Community: Animal shelter spotlights new campaign (Video)
Performers from the TV and music industries are helping the organization Volunteers of the Burbank Animal Shelter shout out about its recently launched campaign — “Love. Protect. Adopt.”
They are appearing in still photographs and videos and providing voice-overs which are produced at the shelter by volunteer videographers and photographers, said Tiffany Brain, creator and project manager of the campaign and director of volunteer training at the shelter.
“For the campaign, we are just trying to promote adoptions by showcasing local talents from all walks of life who vow to ‘Love. Protect. Adopt.,’” she said.
Actors like Kim Coates, Ryan Hurst and Theo Rossi from the FX series “Sons of Anarchy” have appeared in videos that encourage people to adopt pets from the shelter. The videos can be seen on the volunteers’ website thevbas.org and on YouTube at www.youtube.com/vbasteam. Their comments are also posted in tweets and on the volunteers’ Facebook page.
Rossi has three dogs he rescued from the streets, he says in the video. He also talks about how much joy the dogs have brought to his life as well as lauds the benefits of owning a pit bull.
“[Adopting a pet] is the best thing you can do in your life,” he says in the video. “The reason I believe in programs like this is because it doesn’t just benefit the animals. It benefits the person.”
Rossi grew up with Rottweilers and pit bulls and says they are amazing dogs.
“It’s a breed like any other dog,” he said. “Their temperament depends on the person who is training them and the environment they are raised in.”
Singer-songwriter Vinita became involved with the animal shelter campaign because she loves animals, she said.
“I was trying to find a way to get involved with the animal community using my music,” she said, adding that she is building a career in pop music.
“I’m trying to become the first huge Indian music pop star,” she said. “From L.A., there isn’t anyone doing that right now. My dad is from New Delhi and my mom is from Singapore, but I was born here.”
Vinita once had a dream of becoming a veterinarian and volunteered as a docent at the Los Angeles Zoo from 1999 to 2002.
“I’m interested in getting involved with animal events in Burbank and in Los Angeles County,” she said. “I wouldn’t mind coming to a meet-and-greet, volunteering or even performing.”
The public can find out more about the animal shelter volunteers during a program presented by the Burbank Historical Society at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Burbank Museum, 1100 W. Clark Ave. Program topics include kitten fostering, a medical program and the Happy Trails Hike. The museum is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
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JOYCE RUDOLPH can be contacted at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.