Volunteer of the Month: Naomi Mayede

RAPS is all about the animals. But everything we do is possible because of people.

We are so grateful for the volunteers who allow RAPS to deliver individualized care to thousands of animals every year.

This month, we celebrate one special volunteer.

Meet Volunteer of the Month Naomi Mayede.

What is your role at RAPS?

On Friday afternoons, my time in the adoption trailer involves performing simple chores, such as:

• Washing dishes
• washing/folding laundry
• Feeding the cats/kittens/bunny
• Cleaning litter boxes/bunny box
• Logging information on the cats in a special binder
• Sweeping floors and tidying up before I leave
• Whenever I can, I also try to cuddle the cats that seem to be shy or need a little more love.

How long have you been volunteering and/or working with RAPS?

For about 17 or 18 months now.

What makes you committed to RAPS?

As an animal lover, I find the work RAPS does for the well-being of unwanted, stray, and homeless cats to be truly incredible, and I want to contribute to this wonderful organization in whatever way I can.

Tell us about yourself

I was born and raised in Vancouver but also spent about 11 years living in California. I have two younger brothers and our parents are now deceased. I have a son who is living in Los Angeles.

What do you do in your spare time?

I’m very excited to be retired now. Having worked almost continuously since age 15, with only a brief three-month maternity leave and standard annual leave, I’m happy to set my own schedule, focus on long-deferred hobbies and focus on a new chapter in my life.

I also volunteer with Dancing with Parkinson’s, where I help people move and prevent falls. I also assist at 3 Links, serving breakfast to local homeless and food-insecure individuals.

My partner and I also want to travel more, and hope to visit a new country once or twice a year along with taking several Canadian road trips with our dogs.

I also enjoy reading, listening to music, sewing, working out, and making time to meet up with friends

Do you have pets? Tell us about them!

I have two rescued dogs from Mexico: Mika, a 6-year-old medium brindle mix (likely Formosan), and Reggie, a 10-year-old German Shepherd/Corgi mix with a long body, German Shepherd colouring, and Corgi ears. Both are prey-driven, so I can’t have cats. Reggie has severe separation anxiety after being found starving, leading him to fear being left alone despite his comfortable life. This requires us to always take the dogs or arrange for a sitter, making spontaneous outings and planned activities difficult.

Thanks, Naomi, for everything you do!