Influence Positively Interview: Josephine Bloomfield
Last week I shared some of the back-story of Maddie's Pet Adoption Days coming up May 31 - June 1, 2014. Today the Grouchy Puppy Influence Positively Interviews return, and I want you to meet Josephine Bloomfield, Maddie’s Fund grants specialist and the person who makes Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days, the largest free pet adoption event in the United States happen.
Influence Positively Interviews. A lot of new and amazing people involved with animal welfare, senior dog adoption, dog behavior and more have come to light since the Influence Positively Interview series began four years ago. [Revisit early interviews] It seemed like the right time to dust off those five light-hearted questions that everyone can answer -- giving readers a chance to discover and connect with other animal lovers they may or may not know.
Do you know someone who should join this series? Email the editors: [email protected]
Meet Josephine Bloomfield from Maddie’s Fund [...]
Josephine started her career applying for grants for at-risk youth in Oakland, CA. Since 2008, she’s had the privilege of working for companion animals as Grants Specialist at Maddie’s Fund. Josephine now coordinates Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days, the largest free pet adoption event in the United States. She also serves as one of the first contacts for eligibility and application information for Maddie's Fund grants, and maintains correspondence with grant recipients, addressing progress inquiries and grant requirements.
Born and raised in San Francisco, Josephine grew up with a quiet cat her family adopted from the San Francisco SPCA. Now, she shares her life with a goofy, animated Australian Shepherd mix, Kota, who whole-heartedly believes the world really is her oyster.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being able to do anything that makes me happy any time I want. Playing baseball, going to the beach, dancing around a bon fire and singing with friends.
If you could come back as a dog or a cat, which one would it be and why?
I’d definitely come back as a cat. I can’t imagine anything better than being completely self-sufficient – hunting my own food and having the freedom to lounge all day in the sun if I wanted.
What is your pet’s most treasured possession?
A bag of tennis balls my dog, Kota, has been collecting since the beginning of time. Every time she finds a new ball, I have a tradition of repeating a little poem for her:
“Ode to my ball
it’s green and dirty
And bounces to me.”
And I kid you not, every time I finish the poem, she smiles at me and wags her tail!
Your proudest achievement so far?
Being part of the incredible team at Maddie’s Fund, helping the voiceless, and managing Maddie’s® Pet Adoption Days. I work with really inspirational, talented, passionate people who give their all to the animals. It’s an amazing feeling knowing at the end of every day, as a team, we’ve all done everything we can to save the lives of our nation’s healthy and treatable shelter animals.
Who are your heroes in real life?
Shelter animals who embrace life even after a rough start. There’s a lot to learn from them, and I think they hold the secret to happiness – living in the moment.
Do you have an adopted dog or cat? Do you make up poetry or songs for them too? Know someone we should highlight in this interview series? Connect with us! Use the Contact tab above to email us, or share in the comments.