For the past five years Kali Brooks has been a volunteer with us here at the Humane Society of Ventura County helping out in a variety of areas. 

Kali, who is one of twenty Animal Ambassadors here at the shelter, has been sharing her skills and hard work ethic since she started volunteering at just 16. She is one of a small group of photographers who take photos of the animals during her spare time and when asked if she would be willing to help out with social media, she was happy to jump right in. Kali’s photos and videos have helped to get countless animals adopted over the years.

Kali has a soft spot for horses and recently has been assisting our Equine Specialist, Christie Tracy with a variety of tasks in the barn. "Kali is a true blessing and it is an honor to work side by side with her, " says Christie, "Her patience and dedication to the horses is few and far between". In addition to helping out around the barn, she is also the talent behind the popular videos of our horses. Since she began doing the videos that showcase all aspects of the horses and their needs, we have seen an increase in horse adoptions. Currently Kali's favorite animal at the shelter is Sandy, a 3-year-old horse who has been in our care since July 2016. 

When asked why she volunteers, Kali responded, “It’s very fulfilling. It’s also therapeutic, getting to help the animals.” She likes to say volunteering is ‘doing something with a purpose’. She encourages others to consider volunteering, “It will change your life.” There are so many opportunities to help out at an animal shelter, from socializing the animals, to taking photos and helping with social media.

If you are interested in learning more about volunteering for the Humane Society of Ventura County, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Amanda Volden at (805)646-6505 x110 or by email at [email protected].