Meet Karolyn! RASKC is extraordinarily pleased to honor Karolyn Grimes, who has been serving delightfully since 2014. Karolyn comes in at least once a week for Cat Meet & Greet work, and she contributes many fill-in shifts to help cover other volunteers’ absences.  She also helps to train new volunteers. When RASKC hosted holiday giftwrapping fundraisers at Barnes and Noble for several years, Karolyn was one of the most reliable volunteers- both staffing the table and providing transport for the materials. Karolyn also staffs RASKC’s booth at other community events.

Karolyn will always have a special place in RASKC’s heart for connecting us with Seattle Meowtropolitan Café. Several years ago when the New York Times mentioned Meowtropolitan as one of many cat cafes across the country that were getting ready to open, Karolyn clipped the article to give to RASKC chief Dr. Gene Mueller. Dr. Gene called the cat café’s owner, who had not yet established where Meowtropolitan would get their cats. The rest is history!

To read an interview with Karolyn, go to our website or blog.    

If you are interested in becoming a RASKC volunteer, please register for new volunteer orientation- for Saturday, January 11, or for Tuesday, January 14, in Kent, go here; for Saturday, January 18  in Kirkland, go here.

RASKC heartily commends the service contributed by over 800 volunteers so far this year, especially the 2019 Volunteers of the Month—

January: Leisa Murray (Early Morning Cat Crew)

February: Denise Kovecs (Covington Petco Cat-Care Team)

March: Jini Allen (Covington Cat-Care Team)

April: Pati Ramos and Luke West (Fosters)

May: Dawn Detweiler (Cat Meet & Greet)

June: Dalen Elenzano (Vet Clinic)

July: Shannon Weiler (Cat Meet & Greet)

August: Carrie Driscoll (Tukwila Petco Cat-Care Team)

September: Tiffany Morin (Pet Publicist Team)

October: Webb Family (Fosters)

November: Shawn Lee (Reber Ranch Cat-Care Team)

December: Karolyn Grimes (Cat Meet & Greet)

Meet Sthavir! RASKC honors Exceptional Youth Volunteer Sthavir Sumanam, a longtime volunteer on RASKC’s Kirkland Pet-Care Team. An eighth grader, straight-A student and member of the National Junior Honor Society, Sthavir serves on the City of Kirkland's Youth Council. He also registers voters and pre-registers others as part of the work of the Indian Association of Western Washington. Sthavir also volunteers at a food bank and at a rescue organization for parrots. He is a Presidential Youth Volunteer Service awardee for the past three years.

Sthavir volunteers with his mom Sowmya Yabaluri, who works as a pharmacist and manager. She is fluent in English, Telugu, and Hindi. Sthavir describes his mother as caring, helpful, and hard working. “She always supports my decisions and always tries to help me accomplish my goals.”  

Sowmya said, “I like volunteering for RASKC at Kirkland Petco, because giving back to my community helps me grow. I am most proud of Sthavir for how he maintains integrity and overcomes challenges with a positive attitude. He is caring, respectful, and kind. Sthavir likes to help others and has compassion for those in need. He is incredibly independent, hard working, and makes good decisions.”

RASKC is so happy that Sthavir and Sowmya made the terrific decision years ago to volunteer at Kirkland Petco!

Meet Gina! RASKC shines the limelight on Outstanding New Volunteer Gina Dembinski in light of her skills, upbeat attitude, and fantastic dedication in two roles- Dog Walker and Shelter Helper. Since she started last year, Gina has come to the shelter for over 120 shifts so far to wash dishes, do laundry, and walk dogs.

Gina said, “Walking dogs on Sundays is one of the hightlights of my week. I also enjoy my other role at the shelter. The staff are always so grateful for the Shelter Helper work I contribute. I feel the impact that these simple tasks can make in helping not only the animals in need, but also to those individual who provide care directly to them on a daily basis. We’re all working towards the same goal!”

Gina grew up with dogs outside of Detroit, Michigan, with a black Lab, a Toy Fox Terrier, an Akita mix, a black German Shepherd mix, and a Golden Doodle. She volunteered at an animal shelter in Pittsburgh before she moved here for a job that she loves.

Gina works as a forensic DNA analyst. She earned four college degrees, including a Ph.D. in biology, before she turned 30 years old. She enjoys running and has completed two half-marathons. Gina also likes watching movies, doing puzzles, tasting wine, playing the piano, reading (especially true crime), and outdoor exploring.

Fun fact: “I love pigs. They have been my favorite animal since I was little. Now I collect almost anything that’s pig-related.”

As you develop your new year’s resolutions, consider exploring volunteer roles at RASKC. The following videos might help. Shout out of big thanks to Pet Publicist Co-Lead Volunteers Tiffany Morin and Jennie Larson and to RASKC Administrator LLuvia Ellison-Morales for creating these videos:

#1 Pet Publicist featuring Tiffany M. and Jennie L.

#2 Dog Walker featuring Elizabeth B.

#3 Cat Meet & Greet featuring Lynne A. and Robyn H.

#4 Vet Clinic  featuring Kirsti W.

#5 Shelter Helper featuring Shelley P.

#6 Early Morning Cat Crew featuring Bailey Mc. and Ralph A.

#7 Cat-Care Team at a Petco featuring Teri J. and Zach J.

