Introducing ... Lauren Botticelli

GBU Life its members are honored to recognize Lauren Botticelli, as this year's Volunteer of the Year. This award is given in recognition of a member's dedication to helping others and his or her outstanding service and contributions in the local community.

Lauren is an active leader and volunteer at The Animal Pad, a non-profit, all breed dog rescue that focuses on rescuing dogs from high kill shelters in Southern California and Mexico. Lauren and fellow volunteers provide rehabilitation and care while finding loving homes for the animals She has been an advocate and furry friend companion for the past six years.

"Lauren will ALWAYS show up for the dogs no matter what it takes.

Throughout the past 6 years, there has been an immense amount of change as we grew from an itty bitty local rescue to the powerhouse team of volunteers and fosters in the hundreds that we are today, but one constant is Lauren. This has built a stronger community because we are all connected by the volunteer work we do from fosters to veterinary team, kids camp to working with the dogs of unsheltered people." -Kelly Johnston

Lauren and stories from The Animal Pad have been featured in publications such as SD Voyager and The Wildest and on the My Solo Road podcast.

For more information about The Animal Pad, visit theanimalpad.org.