Today we’d like to introduce you to Chloe Lawrence.
Hi Chloe, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started working with Dogs Without Borders 14 years ago as a volunteer at adoption events, then began going to shelters to help pull dogs for the organization to start their journey towards a chance at a second life. At the time I was in school for Interior Design but when I graduated I realized that, although I enjoyed it, it didn’t possess the same passion that rescuing dogs did so I began working for the organization.
Three years ago, the creator of the DWB approached me because she was considering retiring and was curious if I would take over, to which I said “Absolutely Yes!”. After taking some time to transition out I became the new head of the organization about a year and a half ago and have really been going full steam ahead since then. I have so many visions for how far we can go and how many lives we can save in this and it really brings me so much joy that this is now fully my path.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think there are definitely some challenges when it comes to rescues and non-profits in general. Everyone involved tends to be incredibly passionate and while that is amazing and much needed, when it comes to the limited resources and time combined with soooo much to do it can feel a bit overwhelming and some burnout can pop up. It would be amazing to hire on more staff because we really want to show the value to people volunteering so much of their time to rescue efforts but with the number of dogs we try to save, funds often don’t allow much room for it. I’m really trying to change that model to bring on more actual staff so we can create effective systems that can truly optimize our rescue efforts in the best way possible.
As you know, we’re big fans of Dogs Without Borders. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Dogs Without Borders is a foster-based rescue in Los Angeles, pulling small breed dogs from LA area shelters, as well as working with international rescue partners to re-home dogs in need.
DWB is proud to have placed over 6,000 dogs since its inception and will continue to rescue thousands more with the support of generous donations, fosters, and volunteers.
Dogs Without Borders is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
We really rely heavily on social media like IG and Facebook to get the word out on the dogs in need. These platforms connect us to committed fosters which allows us to pull dogs that are in immediate danger of euthanasia; from there, we are able to fundraise for medical treatment if needed, and then ultimately place these pups in their forever homes. Being able to share things in real-time and spread the word among so many and with such convenience has really allowed tremendous growth in our rescue efforts. And of course, our own site www.DogsWithoutBorders.org has all of our available dogs for people to check out as well!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.DogsWithoutBorders.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dogswithoutborders
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dogswithoutbordersLA
