Our "Best Friend" Honored Volunteer: Victoria Rambow
When she's not working or with her own animals, Victoria is giving back to her community by taking care of the pets at NKLA
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
Victoria - honored October 30, 2015
Victoria tell us.....
What programs and projects do you volunteer with at Best Friends LA?
I volunteer at the center, mostly with the dogs. I walk them and most recently do overnights.
Why do you choose to volunteer with Best Friends LA?
I volunteer at NKLA because I believe it is very important to give back to our communities and I have always loved animals. I love that NKLA is, obviously, no kill, so I don't worry about the dogs and cats being put down and the hours are fabulous at NKLA, allowing me to work work full time and also give back to my community. I also volunteer with one of the Coalition Partners, Ghetto Rescue FFoundation. I work full time as a court reporter for Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Also, for years I have wanted to go to the sanctuary in UT but have not made it so I feel that volunteering at NKLA is fulfilling a dream I thought I couldn't fulfill until I retire, which is some time off in the future.
How long have you been a Best Friends LA volunteer?
I have volunteered at NKLA for a year.
What type of fun stuff do you do when you're not volunteering?
I love to read, do crafts, and I love to travel, do long road trips, with my pets. I also enjoy dog sports, for example, Nosework and training classes.
Do you have a favorite story to share about an experience volunteering with Best Friends LA?
I think a favorite moment was recently when the power went out. Also, I am amazed at how many kittens were there in the lobby and the kitchen area this summer. That was something to see! I also LOVE to groom the dogs. I like how we can find our fit at NKLA. I don't get bored. I LOVE the classes that are offered. Sometimes I like to give the dogs new bedding, sometimes I like to play with them; sometimes I like to sit and play with the cats. When I have to work a lot and can't get in there as often as I would like to do so, the overnights are fantastic and I love how we can just drop in. I sometimes have sad days at work and I have found that if I stop at NKLA after work, when I get home, all of my work sadness is gone.
Do you have any pets?
I do have pets. They are all rescues: I have a 6-year-old Weimaraner, a 15-year-old cocker mix (he was in the shelter for 3 years as evidence in a criminal hoarding case), and I have a couple of senior foster dogs that I have taken in.
Then I have a blind cat from when I fostered a mother and her kittens for a Coalition Partner in May. I have a Siamese cat that someone from work was going to take to the shelter.
What others are saying about Victoria:
Victoria is so incredibly warm, positive and supportive. She always goes the extra mile to help in many different ways to provide special attention to our dogs and cats whether it be with transports, overnights, or coming to the center! She's so amazing; thank you for all you do and more! - Katie O'Shaughnessy, Lead Pet Caregiver