FINDING ANIMALS A HOME IS THIS TEEN’S PASSION

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Nivita Thomas. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

Nivita Thomas has always loved animals. As a young child, Nivita frequently asked her parents if she could have a dog or cat. While her parents resisted ownership, they allowed Nivita to dip her toes into working with animals. Several years later, the endeavor stuck. Now 17 years old, Nivita has spent the last three years volunteering with Lost Paws Animal Rescue, a group dedicated to rescuing unhoused animals and placing them in loving homes.

Initially, Nivita found balancing schoolwork on top of her volunteering schedule to be quite challenging, but she’s gotten into a flow these days. However, Nivita’s mom keeps an important rule in check: If the homework is not done, Nivita can’t foster a dog over the weekend. In addition to performing the necessary tasks that come with helping care for dogs, like taking walks and doling out kibble, Nivita has fostered over 40 dogs during her time as a volunteer with Lost Paws.

Recently, Nivita fostered a pup named Neema who has a deformed leg. While Nivita was thrilled to see Neema be adopted and go off to live with a family, it was bittersweet to let go of a dog she grew so close to. Nivita’s relationship with the special dog is a strong example of how passionate the teen is about helping animals live the lives they deserve.

In the last six months alone, Nivita has dedicated over 300 hours to volunteering with Lost Paws Animal Rescue. Her role as a volunteer goes far beyond simply being an animal lover. Instead, it’s serving as an advocate for a population that can’t speak for itself. Nivita’s dedication at such a young age shows that anyone can make a difference if they’re truly passionate about helping others.

Tell us about your volunteer role with Lost Paws Animal Rescue?

At Lost Paws, I assist with microchipping, I make calls and I help maintain the area by cleaning out cages and other maintenance tasks like that. I verify medical records, walk dogs, collaborate with other volunteers and staffers, and make calls to vets to ensure that the person can maintain an animal if they already have one. It’s so rewarding seeing the animals go to good homes.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

At a very young age, I was based around animals. I always wanted a dog or a cat. My parents initially said no. Volunteering with animals drives me. It gives me a purpose, and it gives me a goal and a plan for my future. It’s just magical being around them, especially in rescue work, where you meet animals who’ve been abused, on a euthanasia list, returned or not wanted. I’m very happy building trust with them and keeping them in my house.

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?

We want more of a stable position, because at this point, we are moving here and there and it’s very difficult with the equipment we need to bring. I think right now, our goal is to have a spot where we can stay instead of moving back and forth. Our long-term goal is to get transportation and stuff like that for the animals because we transport animals from down Georgia.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

I think the most rewarding part of my work is seeing the dogs go home to a house every single day. I know some rescues aren’t like that. Some rescues use kennels. Knowing that an animal is going to a loving home every single night and is sleeping under a warm roof and all of that – it’s really rewarding seeing that happen.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

As a volunteer, I’ve learned that there are a million different ways to perceive a situation. Seeing animals come in, we don’t know what they’ve been through, what they’ve seen or what’s happened to them. Learning to be slow with them, learning to adapt to what they need – that’s a lot that I’ve learned. Also, I’ve learned a lot about talking to people. No one person is the same, so it’s different when you’re approaching an older couple versus a younger person.

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?

Each one of our communities always has needs. There is a learning process about how to go about doing things in the beginning, but once you find something you’re passionate about to advocate for, which in my case is animals, then it becomes like second nature to you. I think it’s also very important for me because animals don’t have a voice, and they can’t speak for themselves. It’s a way to find purpose.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

I heard dogs in the back, and asked my mom if we could check it out. We asked a couple of questions here and there about how to get into volunteering. My biggest advice is to just go for it. Just shoot for it, no matter if it’s in a call or an email. Just go for it, because it is very rewarding, and it might go your way.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

I want people to learn that one person can make all the difference. When I first started, I was just cleaning cages and all that. But now, when helping microchip and vaccinate and working with transport calls, it’s nice to see everybody else I work with get a little break because of what I can bring to them and what I can help out with. It’s good to help the people around you.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Nivita? Find local volunteer opportunities.