Meet the Morning Crew

Each Sunday Bill Foundation gathers up all the dogs from their various foster homes, kennels and clinics to converge on Beverly Hills at Centinella Pet & Feed for the weekly adoption fair.  As the dogs arrive, their kennels are set up, the treats are ready and everything is ready to go.  Just how does all this magically happen?

Every Sunday morning at 9:30 am, three dedicated volunteers brave the early hours to make sure all is set up and ready to go by dog arrival time.  Meet the morning crew, Bob, Liz & Gary. "We couldn't do this fair without them" says Jo, Bill Foundation founder.  "The three of them are amazing. The thing that is the most remarkable to me is that they are there every single Sunday. They never miss one and they always get the job done.  I don't have to worry if things will be set up on time or even at all. It really makes a huge difference."

Bob has been volunteering with Bill Foundation for three and a half years. He had heard about Bill Foundation from his neighbor and while shopping for his own dog at Centinella noticed the fair going on.  He talked to Jo & Peter, liked what he heard and decided he wanted to help out.   When Bob is not helping at Bill Foundation he designs jewelry and is a sculptor.

Liz also started volunteering quite a while ago, it's now been almost three years. The second member of this morning crew adopted her dog, Megan, from Bill Foundation but wanted to do more.  She started volunteering on Sunday mornings by helping to set up and get all the dogs loaded in as they arrived. Her mom also adopted her dog, Kiki, from Bill Foundation. Liz loves working with the dogs and has helped out during the week at the dog's training sessions. On Wednesday nights she attends the dog obedience classes and has actually help three dogs through the courses.  She also works with them on Saturdays to brush up & practice their newly learned skills, making them more adoptable.  She is currently working towards her sociology degree at West Los Angeles College and will soon transfer to UCLA.

Our third morning crewmember is software engineer, Gary who moved from London to Los Angeles about three years ago.  While living and working in the Los Angeles area, he met Liz. After dating awhile, he became interested in her Sunday morning volunteer work and tagged along. He's been coming ever since and the two just celebrated their one-year anniversary. 

They kind of make an event of the day. After the initial setup, they run over to Starbucks for a coffee and snack. Before the dogs arrive, they sip their coffee and have a few calm moments together. But that ends as soon as the first car filled with rescues arrives.

 
Now, the morning crew springs into action. Not only do they help unload the dogs, but take them for a quick walk. They know these dogs have quite a few hours ahead of them confined to their kennels during the Fair. Gary and Liz particularly like this part of the day and enjoy taking the dogs on their mini-walks.   Bob single-handedly mans the fair, available to speak with any early-bird potential adopters.  As more and more dogs arrive, they quickly organize the day.

About an hour into the Fair, our morning crew is done for the day and heads out. All is well and running smoothly thanks to these three who get things started.