The idea of being retired conjures up images of rocking chairs, fishing, maybe doing a bit of gardening.  Apparently no one told Lobo Simmons that that’s what retirement meant!

Lobo is part of “The Animal Rescue Team” of the Page/Lake Powell Humane Association, and he visits Best Friends on a regular basis.  Not to shop, not even to volunteer here – but for another heartwarming reason.  For the past 3 years, Lobo has been working to rescue animals in the Page/Lake Powell area, and giving the animals not only a foster home either with himself or his group, but also transporting  the animals to the Best Friends Clinic, where the animals are spayed or neutered, and occasionally receive emergency treatment as needed.  By bringing between 10 and 13 animals each time he comes to Best Friends to be spayed or neutered, over the last 3 years the total number of animals he has helped to be ‘fixed’ is approximately 2,400!

Along with the rescue work, the transporting for medical care, and the fostering, Lobo also helps the animals find new forever homes.  In his home, Lobo has 8 cats, and fosters many more.  He has one dog, Sarah, a Sharpei/Pittie/Shepherd mix.  Lobo found her along the side of the highway 3 years ago when she was only about 3 months old, with a broken leg.  Nowadays you cannot even tell that she was ever injured!  She is also a huge helper to his rescue work.  Whenever Lobo brings a trapped feral cat home for transport to the Best Friends Clinic, Sarah sits down beside the cage, and calms the cat down.  You wouldn’t think this would be the effect, and Lobo says he isn’t sure what it is that she does, just that she was a wonderfully calming influence on the cats.

So, hats off to Lobo and all the work that he does for the Page/Lake Powell Humane Association!!  He was also recently voted in as the new President!

Let’s hope Lobo never finds out what retirement is SUPPOSED to be like!

Written by Mary Smith and Jennifer Johnson

Mary Pat Dutton photographer