Meet Teresa! Teresa serves as an amazing
Co-Lead of our Kirkland Team of 120 regularly scheduled volunteers. She
develops perfect harmony with staff, Co-Lead Jennifer Hunt, Lead Lucy Camelia, and
many other volunteers, resulting in a super successful program.
Teresa’s leadership skills are highlighted by quick and
skillful responsiveness to a wide range of volunteer questions, suggestions,
and concerns. She was the key point person for onboarding 42 new volunteers on
the team from May-December last year. Her scheduling acumen and follow through
is invaluable. Teresa also works two shifts at the store twice each week, takes
fantastic photos, plus she had volunteered at RASKC’s previous Bellevue
Crossroads cat-care program. An interview with Teresa can be found on our website and blog.Thank you, Teresa!
As the Animal
Services Coordinator at RASKC, I have been lucky to witness and be involved in
so many incredible changes. After coming to RASKC from the San Diego Humane
Society a few years ago, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when making the
transition to a municipal shelter. However, I was excited to learn that even
though RASKC had already been through a very impressive transformation, those
changes were just the beginning! In the last several years, RASKC has continued
to increase adoptions and our overall save rate, all while drastically
improving quality of life for the animals here.
Looking back
at 2017, I am so proud of everything we have accomplished. I am excited to
announce that we finished 2017 with a record-high live release rate of 94%!
Another notable accomplishment from the last year was the approval of the
interlocal contract that will allow us to continue providing animal services
for 24 cities throughout King County for the next five years. Read
all about RASKC’s 2017 Year-in-Review. (contributor: Nickie Ford)
2017 Volunteer Recap
So many of RASKC's notable accomplishments from
last year occurred thanks to the countless efforts of the volunteers.
Last year's highlights from the volunteer
program include: 462 people attended new volunteer orientation (25
sessions); 316 volunteers became active (about one third were fosters; one
fifth were Kirkland volunteers); 768 volunteers contributed service; fosters
contributed 100,475 hours; non-foster labor accounted for 25,937
hours; so a total of 126,412 volunteer hours were contributed last
year.
Enormous
thanks to all volunteers, especially those who contributed the most
fostering hours in 2017: Melodye Johnson (2,676 hours), Linda
Bowen (2,170 hours); Shawna Boggs (1,916 hours); Lisa Skow
(1,888 hours); Morgan Anderson (1,875 hours); Jacque Rump (1,870
hours); Mary Beth Binns (1,826 hours); Pati Ramos (1,739 hours); Becky
Rubeck (1,603 hours); Marilyn Wallace (1,548 hours); Corinne
Powley (1,476 hours); Sheryl Small (1,275 hours); Jessica Whittle
(1,233 hours); Jenna Bitner (1,180 hours); Vyrna Layton
(1,157 hours); Kelsey Anderson (1,134 hours); Alicia Dillon
(1,096 hours); Gail Snow (1,090 hours); Kimberly Skubinna (1,082
hours); Suzanne Tiedeman (1,072 hours); Melissa Blake (1,065
hours); Judy Kane (1,045 hours); and Valli Johansen (976 hours).
Of the top 25 foster volunteers, eight hit the 1,000-hour mark for the first
time in 2017.
Leading
the way in non-foster hours last year was Lucy Camelia, Lead Volunteer of our
Kirkland Pet-Care Team, with over 700 hours. Next highest hours were given by
Vyrna Layton, who donated 384 hours making cat blankets and toys plus 94 hours
on Cat Meet and Greet. David Howerton contributed a
whopping 428 hours last year on Cat Meet and Greet.
Here is a list of people who
gave the most hours in 2017 on these volunteer teams:
Dog Team: Derek Yoshinaka (247 hours),
Christina Haines (174 hours), and Jeff Kluth (164 hours);
Early Morning Cat Crew: Sharon Van Hout (115 hours), Marilyn Wallace (97
hours), and Eva Langdahl (95 hours);
Cat Meet & Greet:
David Howerton (428 hours), Eileen Griffin (219 hours), and Shannon Weiler
(146 hours);
Cat Behavior & Enrichment:
Alan Gurevich (77 hours)
Shelter Helper: Don Race (109 hours); Penny
Ruckle (106 hours), and Natasha Kahklen (100 hours);
Vet Clinic: Linda Sutherland (144 hours)
and Dalen Elenzano (139 hours);
Office: Katherine Evans-Race (198
hours). Pat Davis (140 hours), and Jennifer Wolfe (41 hours);
Covington Cat-Care Team: Jini Allen (245 hours), Alyssa & Wendy Fortson
(77 hours), and Denise Kovecs (51 hours);
Kirkland Pet-Care Team: Lucy Camelia (695 hours), Teresa Rosenberg (269
hours), and Jennifer Hunt (208 hours);
Reber Ranch Cat-Care Team: Lori Middleton (216 hours), Liz Cate (48 houjrs), and
Gayle Stanley 44 hours); and
Tukwila Cat-Care Team:
Marilyn Wallace (78 hours), Jayne Roddy (75 hours), and Jazz Richard (49
hours).
