Hello Best Friends volunteers!

The Best Friends Los Angeles Brigade has been busy reorganizing our program and planning new efforts and events. Whether you are a longtime Brigade volunteer or new to Best Friends altogether, we hope that you will consider joining us.

The Brigade was developed in response to the ever-present need for help at Los Angeles city and county shelters and the many local rescues whose tireless work is never done. Committed to helping these groups build stronger relationships with each other and in their respective communities, the Brigade aims to motivate a network of people working toward this common goal. We hope to schedule one or two events per month – and more if the demand is there.

Brigade volunteers will lend a hand doing whatever is within our capabilities, including:

 Walking and grooming animals
 Cleaning kennels and washing blankets, towels, toys
 Painting and general repair of facilities
 Planting and yard work

Every little bit we do makes a difference in the life of an animal waiting for a home in a shelter or rescue. Walking and playing with a dog expends pent-up energy and improves social interaction. Petting and cuddling a cat eases stress and anxiety. Washing kennels and crates creates a more comfortable environment. Grooming not only makes animals more attractive to potential adopters but also provides individual attention for animals desperate for human touch. All of these efforts make animals more adoptable and shelters and rescues more inviting.

Brigade projects may involve a lot of physical labor and handling of animals in potentially difficult or emotional situations. For Brigade volunteers who would like to help in other ways, shelters and rescues may also need office organization and paperwork, networking of animals and photography, plus donations of supplies and materials.

We have tentatively planned an upcoming fundraising event to help kick off the Brigade and support Best Friends Los Angeles Programs. More information on this, as well as other events, will be available at the Brigade Community on the Best Friends Network http://network.bestfriends.org/bfbrigade_la/news/. We are also in the process of establishing a main Brigade email contact address, but in the meantime, please contact Robin Harmon, Volunteer Manager for Los Angeles Programs, at robinh@bestfriends.org, with any questions.

As Coordinators for the Brigade we, ourselves, are Best Friends volunteers and truly appreciate any and all contributions our fellow volunteers can make. Best Friends has become a leader in animal rescue and welfare, driven by the hard work of all its many volunteers. We have many great ideas and goals and hope to achieve more great successes but can only do so with help from volunteers like you.

We look forward to doing great work with all fellow animal-lovers to better the lives of our furry, four-legged friends. For your interest in the Brigade, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts – and all of the animals raise their paws to you!

Your Brigade Coordinators,

Andrea Lewis
Laura Thompson

Robin Harmon
Volunteer Manager LA Programs
Best Friends Animal Society
RobinH@bestfriends.org
http://network.bestfriends.org/laprograms/news/
http://network.bestfriends.org/losangeles/news/

Photo courtesy of Jessica Cliver, Best Friends Staff