Melissa Poppenger has been a volunteer for PAWS/LA for over three years. At a difficult time in her own life, she was looking for some way to get out of her problems and become involved in helping animals and the elderly. She began researching volunteer opportunities on the internet, and when she read about PAWS, she knew that she had found her niche. Melissa is one of the angels who deliver food bank food to PAWS clients. Melissa’s route takes her to the out of the way places in the San Fernando Valley – places that others often can’t find no matter how hard they try. For Melissa, no address is too difficult to find.

Like many of PAWS/LA clients, Melissa has two companions who are as important to her as any member of her family: Her dog, Shadow, and her African Grey Parrot, Rico. Melissa has always been an animal lover. As a young person, she had cats and a family dog. Her Whippet got out of the yard and was lost. Melissa was delighted when her family received a call that someone had found their Whippet, but was dismayed when the so-called rescuer was more interested in collecting a reward then in retuning the dog. After several days of silence, the family received another phone call about the dog – this time from the “rescuer’s” girlfriend who said that she couldn’t stand hearing the dog crying, and gave Melissa the address of where the dog was being kept. Her family got the dog back five days later. The importance of having her dog returned to her is something that Melissa has never forgotten.

When Melissa is not delivering food for PAWS, she can be found working in the IT Department for the Fashion Design Institute. Prior to that, Melissa worked in a bakery where she did the early morning baking. The grocery strike of several years ago, compelled her to seek a change of career direction.

When asked what PAWS/LA means to her, Melissa replied, “It means hope and freedom. Freedom to have the animals who mean so much to our clients remain with them, and the hope that their lives will continue to improve because of the dedication and care of the people who are the heart and soul of PAWS/LA.”

For more information about Volunteering, contact Raymundo Baltazar. 213.741.1950 x 116

Cecilia Clem was looking for an organization that would allow her to volunteer her time helping both animals and their human companions when she pretty much just stumbled upon the PAWS/LA website. She was immediately impressed by the Mission Statement and without any further ado called to set up an appointment. That was over a year ago, and since that time Cecilia has been a guardian angel to our clients who need assistance in having the food delivered for their animal companions. Cecilia works as a Home Delivery Volunteer and sees a large number of clients every month. She and the clients have established a rapport where she has become another member of the extended family. The clients know that they can count on Cecilia and PAWS/LA to make sure their beloved animal companions have the food they need for the month. One of the highlights of Cecilia’s work is that she gets to meet new four legged friends on a regular basis. All of the clients want to be sure that Cecilia gets to know their animals, and Cecilia is delighted to make the new friends. As Cecilia says, “So many of our clients have a heavy load to deal with. They worry about being able to keep their animals, and they worry about being able to provide for themselves. PAWS/LA helps to lighten that load, and I’m so happy to be part of the solution.”

In addition to doing Volunteer work for PAWS/LA, Cecilia holds down a full timer job as Vice President of Purchasing for Lakeshore Learning, a company directed at supplying materials for early childhood learning. As far as Cecilia is concerned, children and animals have always gone hand in hand.

Cecilia has been an animal lover her entire life. Born and raised in San Francisco, Cecilia graduated from Cal State East Bay. When a new employment opportunity presented itself, her parents moved the family to Los Angeles, but they all remain die-hard 49’ers fans. Cecillia has 3 dogs and one cat in her animal companion family. All three of her dogs are rescues, who began as foster animals, but soon became family to Cecilia and adoption was inevitable.

Doing volunteer work for PAWS/LA has made Cecilia more thankful for the blessings she has in her own life. She feels a sense of fulfillment and joy in her ability to work with PAWS/LA in helping others. PAWS/LA is a vital part of her life and she is humbled by the strength and courage she finds in the clients who have become so important to her.

For more information about Volunteering, contact Raymundo Baltazar. 213.741.1950 x 116

On Sunday March 13, 2011, PAWS/LA participated in Woofstock 90210 in Beverly Hills.

PAWS/LA raised community awareness for its services with a volunteer booth generously donated  by event producers, Mary Ruth Koogler and Cindy Brynan.  Raymundo Baltazar Volunteer/Outreach Coordinator spear headed PAWS/LA’s visibility joined by volunteers Corrine Corry, Judy French, Debby Dykes and Laura Foster for the day of fun and festivities.

Woofstock 90210 was a fabulous time for people and their four legged friends!

*Partially reprinted from Beverly Hills Patch.

