By Jazmynn Hoffman

Sara Lugo, a Furry Friends volunteer since 2019, often rolls up her sleeves to clean the kitties’ house. She is the Team Lead on our Tuesday morning shift and frequently helps others on their shifts. Sara adopted a cat from Furry Friends several years ago, and shortly after retiring she made the decision to volunteer!

When asked what motivates her work, she said, “It feels good to help the kitties. I love working with and meeting other volunteers who have a common interest in loving cats and supporting the shelter.” Her proudest moment as a volunteer came when her husband, Tony Lugo, decided to volunteer with her after seeing how much she enjoyed her tasks at Furry Friends. Tony helps with trimming trees, bushes, and other yard maintenance at our facility, thanks to his skills as a gardener. He also frequently donates home grown veggies from his garden to other volunteers!

     Sara owns two kitties, Petunia and Tigger, (formerly known as ‘Trigger’ at Furry Friends!). “He was 13 when I adopted him, and he’s now 15 and going strong. His nickname is The Tangerine Terror! My extended family includes 7 grand dogs, 2 grand cats, and 2 great-grand dogs!”

    Before volunteering, Sara worked 27 years as an Operations Manager for Providence Health Plans. She enjoys playing pickleball and practicing yoga. An active member of the community, she says she doesn’t sit very well unless she’s reading a book for her book club!

In addition to helping cats, Sara is passionate and concerned about her community and its future. Clark County’s rapid growth worries her somewhat, as she’s not sure the infrastructure can grow at the pace of the population increase.

      Corvettes are another passion! She is the current president of her Corvette Club, where she’s a long-time member. Sara also belongs to the Clark County Newcomers Club, and volunteers with the Clark County Food Bank every month! Amazingly, she somehow still has time to volunteer with Furry Friends, sometimes more than once a week, and we are so grateful to have her!

Sara is a wonderful Team Lead and is admired by many of our volunteers for her kindness and strong leadership skills. Cathy McCanta, a fellow volunteer from the Tuesday morning crew, had this to share about working alongside Sara:

      “I remember my first day at Furry Friends. Sara Lugo met me at the front door with a big smile. Right away, she made me feel at ease in a new environment. I shadowed her on my first day, where she showed me where things were and answered all my questions with a friendly demeanor. I’ve come to know Sara as a joyful, hardworking leader that makes everyone feel at home at Furry Friends.”

We would like to thank Sara for her dedication and hard work helping the kitties, and for being such an amazing support for her fellow volunteers! Another thank-you to Tony Lugo, for his help in making our facility and yard look so amazing! We are so lucky to have you both!