Go here to see a more detailed summary of
hours contributed by other amazing volunteers.
RASKC featured on Warm 106.9 fm
In
case you missed it, here is the link to Warm 106.9 FM’s Wet Nose Wednesday
Facebook LIVE coverage available on their website. You’ll notice that the
station has been covering pets from PAWS, Seattle Humane, and Auburn Valley
Humane Society-- RASKC is humbled to be sharing Warm 106.9’s Wet Nose
Wednesday page with these organizations.
Register now for pet-photo class on March 17
Register here for RASKC’s pet photo class
that will be taking place on Saturday, March 17, from 1:00- 3:30pm in Kent
(free). Taught by acclaimed professional photographer and animal rescuer
Brooke Mallory, the session is open to people of all skill levels. Brooke is a
very engaging instructor who always receives top ratings from class
participants.
Big
Mario's Pizza has launched a new program titled “Cause for Paws” which
proudly features RASKC dogs. The local pizza chain is excited to help find
forever homes for RASKC pets and will be rewarding new owners of the featured
pets with a pizza party consisting of 2 large (choice of pepperoni or cheese)
and a 6 pack of canned soda. To learn more, visit
their website!
Welcome new RASKC staff; Fond farewell to Shelby Russell
RASKC welcomes two new Animal Care Technicians (ACT) on a temporary basis- Sarah H. and Sara M.. Sarah H. (pictured) brings four years' shelter experience from the Bay Area. Sara M. has worked in a shelter, vet clinic, zoo, and wildlife rehabilitation facility.
The temporary ACT positions were opened up, because two regular ACTs have been promoted as special duty Animal Control Officers. Congratulations to Diana Fowler and Cherise Sanchez!
Congratulations also to Kate Cataldo, formerly an ACT, and Marcy Goldstone, formerly an Animal Control Officer. They have been promoted as special duty Shelter Sergeants.
Longtime Shelter Sergeant Chelsea Eykel has been appointed as a Field Sergeant, supervising Animal Control Officers.
RASKC offers a fond farewell to Shelby Russell, who had served as a Field Sergeant for many years.
We also offer a hearty welcome to Teresa D. a Licensed Vet Tech who is assigned temporarily to our Vet Clinic.
Staff Profile: RASKC Sergeant Chelea Eykel
After more than eight years as a RASKC Shelter Sergeant, Chelsea is becoming a RASKC Field Sergeant. She will be supervising the Animal Control Officers who are dispatched to 24 cities and unincorporated King County for a wide variety of situations. In a recent year, field officers responded to 5,000 requests for service in a 1,100 square-mile area.
Tell us about yourself. I am a lifelong
resident of the Pacific Northwest, having grown up in Des Moines. I lived a couple of years in Washington, DC and
California before returning here. I have been at RASKC for 10 years and am looking forward to serving
the residents of King County for years to come.
Why did you decide to work with animals? I have always been
involved with animals in some capacity, having served on the board of directors
of three non-profit horse-rescue organizations in the area. That work led to wanting to
interrupt cruelty cases before they happened. One of the local rescues
sponsored me to attend the Animal Control Officer Academy.
What did you do prior to coming to RASKC? I managed veterinary practices in the area, both small and large animal. This work also included a busy 24-hour emergency practice. I also managed a local feed store in
Black Diamond. And I was a Quality Assurance administrator for a global bulk industrial gas manufacturer and supplier. I traveled routinely as a corporate
trainer. Maybe that is why I am such a homebody now.
What does your work
for RASKC involve? I have been an Animal
Control Sergeant for eight of my 10 years with RASKC. I have largely worked as a
supervisor of the animal shelter, although I will now be working as a Field
Supervisor. My shelter duties included anything having to do with day-to-day operations
of RASKC including inventory, animal flow, staffing, training, customer
service, issuing violations and warning notices at the front counter, and ensuring
animal care and disease control standards are met. For many years I was the
primary contact for animal rescues to retrieve animals from here.
What is the best part
about your job? I genuinely enjoy customer service and also conflict resolution. People are passionate about animals
and are understandably sometimes pretty emotional when they come to RASKC.
While we have core duties of public safety and protecting the animals of King County,
over the years I have learned many times that education and a helping hand are what is needed the most. We work for the residents of King County. We are here to
help.
