Six years ago, Nicole moved to Chicago and picked up a volunteer shift at PAWS Chicago, hoping to find deeper belonging in the city and meet new people.

She found her place in Kitty City, and although she dabbled in many volunteer roles at PAWS over the years - Adoption Counselor, Welcome Desk support, and no plans to stop adding to her roles - it’s the cats who still have Nicole wrapped around their littlest toe beans. 

“I would say my role at PAWS is really to help as many people as I can in the building, which is my favorite thing, helping people and animals whenever possible,” says Nicole, who has recently become a Level 2 volunteer in Kitty City and is now working towards becoming a mentor.

Her favorite part of the role is adoption showings, and the magical moment when a cat finds their person. “It’s so amazing to watch that shy and fearful cat come out of their shell just for one person, their perfect person,” says Nicole.

She speaks from experience. Nicole’s 4-year-old cat Maou was formerly shy PAWS cat Winslet, and on her way out from a volunteer shift, she happened to stop and say hello. “At first , he hissed at me, but after tossing some treats and giving him space, he came up to me. He let me pet him and forced me to give him so many chin scratches, I just knew I couldn’t leave without him” says Nicole. 

In her personal life, Nicole loves puzzles, reading, and visiting family, but even in her professional life, she sees the power of animals and the love they give. She says, “I think animals are an amazing way to learn about the world and to learn kindness towards others. I work with autistic kids and can truly say that animals are able to help them in so many ways, not just in how they interact with the world, but also how they overcome obstacles.” 

For those considering volunteering, Nicole has a few tips: try out as many roles as you want, don’t be afraid to ask questions, but most importantly, Nicole shares, “You will never regret volunteering, especially when you are able to see happy families and pets going home to their forever family.”