Have you stopped by the Neighbors Who Care office lately and received a warm, tail-wagging greeting? If so, you’ve met Mando, our unofficial Office Support Dog and resident morale booster!
Mando belongs to our Volunteer Manager, Robin. Over a year ago, she asked the team if she could bring him in so he wouldn’t have to spend his days at home in a crate. The team gladly agreed—and now, the office feels empty on the days he isn’t here to welcome everyone through the door!
A Resilient Rescue Story
Mando’s journey to becoming our favorite office companion is nothing short of a miracle.
A Rough Start: Rescued from Mexico as a pup, Mando was saved after someone witnessed him being thrown into a canal. The good folks at Paws for a Cause took him in and discovered he had distemper, a highly contagious virus. Standard protocol suggested humane euthanasia, but Paws for a Cause refused to give up on him. They placed him in a foster home with no other pets until he made a full recovery.
Finding Robin: In 2021, Robin was searching for a small dog. After falling in love with Mando, she brought him to work at her former employer, the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, for a checkup. After a short quarantine period to ensure he was 100% virus-free, Mando was officially cleared for duty!
From Wildlife to Neighbors Who Care: At the sanctuary, Mando became the one animal volunteers were actually allowed to pet, he even got to safely meet a baby tiger through a protective barrier! When Robin joined Neighbors Who Care, Mando tagged along, transitioning smoothly from wildlife buddy to community cheerleader.
Paid in Treats & Loves
Today, Mando takes his “volunteer work” very seriously. He loves greeting visitors, showering staff with affection, and hanging out with the front office team. His favorite part of the job? Office social events, where he gets plenty of belly rubs and sneaky nibbles of treats.
Next time you’re in the area, stop by and say hello, Mando can’t wait to meet you!
Please note that Mando is only in the office 3 days a week. The dates Robin works.
