Volunteer of the Month 2025

If you’ve ever attended one of our low-cost vaccine clinics, you may recognize December’s Volunteer of the Month: Sarah Winters. What many may not realize is that Sarah is also a familiar and beloved presence behind the scenes. Since joining NHA in 2023, she has become an essential part of our Vet Services team and a regular helping hand in Marie’s office, where her monthly support with data entry and transcription keeps our operations running smoothly. Sarah is also one of our most dependable event volunteers, showing up throughout the year for major events like Cause for Paws, Music City Brewers Fest, Pride Fest, and many more. She is adored by staff, treasured for her reliability and kindness, and often one of the unsung heroes behind NHA’s success. We truly couldn’t do what we do without her! Thank you, Sarah, for making a lasting impact on our animals, our team, and our community.

Ro De La Rosa joined NHA in 2022 and has been an incredible supporter ever since! Ro is a familiar face at nearly all of our big events — from Mutt Strutt and Cause for Paws to Unleashed and Dog Day — as well as countless smaller ones like Puppy Parties, Backstage Bark Breaks, Pup Cup, and Puppy Bowl. Always cheerful, approachable, and eager to help, Ro’s positivity shines through in everything she does. Outside of volunteering, Ro is a graduate student at Vanderbilt University, where she studies genetics, race, health, embodiment, and resiliency. Her research explores how life experiences are embodied by Black populations throughout Latin America, with a particular focus on the Spanish Caribbean and the Dominican Republic. Ro brings that same passion for connection, empathy, and understanding to her work with NHA. We are so grateful for her dedication and for the joy she brings to our team and the community!

Leah began volunteering with NHA in 2024 and has quickly become an invaluable part of our volunteer team! Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Leah moved to Nashville to work for the Tennessee Titans. With a background in customer service, leadership, and fundraising, and a lifelong love for animals, she has truly made a positive impact at NHA. Whether she’s walking dogs, helping at signature events, or lending a hand at community outreach events, Leah brings enthusiasm and compassion to everything she does. She has supported events like Music City Brewers Fest, Unleashed, Low-Cost Rover Clinics, and many more! Most recently, she went above and beyond by transporting our beloved resident, Oliver, back from UT in Knoxville after his surgery. We’re so thankful for her dedication and heart for helping both people and pets! Thank you, Leah!

Nathan Vertuca joined Nashville Humane in 2023. Since then, he has made an incredible impact on the community. One of Nathan’s most notable contributions has been his consistent support at our Low-Cost Clinics. His multilingual skills have been especially invaluable, allowing us to better serve our Spanish-speaking community and their pets. Nathan has lent his energy and enthusiasm to many of NHA’s major fundraisers, including Mutt Strutt, Unleashed, and Dog Day, as well as countless other events like Puppy Bowl & Pride Fest. Recently, he transported one of our puppies to UT in Knoxville for surgery, showcasing his dedication and compassion to our cause. Nathan is a beloved presence at every event he joins, and while we are thrilled for him as he embarks on his next adventure in Spain, his absence will leave a big gap in our volunteer family. Thank you, Nathan, for all you’ve done for NHA! You will be greatly missed!

Peter Cobb began volunteering in 2024 and has quickly become a familiar and friendly face around the shelter and at community events. Peter is a huge supporter of our Development Team and frequently helps at Media Tuesdays, assisting at both Today in Nashville and 93.3 to help spread the word about our adoptable pets and programs. Peter is also a huge help at community events such as our Low-Cost Clinics, where his dedication makes a big difference for pet owners in our community. Peter can also be found volunteering with Pet Services as a greeter, welcoming guests to the shelter. We’re so grateful for Peter’s enthusiasm and commitment!

Paula Barlis began volunteering with Nashville Humane Association in November and has already contributed nearly 400 hours to the care and enrichment of our shelter cats – where she has quickly advanced to blue level. A familiar and friendly face around the shelter, Paula is known for her positive attitude, compassion, and willingness to jump in wherever help is needed. She has played a key role in several big adoptions and is especially gifted at connecting with potential adopters in the cat room. Her dedication, warmth, and advocacy for our feline friends make her an invaluable part of the NHA family. We’re so grateful for everything Paula brings to our team!

Brian first joined the Nashville Humane team in December 2024, and since then, he has become a consistent and invaluable presence around the shelter. Brian volunteers with both our dogs and cats, having earned yellow level qualification for each. Whether he’s helping in Zone 3, participating in pet visitations, lending a hand at adoption events, or stepping up for transport assistance, Brian does it all with compassion and dedication. Most recently, he played a key role in transporting nearly 20 beagles from East Tennessee, helping give them a second chance at happy lives! Brian is a wonderful volunteer, teammate, and advocate for the animals. We are so grateful to have him as part of the NHA family!

Since joining us in the fall of 2024, Natalie has become an invaluable part of the NHA family. Natalie is an experienced foster and pet bather. She volunteers with both cats and dogs, always stepping up where she’s needed most—especially in Zone 3, where she’s quick to jump in when we’re short-staffed. Natalie is a consistent and friendly presence at community events, vaccine clinics, and transport efforts, bringing a calm and capable energy wherever she goes. Her work with our cats is especially impressive—not only is she great with cats, but she also takes beautiful, high-quality photos that help showcase their personalities and boost their chances of adoption. She’s truly a shelter rockstar, and we’re so lucky to have her as part of the team. Thank you, Natalie, for all that you do!

Mike Johnson may have just started volunteering with us in March, but he’s already become a familiar and much-appreciated face around the shelter! From raking leaves and sprucing up the backyard to fixing up our sensory garden and pitching in wherever needed, Mike’s enthusiasm and work ethic shine through in everything he does. He’s always eager to help and never backs down from a task, big or small. We are so grateful for his hard work, positive attitude, and the care he brings to every project. Thank you, Mike, for making such a big impact in such a short time!

Pauline Berzins is a wonderful asset to the Nashville Humane Association, and we are thrilled to recognize her as our March Volunteer of the Month! Now retired, Pauline has always had a deep love for animals. Since she began volunteering in 2023, Pauline has been a dedicated and consistent presence in the mornings, always lending a hand where it’s needed most. Whether she’s tackling dishes and laundry in Zone 3, helping to clean the cat room, or spending quality time socializing with our feline residents, Pauline’s hard work and kindness never go unnoticed. Her commitment and dedication have earned her blue-level status in the cat room, and she continues to go above and beyond to support the shelter. We are so grateful for everything she does to make NHA a better place for our animals!

Chris and Holden Ehresman are new to the NHA volunteer family, but they have quickly become an invaluable part of our team! Holden first began volunteering with his dad as part of his Bar Mitzvah project to give back to the community, and together, they have made a lasting impact at the shelter. From dog walking to organizing and sorting the garage, unloading trucks, repairing cabinets, and even helping to transform our front desk for added safety, their dedication knows no bounds. We are incredibly grateful for their hard work and commitment to making NHA a better place for both our animals and our community!

Pam Donnaud began her volunteer journey with us in 2023, and since then, she has become an indispensable part of the NHA family. Rising from green to yellow level and earning her Purple Puppy certification, Pam has committed nearly 200 hours to helping our shelter animals thrive. She regularly assists with dog walking, ensuring our dogs get the exercise and TLC they need, and takes on shifts like Feature Friday and Doggy Day Out, helping showcase our adoptable pets to the community. Pam’s dedication, kindness, and passion for our dogs make her an incredible asset to the team. Thank you, Pam, for all that you do!