Local Pet Lover Helps Animals of the Menifee Community

In Menifee, residents are known to help each other out. One woman in particular is known by many as the person to call if a lost or abused animal is found.

Nina Medina, a stay-at-home mom and pet owner, works tirelessly with the Menifee Valley Humane Society to rescue, shelter and save animals across Menifee, Perris, Temecula and even as far away as San Diego.

Growing up with a love for animals, Medina became involved with the Menifee Valley Humane Society after she moved to Menifee and heard a distressed kitten call.

Medina said helping animals means a lot to her and she wants to continue helping the community through hands-on intervention and educating residents on some of the hardships lost, abused or abandoned animals go through.

"People drop their animals off [at shelters] and think they’re going to find a new home," said Medina, "but it doesn’t always happen."

Local resident Amy Romanosky, who became friends with Medina after helping her find a lost dog, says Medina is an outstanding citizen and does so much for the animals in the area.

"It’s just everything she does for the animals of the community," said Romanosky. "When someone finds a lost dog, they call Nina."

Romanosky said that many of the charitable acts Medina and the Menifee Valley Humane Society do for Menifee residents and animals around the community are funded out of the volunteers’ own pockets.

In fact, Medina said she and other volunteers for the Menifee Valley Humane Society work out of their own homes and fund the small, nonprofit organization through donations from residents. Whatever needs are not met through donations, Medina and other volunteers will usually pay for on their own.

The Menifee Valley Humane Society works with other nonprofit shelters such as the Ramona Humane Society, Animal Friends in the Valley and Sun City K-9. Menifee Valley Humane Society will help these shelters find homes for animals and Medina will often go around to shelters and save animals, like Moose (right), that are scheduled to be put down because they have not yet been adopted.

Medina works with the Menifee Valley Humane Society to help families spay/neuter their pets, find lost pets and take in animals that have been hoarded. She is even trying to start a Seniors for Seniors program that will place older animals with senior citizens who wish to have a companion that is easy to take care of.

Medina said she and the Menifee Valley Humane Society rely on community support and donations. One of her main goals is to get the city of Menifee to be more aware of the organization and the services it provides.

"It’s getting the community involved to donate and support us," said Medina. "This is all volunteer work and we’d just like to get ourselves out there."

The Menifee Valley Humane Society will host a fundraiser Oct. 12 at Pete Petersen Park, where they will have food, entertainment and animals. Medina encourages everyone to come out and have a good time and support the Menifee Valley Humane Society. More information on the organization can be found on its Facebook page or its website.

"I would really like for the community to recognize us," said Medina. "The fundraiser will be a way for people to come out, have fun and get to know more about our organization."