Volunteer of the Month

Bennett has been a volunteer intern with NHA since the beginning of the summer and has been an incredible addition to our team. He has supported our Pawsitive Impact program by processing requests, helped with our Wednesday Community Pet Food Bank, and gathered content for our social media. Bennett is studying psychology and has also completed coursework in K9 behavior and training. Throughout his time with NHA, Bennett has been curious, friendly, adaptable, and always ready to help. He approached rehoming cases with empathy and attention to detail, while also helping identify ways to improve data collection and better serve our community. His strong problem-solving skills, willingness to jump between tasks, and ability to work independently made him an invaluable part of the team. We are so grateful for all of his hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm this summer!

Since joining Nashville Humane Association in 2025, Julie has become a wonderful asset to our volunteer team. A Yellow Level Dog Care volunteer, she can often be found walking dogs, participating in Doggie Day Out shifts, and representing NHA at community outreach events. No matter where she’s volunteering, Julie brings a positive attitude and genuine compassion for our animals. She is a lifelong pet owner of both cats and dogs, and a proud Dalmatian owner for more than 25 years! Julie combines her love of animals with a professional background, making her a thoughtful, dependable volunteer. She’s also known for capturing great photos during her shifts and generously sharing them with staff and fellow volunteers, helping showcase the incredible animals in our care. Julie, thank you for your enthusiasm, dedication, and the many ways you support Nashville Humane!

Kim has been a dedicated supporter of Nashville Humane since first joining our volunteer team in 2021. As one of our Lead Volunteers, Kim plays an important role in helping train and mentor new cat volunteers, ensuring they feel confident and prepared to make a difference. A Blue Level volunteer, Kim is a familiar face in the cat rooms, where she spends many weekends caring for our feline residents and supporting fellow volunteers. Drawing from her experience volunteering with the cats at Greater Birmingham Humane Society and her lifelong love of cats, Kim brings a wealth of knowledge, patience, and compassion to everything she does. Her willingness to share that experience makes her an invaluable mentor to new volunteers and a trusted member of the NHA team. Whether she’s welcoming visitors, supporting fellow volunteers, or caring for shelter cats, she consistently demonstrates compassion, dedication, and professionalism. Thank you, Kim, for your continued commitment to NHA and the animals we serve!

Dalton Bretz has been an incredible part of the NHA volunteer team since joining us last fall. A familiar face during the week, Dalton can often be found walking dogs, providing Zone 3 support, and helping keep us on track with laundry, and always jumping in wherever he’s needed most. With over 300 hours already logged, his dedication and consistency have made a meaningful impact on both our team and the animals in our care. Dalton’s willingness to show up, work hard, and support day-to-day operations does not go unnoticed. Thank you, Dalton, for your continued commitment. You are a true asset to our team!

Karl began volunteering with Nashville Humane in 2024 after relocating to Nashville from New Jersey. Wanting to give back to his new community in a meaningful way, Karl found the perfect outlet at NHA! Since joining the volunteer team, Karl has jumped into a wide variety of roles across the shelter and in the community. As a Blue Level dog walker, he helps our dogs get the exercise and enrichment they need, and he has also participated in programs like Doggy Day Out and Spotlight Saturday. Karl is a familiar face at many of our Rover Low-Cost Clinics, helping us expand access to care for pets in the community. Beyond the shelter walls, he has supported numerous offsite adoption events, community festivals, and fundraising events, including the Music City Brewers Fest, Mars Adoption Event, and Unleashed. Thank you, Karl, for your dedication and for all the ways you show up for our animals!

Erin began volunteering with Nashville Humane Association last year, but she has already made a huge impact on both the shelter and our staff. She has jumped in across several areas, supporting everything from Purple Puppy Care and dog bathing to Zone 3 support and dog walking. Erin even helped out at a very special Backstage Bark Break with Sabrina Carpenter! You can often find Erin at the shelter on Friday mornings, assisting Animal Care with morning cleaning, a critical shift that not many volunteers take on. She plays a big role in getting our dogs set up for a successful day and is never afraid to tackle the less glamorous side of shelter work. Erin’s dedication, reliability, and willingness to help wherever needed make her an incredible part of our volunteer community. Thank you, Erin, for everything you do for our animals and team!

Originally from Australia, Sarah began volunteering with Nashville Humane Association in 2024 and has quickly become an incredible asset to our shelter community. With prior volunteer experience at a pet hospital in Australia, where she assisted with home visits, Sarah jumped right in and has supported our animals and staff across many areas of the shelter. A yellow-level dog walker, Sarah frequently participates in Pet Visitations at Abe’s Garden, Doggie Day Out, and Food Bank shifts. Through Doggie Day Out especially, she provides dogs with much-needed one-on-one time while also sharing valuable insights about their personalities outside of the shelter environment. Sarah also supports community events such as adoption events, Dog Day (shoutout to her for being Rover!), and Unleashed, and she even brought her coworkers in for a group volunteer day. Sarah brings compassion, reliability, and heart to everything she does. She is truly a powerhouse volunteer, and we are so grateful to have her on our team!