What do you do when
you’re not at work? I have had a
lifelong love of horses and own a farm in rural King County. I have four horses, so I spend my days off riding and enjoying them. I also own two dogs and two cats
who are the true bosses of my farm. We have a resident
elk herd that comes through our property on a regular basis. The elk, combined
with sweeping views of the Cascade foothills, make me really appreciate the
quality of life we have here in the Pacific Northwest.
Please share a story
about an experience with great volunteers. There are so many
things I appreciate about the volunteers at RASKC. It is hard to
limit my answer to just one! I think the big hearts they have and willingness
to wade in whenever we put out a call is always an eye opener, no matter how
many hundreds of times I have witnessed it over the years. The volunteers who
come in on holidays, who take mountains of laundry to the laundromat when our
machines break, who transport animals to and from vet visits, offsites and
events- it seems no matter what we need there is always someone, and often more
than one, who are ready and willing to be our extended support system. I have
said it many times over the years, but it is no less true now than 10 years ago: RASKC is nothing without our life support system of volunteers!
Daytona is a two year-old buff Staffordshire Terrier mix (#A545971).
Daytona’s personality color is green. This means she is an adaptable dog who loves
to go with the flow! Daytona is full of energy, and she loves to play with toys.
She does best when she has lots of exercise and something to keep her mind
busy. Daytona seems to get along with other dogs, though she may do best in a home without cats or small animals. When meeting dogs in a new home,
she will do best with a slow introduction.
Daytona is spayed, current on
vaccinations, and microchipped. Her adoption fee also includes an opt-in 30 days
of free pet insurance through Trupanion and a free vet exam.Throughout the month of February,
Daytona’s $100 adoption fee will be waived for RASKC’s “Love-A-Bull” promotion
(pet license purchase may be required).
RASKC features a new
Pet of the Week on our website. Several suburban newspapers also
highlight RASKC’s Pet of the Week, thanks usually to the work of volunteer Dawn
Gerken. RASKC’s previous Pets of the Week can be viewed on our blog.
New cat cafe opens in Redmond. Nancy Howard's Whole Cat and Kaboodle recently opened a cat cafe on the eastside to help
promote adoptions and education. For advice on how to address problematic cat behaviors, Whole Cat and Kaboodle is offering a "No Bad Cats" two-hour class at the cafe on Saturday evening, March 10, for $10. Whole Cat
and Kaboodle often helps some of our special-needs cats get adopted. In fact,
longtime RASKC feline resident Loki is now living at Cafe Cocoa!
Weaks
Family Foundation donates $1,500. Thanks to the generosity of foster
volunteers Laura and Henry Weaks, more Angel Fund animals will receive
care.
T-Mobile
and Microsoft Matches. Hurrray to volunteers Stephanie C. and Daniel K. who
are asking their employers to include RASKC in their volunteer match program.
Microsoft will match $20 for each hour their employees contribute to
qualifying organizations. T-Mobile will match $10 per hour. If both Stephanie
and Daniel's matches are granted for their 2017 hours, then RASKC will
receive $6,000 from these donations.
To the Rescue: At RASKC/ Kent volunteers and staff are using a new cleaning agent- Rescue- rather than Wisiwash, Kennelsol, or Trifectant. Unlike the other products, Rescue is a combined detergent and disinfectant. When used for mopping, however, the floors can be very slippery when wet. Please be careful. When hard-cleaning condos, some volunteers have found Rescue's scent to be unpleasant. You may use respiratory masks, which are available in the bottom shelving in the supply room in the Cat Adoptions Building.
Where Dog Walkers may harness: When you are preparing to walk a RASKC dog outside of the shelter grounds, it's best to harness the dog in their kennel. If that doesn't seem workable, however, you may harness the dog in the meet-and-greet room or in one of the play yards instead.
Shake! Shake!! Shake!!! Before placing soiled items in the dirty laundry bin, please shake them out thoroughly. It's also very important to vigorously shake out the laundry prior to placing it in the washing machine. Our washing machines fall into disrepair when they get clogged with pet food, solid waste, and other debris that needs to be shaken out.
RASKC
maintains more than 300 scheduled shifts; 85% are weekly.
If
you do not see an opening that matches your availability, please be patient.
Additional openings occur almost every week.
Note: If you have not yet
attended new volunteer orientation, please do not
contact any of the Team Leads. The positions listed below are to be filled by
people who have already attended the session and who have already submitted the
required paperwork. Thanks.
Dog Team @ RASKC/ Kent (Adults only) Please submit an application only if you have significant and successful experience with dogs with challenging behaviors and if you have a very strong commitment to positive-only dog training.