Regional Engagement and Research Intern
Heidi Wilson
Heidi Wilson is Best Friend’s new Regional Engagement and Research Internship intern.
Heidi Wilson here and I am thrilled to be joining the Pacific Region Team as the Regional Engagement and Research Intern. I’ve helped animals my whole life, from bringing home abused strays found in deserts, mountains, even Mexico to working on animal welfare campaigns and in nonprofits. But my most recent background is Homeland Security and Emergency Management.
I learned about Best Friends because I cited them in my Emergency Management undergrad thesis as an organization that stepped up to animals in need during natural disasters, specifically Hurricane Katrina. My focus was on bringing attention to the animals during natural or manmade crisis by cross referencing it with human or casualty rates due to lack of evacuation protocols. Basically, if we can help the animals, we can help the people (that’s how I had to sell it anyways 😉).
I worked at an agency that oversaw natural disasters as well as protection towards domestic and international terrorism. During that time at the agency, I always had a foster dog. I was driving from Lake Tahoe down to SoCal every two months to grab an adoptable dog that was due to be put to sleep simply due to space, doggy cold, being shy, the list goes on. I started working with foster based rescues as well as creating fundraisers, training some more of their behaviorally challenged dogs, all while finding some pretty dreamy adoption parents for my own fosters. It’s been the most rewarding volunteer work, and I am now so excited to continue similar work on a professional scale with Best Friends.
I recently moved from South Lake Tahoe down to Orange County, CA. Before that I spent over a decade in Hawaii where I also worked and volunteered in animal welfare. Needless to say, I love the ocean, but the mountains are cool too!
I have a bull-herder (pittie-shepherd mix) who’s name is Chappie. My fiancé has an Australian Shepherd named Jax and I usually always have a foster pup. I tend to always get pulled into helping the big dogs. I’ve seen so many pit bulls, Malinois, shepherds (herding and bully breeds) be left behind and my heart just goes to them. I think they are misunderstood. Although they can have heaps of energy it’s been unbelievable what some good exercise will do for their behavior.
I spend most of my free time doing sports such as mountain biking, freediving, swimming and trail running with my dogs and foster dogs. My fiancé is a total sweetheart as well as a Navy veteran. I think he has a soft spot for the foster dogs and dogs in need; it’s something that turns the wheels in my head…getting veterans (especially disabled vets or those with PTSD more involved in the rescue community). Anyways, I couldn’t do what I do without him!