Dawn Clegg : Volunteer Spotlight

“After moving to Vancouver in June of 2024 and getting established, I learned about Furry Friends,” says Dawn. “I picked up a foster kitty from them on October 5, 2025 for a month, then decided that my time would be better spent at the Halfway House.

“I socialize with the kitties twice a week for a total of between 5 and 6 hours. My favorite part of volunteering is comforting, enhancing and bringing joy to those kitties awaiting their fur-ever home. I even bring them wheat grass to chew on. My two biggest challenges are trying not to worry about all of the cats out there in need and their own wait times – if ever -- for loving homes, and spreading myself evenly among the many kitties during my visits. 

“Without a doubt, my proudest moments as a volunteer are knowing that I’m making a difference in their lives and seeing them relish the wheat grass! As to why I give back: I believe strongly in helping cats who can’t advocate for themselves and doing whatever I can to give them a happy life. I am a true empath for cats. 

“From 2020 – 2024, I volunteered for Rescued Animals in Need and worked at their thrift store in Shingletown, CA. I spent 25 to 29 hours a week dedicating myself to every aspect of cat care: cleaning, restocking, advocating and helping with vet appointments. I even slept in the store once a week to give the cats there a better quality of life. I fostered 28 cats and kittens, bringing one home my first day. 

“Currently, I’m a checker at Safeway in the evenings (I show cat customers the wheat grass and many of them purchase it) and an advocate for cats as the opportunities arise. I firmly believe that all at-risk, feral, neglected and stray cats be sought out, humanely trapped and, whenever possible, rescued.

“Unfortunately, I’m not home enough now to have a pet. My last pets were Marbles, an ocicat I had for 16 years and a catfish I had for 28 years -- half of my life!”
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Furry Friends Volunteer Spotlights are compiled and written by Nomi Berger who is the bestselling author of seven novels, one work of non-fiction, two volumes of poetry, and hundreds of articles. She is a volunteer writer for Furry Friends in Vancouver, WA and also volunteers her writing skills to animal rescue groups in Canada and the USA.