and bunnies at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah in November of 2009. After that experience, I was hooked. I knew I had to get involved more in their efforts. When I heard about the adoption center opening in Mission Hills in 2012, I went to help clean and prepare the adoption center before the dogs and cats were brought. So, I've been a volunteer for 6 years.
What type of fun stuff do you do when you're not volunteering?
I love working with the kids. I used to hula dance for the past 6 years and I participate in half marathons and 5Ks. I also volunteer in adoption events and fundraisers that other animal rescues organize. When I'm not doing any those, you can find me at Staples Center cheering on my beloved Los Angeles Kings. Go Kings Go!
Do you have a favorite story to share about an experience volunteering with Best Friends LA?
My favorite story that I'd like to share is in 2012 when Miss Candy Booska (Crawford) called me to foster a kitten they just received at the adoption center in Mission Hills. This was back when there wasn't really a foster program. I had fostered twice already and Candy knew me. I saw a picture of this poor, probably 6 week old, siamese kitten scared and huddled in the back of the carrier. I am a sucker for kittens so of course, I said, "Yes!" Fast forward 3 years, and my Dustin (named after the Los Angeles Kings' captain, Dustin Brow) but I call him Furball, is my first and probably not my last, foster failure.
Do you have any pets? Tell us about them!
This is going to be difficult...First, there is Luc, named after Luc Robitaille (a retired LA King). He is my black panther of 8 years and he is my polydactyl with 23 toes. Loves to give me hugs by wrapping his paws around my neck. Then my black beauty, Molly, of 5 years who just passed on October 16th. I think of her everyday and remember all the little personalities that only my Molly had. Jolie is another 5 year old female white and grey tabby that walked into my backyard a week after I had Molly. She is my most vocal and I usually don't know what she wants. Furball, my foster failure of 3 years, is my handsome baby boy. He is a lilac point siamese and is the longest haired of my brood. He lets me pick him up to give him cuddles and kisses but he will let me know when he's had enough by giving me a sound that is between a meow and a growl. And finally, Tango, a my ginger tabby that I took in from outside.
What others are saying about Sophia:
Sophia is an incredible volunteer who has played an integral role in our outreach events team. She has attended several events on behalf of Best Friends Animal Society and continues to help spread the word about our lifesaving programs in Los Angeles and nationwide. Our ongoing success is not possible without the support and involvement of passionate individuals like herself! - Jane Jetabut, Events & Outreach Coordinator