#8 Animal Transport featuring Anne W.

#9 Dog Enrichment featuring Destiny T.

#10 Making Cat Blankets featuring Jonathan E.

#11 Office work featuring Carrie D.

#12 Fostering featuring Deanna I.

If you would like to make a special donation to RASKC, please click here for our wish list on Amazon.

We are also seeking:

• Toy cat wands
• Cat blankets- sewn. If you sew the blankets, the desired dimensions are 22” x 18” or 10” x 18.”
• Cat blankets- unsewn with tied fringe. Cut the material either as 25” x 21” or as 13” x 21.” Watch this training video. Or read these written instructions. It’s very important that the fringe is tightly tied together. Loose fringe can be hazardous to cats. 

Our foster program would love to receive:

• Meat-based Gerber baby food
• Kitten playpens at least four feet across with zippers (not Velcro) like this
• Snuggle Kitties with a battery-generated heartbeat like this
• Miracle nipples- both sizes, like this
• Pet food for our pet treasure chest.

For more information on donations or in-kind gifts, visit the Donations page on our website.

Animal Care Technician Ashley Hernandez has been working at RASKC on and off since 2008. Volunteers and staff always enjoy working with her.

Tell us about yourself. I have lived in Washington state my whole life. I have three kids and a dog. I enjoy the outdoors, and  I like to try new foods.

Why did you decide to work at an agency that helps animals? I have love of animals. I enjoy helping them and watching them find new homes. I also enjoy educating the public.

What does your work for RASKC involve?  I do a lot of different things including cleaning, feeding, watering, and vaccinating animals. I monitor how they are doing. I evaluate their behavior and help with behavior modifications, adoptions, animal redemptions, and customer service.

What is the best part about your job? When we receive an animal in very poor shape and then, as a team, we help the pet get back to a healthy state.

What did you do prior to coming to RASKC? I worked at a car dealership and at an aerospace and waterproofing company for over 10 years. I have gone back and forth from being a stay-at- home mom over the last eight years.

Please share a notable experience working here. One memory that stands out involves a stray dog that had a microchip. We called the owner. When the owner came in, she was in tears, because her dog was stolen from her back yard and had been missing for months.

What do you like to do when you’re not at work? Spend time with my three kids.  I have not been able to go in a while, but I like to go camping and enjoy the outdoors.

Fun fact: My graduation class was only 14 people. 

Meet Taser! He is an eight year-old, brown tabby, shorthair cat (A074252). His personality color is BLUE, meaning he is a gentle and loving cat who likes to take things slow. He might need some time to warm up to new people and new environments. Once he feels comfortable with you, he will really come out of his shell! Taser likes being petted on his head and neck. This affectionate boy just loves being petted. Just give him a few minutes and he will be purring and kneading like a pro! Taser has shared his room with several other cats at the shelter and he seems to get along with them. He would do best with a slow introduction if there are any other cats in his new home.

Taser is neutered, current on vaccinations, and microchipped. His $30 adoption fee also includes a free visit to the veterinarian of your choice, and 30 days of opt-in pet insurance through Trupanion.

You can find out more about Taser on RASKC's website at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Click on "cat" and type in his name. 

Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day on January 16. Everyone is invited to join King County’s celebration featuring a keynote address by John A. Powell, Director, Othering & Belonging Institute, University of California- Berkeley. This free event will take place from noon to 1 p.m. at Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Ave, Seattle.

Help King County achieve the goal of planning 1 Million Trees by 2020 to reduce carbon pollution and prepare for effects of climate change. This work also helps to restore habitat for fish and wildlife. For any questions about the King County Parks Volunteer Program or to inquire about a custom volunteer event for your group, please contact Volunteer Program Manager Lina Rose.

Congratulations to Tacoma on their first cat café! Catffeinated opened earlier this month where people, as young as eight years old, can sip on beverages surrounded by cats ($10 per hour). The café is open every day except Mondays, 2515- 6^th Avenue, Tacoma. Best to reserve your time via the café’s website.

Please place dirty commercial towels in the correct bag bin. RASKC saves time and money when the dirty commercial towels are placed either in the bag bin in the Cat Adoptions supply room or in the bag bin in the breezeway near the main building. We are finding too many commercial towels in the regular laundry. Your help with this is appreciated.

If you make a cat-enrichment item with a Kleenex box, please be sure that the opening is big enough so that the cats can easily escape. No one likes having their head stuck in a box!

Christmas & New Year’s Holiday Volunteer Schedule: A huge thank you to the volunteers who will helping out on Christmas and New Year’s Day! The morning shifts for Early Morning Cat Crew and Dog Walker take place every day at 8 a.m., regardless of holidays. Ditto for the mid-day shifts at 12 p.m.. Late afternoon shifts, however, for Dog Walkers, Shelter Helpers, Cat Grooming, and the Cat Area Stray Team are modified and/or cancelled on Christmas. Volunteer shifts in the Vet Clinic and on the Cat Meet & Greet Team are cancelled for both Christmas and New Year’s Day. There are no volunteer shifts at partner Petco stores nor at Reber Ranch on Christmas. Except for Cat Meet & Greet and the Vet Clinic, all shifts at the shelter and at Kirkland Petco are scheduled normally on New Year’s Day.