As far back as I remember growing up, I always wanted a dog. From the time I was a little girl, I remember begging my parents for a pet. I even did a bait-and-switch (although I didn’t know that’s I was doing at the time), where I asked my mom if I could keep and name some worms that had crawled out after a summer rain as our family pets. Unsurprisingly, she relented, and shortly thereafter we added a beagle named Patches to our family. Growing up with Patches was the best. He was my best friend, my study buddy, and we had so many adventures growing up together.

Fast forward a few years, and I had graduated college and was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with a background in marketing and advertising in the DC Metro Area. I missed having dogs, and wanted to help animals, but I wasn’t sure where to begin.

I conducted a google search of all local area rescues and shelters and looked for ways to volunteer. Each and every one was full and not accepting volunteers – except Lucky Dog Animal Rescue!

Taking a leap of faith, I signed up to handle a dog at an upcoming adoption event in Georgetown. I don’t remember much of that first day amidst the organized chaos, but I remember how I felt, a feeling that has never left me. That awe inspiring feeling when you watch what a group of passionate people can achieve when they work together to help homeless dogs and cats. I was hooked!

I volunteered in whatever ways I could – handling and driving dogs, and eventually fostering once I found a home in DC that would allow me to do so. Along the way, I met so many wonderful people – some of my best friends and many people who I now consider my rescue family – who, although we found rescue differently, we shared a commitment to saving lives.

I wanted to give back to an organization that meant so much to me, and leveraging my communications background, I offered to help post on Lucky Dog’s social media team. I still remember my knees shaking as I pitched my ideas to Mirah in her house in Georgetown. Luckily for me, Lucky Dog took a chance on me, and the rest is history.

Today, Lucky Dog has changed in many ways – adding an incredible cat program, going digital, and so much more. Yet the core of Lucky Dog remains the same. It is a place, where if you want to help animals, have ideas, passion, and the willingness to advocate for your ideas, that you can make an incredible difference for homeless animals. A place where every volunteer is welcome and where there are so many opportunities for individuals of every background and skill set. I hope you will consider signing up to volunteer with Lucky Dog Animal Rescue at luckydoganimalrescue.org/volunteer and having your life changed for the better the many ways that mine has.