Sonia Gates

Sonia Gates has been a dedicated volunteer at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter since 2012, contributing over 600 hours of service using her talents as a photographer. Every week, using her own equipment, she sets up a studio at the shelter and works with her team to take pictures of the dogs for the shelter’s website. She has a knack for bringing shy dogs out of their shells by giving them some of their first experiences with human kindness. In addition to her work on site, Sonia has volunteered as a photographer at multiple shelter fundraisers. She is always eager to help and unfailingly creates a beautiful final product. Her involvement at the shelter even brought her to adopt her own furry friend!