Trading Places

Six years ago, Niki Wior graduated from a Best Friends' How to Start a Sanctuary workshop, and now her Los Angeles rescue group, Much Love Animal Rescue, has been named the number one animal rescue by Animal Fair magazine.

"We currently have about 40 dogs and 40 cats," she said. "We do mobile adoptions every Saturday and Sunday. And our adoption rate is amazing. We are kicking butt."

Niki remembers taking notes fiercely at the workshop and swears "I did everything they told me." She has signed up to come back again this June, but not for herself. This time, she's sending her volunteers so they can learn what she did.

This week, Niki showed just how well she's learned the ins and outs of rescue. She brought Rex, who needs some behavior work before he'll be ready for a home. And in exchange, she took three ready-for-adoption Best Friends dogs back into her Los Angeles program.

"Rex will be a great companion," Niki said. "Bringing him here was the right thing. With a little work, we know he'll do great in a home some day."