Melanie Waller found Animal League America to be a valuable respite when the nation locked down due to COVID-19. Melanie previously interned with our web team and returned to volunteer in BFF during quarantine. She found volunteering at Animal League America provided a source of much-needed human interaction, in addition to the emotional lift that comes from being around our animals.
For Ana Sanchez, her time spent in our Pet Health Centers is about more than her passion for animals, it is a future vocation. Ana was accepted into a veterinary technician training program, and hopes to make a career of healing the injured.
Richard Leagh did not know just how life-changing volunteering at Animal League America would turn out to be. He not only found the perfect cat at Bianca’s Furry Friends Feline Adoption Center, but he found his future wife — a fellow BFF volunteer — there as well!
The cats and dogs in Karen Ramanand’s life have helped her through some challenging days. So Karen always knew that once she retired, she would volunteer at an animal shelter. “I’ve had moments when things were tough,” she said. “But the pets I’ve had were always there to give me refuge and comfort.” After 27 years working in the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, Karen was finally able to make her dream come true, and we are thrilled that she chose North Shore Animal League America as the place where she wanted to devote her time.
Linda has an innate drive to help others, evidenced by her 37 years working as a nurse. Her desire to nurture and protect does not stop with people, however. Linda is busy caring for the feral cats in her neighborhood and beyond — and changing their lives for the better.
Former marine Sunny Singh discovered just how much animals can teach us during an incident with his first dog, King. King was repeatedly getting into the garbage. Sunny lost his patience and reacted more angrily than he should have. “I was overly harsh with him,” Sunny recalls. “And the first thing he did was come up to me slowly and lick my face. My understanding of compassion began in that moment — with that one lick.”
North Shore Animal League America lost a caring, compassionate friend and a valued member of its Board of Directors when Roger Weeks passed away on March 27, 2021 in Colchester, United Kingdom. Roger was appointed as Director for North Shore Animal League America in 2008.
Having grown up in a family where pets of many varieties were always present, sisters Bailey and Chelsea fell naturally into volunteer work at North Shore Animal League America. We are so thankful that both our dog and cat Adoption Centers benefit from the passion that Bailey and Chelsea bring to their service on behalf of our animals.
Ivonne Attard began volunteering as a dog walker, and since then continues to expand her knowledge about pet behavior and training. “As volunteers, we are the closest thing to family that these dogs will get until they get a home. I feel like it’s like our obligation to help them understand that humans are good people.”
North Shore Animal League America lost a caring, compassionate friend and a valued member of its Board of Directors when Dr. Gerald Tirozzi passed away on November 1, 2020 in Scottsdale, Arizona.