Volunteer Spotlight
Fall 2010
Daniela Cisternas
Daniela & Bribri
One cold night in January of this year, a group of new volunteers met at the NMHPU office for an orientation. Even though this particular group was enthusiastic about getting started, Daniela Cisternas automatically stuck out. As a busy college student working the swing shift at the newspaper, her schedule seemed to have some obstacles. But that didn’t stop her. She made volunteering a priority and managed to get started the same week regardless of her crazy schedule. She had heard of NMHPU on a morning radio show several times. Because of that and recently adopting a rescued kitty of her own the previous October, the combination convinced her that she needed to get more involved. The fact that NMHPU is a no-kill organization really impressed her and attracted her the most.
Daniela grew up in Vina del Mar, Chile, which is a small city by the beach. After high school, she moved to Utah in 2005. Growing up, her family always had cats ever since her mom had taken in a stray kitten. Now as an adult she has two cats of her own, Pantufla and Bribri. She says, “I found Pantufla in a shelter and I adopted Bribri after fostering her for a few months from NMHPU.”
Even though Daniela has only been a volunteer for a short time, because of her dedication and professionalism, to the staff it feels much longer. She has become such a valuable asset to the volunteer program because of her versatility and eagerness to help. Daniela is a problem solver wherever she is. She helps out at the office with various projects, at the West Valley PetSmart caring for the cats, and at our downtown dog kennel walking dogs during the week. Then on some weekends she helps set up and care for the animals at adoption events. She also helped out at the Spring and Fall Super Adoptions this year. But it’s not just about being another pair of hands; Daniela’s friendly demeanor makes her a joy to be around even if it’s just while moving furniture, which she and her equally wonderful dad did when the NMHPU office was relocated last April. The staff has truly become fond of her. Daniela loves everything about volunteering for NMHPU too: “The staff is awesome; I have met so many great dogs and cats, and lots of amazing people that do so much for homeless animals.” When Daniela was a young child she was bitten by a dog causing her to be nervous around them for years. But volunteering with the friendly dogs in the adoptions program has helped her overcome her fears.
Aside from volunteering, Daniela’s hobbies include biking, hiking and camping. In the winter she likes to snowboard, going to the movies with friends, playing the guitar, or doing crafts. But her favorite hobby is spending time with her cats. She says, “Having animals in our lives is a blessing, and I am so grateful for the ones I have in mine, and the ones I have met at NMHPU that have found their forever homes.”
Daniela, proud to be a part of the NMHPU team, loves the staff and volunteers. “They are doing a really great job and everyone works hard to save as many lives as possible.”
The NMHPU staff would like to thank Daniela for being such a key volunteer and for her compassion. She has proven that one volunteer can truly impact the lives of homeless pets on a daily basis.
Daniela & Pantufla