Volunteer Spotlight - Hiromi Norbata
Meet Hiromi, one of our most dedicated volunteers! She not only fosters for us, but also helps us in so many different roles at our adoption events, preparing for our events, caretaking at Little Lions Cat Café, Adoption Counseling, and as an Event ambassador. She is an incredible part of our team. We hope you have the chance to meet her in person at our upcoming events!
Q. What is your favorite part about volunteering/ fostering?
My favorite part of volunteering is being able to interact with the public and help them find their “new best friend” and speak to them about our mission to #SaveThemAll
Q. Why did you start working with Best Friends?
I am fully committed to the pursuit of a No Kill Nation and I’m so happy to be able to do the little bit I can with Best Friends to make it a reality
Q. Do you have any pets of your own at home?
We have three cats - all raised as bottle babies by us. Our first cat was left on our doorstep as a week old kitten and I scrambled to teach myself how to raise a bottle baby. The other two were a part of a litter of four I volunteered to foster until they could be altered/put up for adoption and we ended up keeping two - one because she had a heart ailment that couldn’t be fixed (and would make her unadoptable) and her brother because he’s an adorable cuddle bug. Yes, I foster failed x2.
Q. What do you do for fun outside of volunteering?
I like to run. I usually run 50-60 miles per week in Central Park or on the Hudson Greenway and I'm usually training for a race. This summer has been hard for me since I had to get surgery on my foot and I haven’t been able to run at all. I guess considering the weather we’ve had this summer, I should be relieved but I’m looking forward to the fall and getting back to logging miles.
Q. Do you have a favorite foster pet?
The two foster kittens that we didn’t keep from the litter of four pop into my mind from time to time. They were adopted as soon as they were put up after spaying/neutering and I’m sure they are happy in their homes but I wonder how they turned out.
Q. Outside of cats and dogs, what is your favorite animal and why?
I love horses - they are so magnificent and majestic.
Q. What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas - the whole holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Year is such a great time of year - everything is so festive and everyone is so charitable.
Q. What is one piece of advice you have for other fosters?
Make sure to let potential adopters/staff know all the reasons why you love your foster - share the details so the personality of your foster is fleshed out - it will help them get adopted. And it won’t be easy to let go but be happy that you played a big part in saving a life.