Bea Goldman, LCSW, volunteers her time with PAWS/LA clients who are in danger of being denied housing because of their animal companions. Bea works with clients to evaluate their mental and physical well being due to the threat of forced separation from their pets.  Bea is dedicated to keeping clients and their animal companions together based on her experience of the vital importance of the healing bond of a companion animal.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Bea attended UCLA earning both a Bachelors and Masters degree. She received a second Masters degree from Syracuse University and spent the next 30 years as a University Professor in Ithaca, New York.

Bea’s personal life is full, she has a grown son, a wonderful daughter-in-law and a beautiful, 2 ½ year old granddaughter, who is the apple of her eye. Bea’s much-loved dog, Max, passed away in July and she is now searching for a new canine companion.  As her friend told her, “You can fill the space, but you can’t replace.”

Bea didn’t get her first dog until she was 50.  As a five year old, she was bitten by a dog and from that time on she was leery of dogs and didn’t consider having one of her own. Then, her friend got a Husky and Bea couldn’t help but fall in love. She realized the joy and benefit of a having canine friend and added a new member to her family.

In her spare time, Bea loves to cook, take long walks and read. In addition to her volunteer work with PAWS/LA, Bea works as a consultant at an Adult Day Health Care Center in Hollywood, and also has her own private therapy practice.

Bea has been with PAWS/LA as a volunteer for approximately four years, and feels privileged to be able to work with our clients who face great adversity with enormous grace.  “The work that PAWS/LA does for people who live with major stress in their lives is incredibly important, and their companion animal is often their one constant source of support and affection.”  If a fee is involved for her evaluations, Bea donates that fee to PAWS/LA.  Bea is gratified that she is able to be a part of an organization that helps so many people.

Erica Pezzillo first began volunteering for PAWS/LA 15 years ago while recuperating from an illness. Unable to go back to work, she began looking for a meaningful way to contribute her time.

PAWS/LA was a great match for Erica since animals have always been an important part of her life. As a young girl, stray cats seemed to gravitate towards her, becoming loved, cared for companions.

As an adult Erica has experienced the healing power of companion animals. Several years ago, she was hospitalized for a chronic condition requiring an extended hospital stay. Erica’s recovery time rapidly improved when her then-boyfriend snuck her cat into see her every day. Her spirit looked forward daily to these visits.

Erica currently lives with her husband in downtown LA’s South Park area, not far from the PAWS/LA office. Her four-legged family consists of two dogs, one cat, a turtle and a “mini school” of tropical fish. When not volunteering, you can find her happily walking her two dogs Boo and Luca, or baking tempting culinary delights and making jewelry. Anyone who has tasted her wonderful baked goods will attest to the fact that she’s one very talented woman.

]]> http://www.pawsla.org/volunteer-profile-erica-pezzillo/feed/ 0 http://www.pawsla.org/volunteer-profile-allan-weiss/ http://www.pawsla.org/volunteer-profile-allan-weiss/#comments Mon, 20 Dec 2010 23:10:08 +0000 pamelam http://www.pawsla.org/volunteer-profile-allan-weiss/

Meet Allan Weiss, our 2010 Volunteer of the Year.

Although all of PAWS/LA’s volunteers give of their time and talents, Allan Weiss has demonstrated extraordinary service to PAWS/LA for twenty (20) years! He first…

Meet Allan Weiss, our 2010 Volunteer of the Year.

Although all of PAWS/LA’s volunteers give of their time and talents, Allan Weiss has demonstrated extraordinary service to PAWS/LA for twenty (20) years! He first worked with Nadia Sutton, before she formally created PAWS/LA, when she was helping people stricken with HIV or AIDS keep their pets. When PAWS/LA became a reality, Allan continued to work with Nadia. His first “official” job was to walk two dogs for a gentleman in Beverly Hills who was gravely ill and couldn’t take his dogs out. Allan walked the dogs every day until the man was strong enough to take over the job.

Allan consistently devotes over 20 hours a week to helping PAWS/LA fulfill its promises to clients. He’s always available for urgent matters that need volunteer services. Allan is a “go-to” volunteer for food deliveries that need to be made in areas that are off the well-trod path. No house or apartment is too far or too out of the way for Allan.

In his younger days, Allan was a valued school teacher. He later became a retailer, owning the national chain of stores called Nationwide Baby Shops. At present, he’s contentedly retired and shares his life with three dogs, three cats and four birds (two parakeets and two canaries.)

Allan was raised in a home where charitable deeds were a daily part of his life, so it was only natural that as an adult he continued to give of himself whenever he could. PAWS/LA has given him the opportunity to be of assistance to those who have faced and overcome adversity. He also knows how important his animal companions are to his life, and he’s gratified that he can be instrumental in helping others keep their pets.

