Meet Dayle! RASKC is very proud to shine the limelight on Outstanding New Volunteer Dayle Pieper. Since she began volunteering for RASKC last year, Dayle stepped up admirably as interim Lead Volunteer for RASKC’s Covington Petco Team and continues as Co-Lead. She engages in exemplary work- reaching out to team members, identifying areas for improvement, offering lots of great and practical suggestions, and maintaining excellent communication with team leaders and RASKC staff. Additionally Dayle has transported countless cats between the shelter and Petco, in addition to her magnificent work as a foster volunteer.

Dayle grew up in Renton. After she graduated from college, she joined the Air Force and did quite a bit of international travelling. When she retired, Dayle returned to Puget Sound to care for her aging parents.

She enjoys volunteering not only for RASKC but also at Elk Run Farm. You can find Dayle there almost every Saturday, planting, harvesting, and enjoying the company of other volunteers. All of the produce from the farm goes to 13 food banks, including the one in Maple Valley.

Dayle also enjoys listening to audiobooks, especially the Harry Potter series, Nero Wolfe stories by Rex Stout, mysteries by Barbara Michaels, and Gary Sinise’s uplifting memoir Grateful American. She reports that Marian Babson’s Murder at the Cat Show is hilarious. Dayle said, “The main character knows nothing about cats, so it’s a lot of fun to ‘discover’ cat behaviors and antics with him, as the rest of the story unfolds."

Dayle takes special pleasure in being part of RASKC's team in Covington that helps people find the pets that will provide fun, comfort, and companionship to adopters.

Animal Care Technician Denise Bosserman has been working at RASKC since 2010. She is terrific to work with!

Tell us about yourself.  I am a southern California native. My husband and I moved to Washington state in 1997 with our, three dogs and five cats. We spent a few years living in Renton before moving to the Graham/Eatonville area. I am especially interested in my family, friends, environmental issues, spending time in nature, and doing work that has a positive impact for animals and people.

Why did you decide to work at an agency that helps animals?  I am proud of the number of years I have been doing animal-shelter work. The sheltering world has undergone tremendously positive changes since I started. I am happy to have been part of this evolution.

What does your work for RASKC involve? On any given day I can be found feeding, cleaning, medicating and caring for our shelter residents, performing behavior assessments, doing data entry, engaging with potential adopters and volunteers, and carrying out adoption counseling- just to name a few duties.

What is the best part about your job? Through all the highs and lows of doing shelter work, I would have to say that contributing to the solution of getting unwanted pets into homes is the best part of my job. I go home feeling good about the work I do even if it has been a really tough day. 

What did you do prior to coming to RASKC? While in college, I worked for a local veterinary facility. I found the work there truly satisfying, helping animals and their people.  After moving to Washington state, I continued in the private practice veterinary field until making the jump to shelter work in the late 1990s. Prior to coming to RASKC, I was the veterinary department co-supervisor at Seattle Humane.

Please share a notable experience working here. It is always notable when an animal that has been lost for a long period of time is reunited with its owner via microchip identification. Smiles all around on that one! I would like to add that I am profoundly grateful for all of the volunteers at RASKC - we couldn't do it without you!  

Fun fact: I went to high school with a famous NFL linebacker.

Meet Sugar! She is a seven year-old female black domestic short-hair cat. Sugar was brought in by her previous family, because they could no longer care for her. This cat is very friendly! Sugar is an affectionate lovebug who would be thrilled to cuddle up with you at home. She doesn't seem to get along with other cats, so it would be best if Sugar is the only cat in her new home. If she does come to live in a home with other cats, then a very slow introduction would be needed to introduce her to the other cats. Sugar has a “green” personality.  She is an adaptable cat who loves to go with the flow. Sugar is outgoing, carefree, and just can't wait to find her forever home!

Sugar has tested positive for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). Cats with FeLV can still live fulfilling lives, but extra care may be required. She should also be indoors only for her health and safety. Her previous family also reported signs of chronic upper respiratory issues, but she has shown improvement on antibiotics while at the shelter. Sugar may need to be on medication at some point.  As a result of these conditions, Sugar may need other specialized care in the future. Regular veterinary visits are always recommended for any pet.

Sugar is spayed, litter-box trained, current on vaccinations, and microchipped. As Pet of the Week, her adoption fee is waived!  A pet license fee may still be required, however.  Included with Sugar's adoption is 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 Sugar on RASKC's website. Click the filter link, select "cat", click "See my selections" and look for Sugar's name.  You may also meet Sugar and other animals available for adoption, seven days a week at RASKC's King County Pet Adoption Center in Kent, located at 21615 64th Ave S; Monday-Friday: 12 noon - 6 p.m., Saturday-Sunday: 12 noon - 5 p.m.  Phone: 206-296-7387 (PETS), email pets@kingcounty.gov.