Volunteer of the Month

Our July volunteer of the month is Tere Dimperio who has devoted her time in the adult cattery since 2007.  She was inspired by her daughter who was volunteering at the animal shelter near her college at the time. Tere has had cats all her life, so volunteering with cats seemed like a perfect fit. Once she started, she decided to ask her friend Diana to join her, and these two amazing ladies have been working together on the same shift for many years. Together, their teamwork, compassion, and tireless efforts have made a remarkable difference in the lives of so many felines in our care.

“I love working with the cats, especially the kittens, but I also enjoy meeting and finding the perfect match for shelter visitors,” Tere said.

She has also made new friends with other volunteers. In her free time, Tere enjoys walking with friends at the beach and trying new restaurants. She grew up by the beach, so being near the ocean is special to her. During baseball season, she enjoys watching her grandnephew play baseball with the Boston Red Sox system. He is in the AAA league now but hopefully will move up to the majors soon. In the past, she tutored students to help them with their homework and study habits. Her first student is now at UC Irvine in graduate school to be a pharmacist. Tere loves all cats but has a special affection for orange cats. She currently has three of them – all adopted from MVAS. They are 17, 8, and almost 3. 

Thank you Tere for your consistent presence, whether it's comforting a nervous newcomer or finding the perfect home for a deserving kitty. You truly embody the spirit of our mission. We are incredibly fortunate to have you on our team.