33 visits — and counting
ANDREA KRAUS AND MIKE LORRIG look perfectly at home sitting on the floor of an outdoor cattery in Cat World. Maybe that’s because Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is like a second home to them. Since 2005, they’ve visited the Sanctuary a whopping 33 times and have spent many of those visits volunteering — particularly with cats.
Though they volunteer with animals back home in Los Angeles, Mike and Andrea always seem to find their way to the Sanctuary again. “We’ve helped other animal rescue organizations and a farm sanctuary, but we enjoy Best Friends the most because it is so organized and there are so many things to do here,” Andrea says.
Mike agrees: “It makes us happy to help at the Sanctuary because we can see how well all the animals are being cared for and how much all the wonderful caregivers do to prepare them to find their future forever homes. It’s nice to be a part of all that.” Plus, Mike admits, there’s always something to look forward to. “Every time we come here, there is something new,” he says. During their last trip, for example, the two enjoyed the newly opened Gratitude Garden, a quiet oasis honoring people who have made gifts to the animals.
Although they enjoy volunteering all around the Sanctuary, they keep feeling a pull back to Cat World. They love socializing the cats and taking them for walks and on stroller rides and sleepovers. (Who wouldn’t?) And they don’t even mind helping with deep cleaning in the cat rooms. Plus, Mike and Andrea know so many of the caregivers in Cat World that it’s nice for them to see familiar friendly faces every time they return. And, of course, it’s nice for us to see their friendly faces every time they return, too.