When asked how he felt about being awarded Volunteer of the Year, he shrugged. “Embarrassed comes to mind,” he said, “ And honored. I get great, personal satisfaction from helping an organization as selfless as PAWS/LA. Maybe they should be the ones who get the award!”

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As PAWS/LA’s Director of Special Programs & Housing Education, Steve Wayland manages all of the agency’s programs that assist disabled individuals and their companion animals. He is at the forefront of our efforts to advocate for the housing rights of disabled animal guardians. In addition, Steve oversees our CHIRP program which provides housing referrals and information to People Living with HIV/AIDS.

Steve’s career with PAWS/LA began nineteen years ago when he joined as a volunteer. He became a part-time employee in l991 and a full-time member of the staff in l992. According to Steve, “Working with the clients of PAWS/LA is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. At the moment, I am a single man living in West Hollywood, and because of my two wonderful cats, I completely understand how vital animal companions can be.”

Born and bred in Fullerton, California, Steve is a third generation Californian. Pets have always been a big part of his life. His family always welcomed animals into the home; ducks, chickens, and, of course, dogs and cats. There was even a pet rat that belonged to his sister.

Steve spent his college years at Occidental College where he received his degree in Speech and Drama. His time in the dormitory was the only time in his life he was without a companion animal. But upon graduation when he had his own place, the first thing Steve did was adopt a cat. She became his best friend and for 20 years was with him through all the good, and bad, times. She was the most constant thing in Steve’s life.

In his spare time, Steve travels with his two cats, Boop & Grey, to his mountain cabin where he recharges. He is also very involved in West Hollywood politics and government, where he serves as a member of the City’s Transportation Commission.

Volunteer Judi French has had a lot of animals in her life.  Her family
owned guinea pigs, dogs, horses, rabbits and a cat, until Judi discovered
she was allergic.  So it is no surprise that after retiring from her career
as a story editor for ABC television, Judi sought out volunteer work at an
animal help group.  From her own experience, Judi can attest to the
importance of animals in our lives, so working at PAWS/LA and helping people
keep their pets sounded like a perfect fit.

Currently, Judi volunteers on Wednesday mornings as a front desk
receptionist.  She assists clients, greets visitors, provides referrals and
helps with office paperwork or data entry.  In addition, Judi is always
ready for a special assignment, such as creating a script for the agency’s
promotional video.

Judi considers her volunteer work at PAWS/LA to be incredibly rewarding.  Of
PAWS/LA she says, “The job you do is amazing and generous of spirit.  It
brings tears to my eyes.”

Judi is also an accomplished dog trainer!  After retiring, she took a year
and a half break before starting to volunteer to raise and train her Maltese
puppy, Jessie.  After spending a “fortune on training and hours upon hours”
of work, Jessie is now so well behaved, she accompanies Judi and her husband
everywhere.

Judi looks forward to continuing to help PAWS/LA as a front desk volunteer
and hopes to do some community outreach soon.

Southern California native Teresa Morrison, a former magazine editor, has been volunteering in the PAWS/LA food bank for the past 4 months.  She first heard of PAWS/LA during her 10-year career in LGBT publishing when she worked for HIV+ magazine.  When the economic recession and crisis in print publishing lead to layoffs, Teresa’s job was eliminated leading to a life-changing career move.

With ample free time on her hands, Teresa decided to spend it constructively.  Previous volunteer experiences with Project Angelfood and APLA, along with her HIV activism lead to a natural interest in helping PAWS/LA.  Additionally, Teresa was interested in helping animals.  Living on a fixed income while looking for a new job, she understood the dilemma PAWS/LA clients face when choosing between caring for their pets and eating.  Teresa herself currently cares for two cats and two dogs, all rescued from shelters.

Teresa works in the PAWS/LA food bank every Friday afternoon.  She calls the work “zen like”; after working in an office for years, using her hands is a welcome change.  While in the food bank, Teresa assists clients with their monthly food pick ups, bags cat and dog food into monthly allotments, and keeps the warehouse neat and tidy.  Her volunteer work also gives her an excuse to come to downtown Los Angeles, an area of town she hasn’t explored much lately.

Teresa’s prior work in LGBT publishing and her volunteer work at PAWS/LA helped her realize that meaningful work is extremely important to her.  With the amount of time that we give to our jobs, she says, she wants to be doing something that helps people.  Teresa will be starting a combination teaching credential and Masters in Education program at Cal State-Northridge this fall.  She plans to teach English to special needs kids.  Though we will be sorry to lose Teresa as a regular food bank volunteer, we wish her luck in her new career.