The RASKCAL Reporter| Issue # 52| June 2021

The RASKCAL Reporter

In this Issue:                                                                                            June 2021

Recognizing Celebrations

Juneteenth

Juneteenth is a time to celebrate, reflect, and commit to building a more equitable society.

As we observe 156 years since the end of legalized slavery in the United States, we honor the contributions of Black Americans throughout our history, in King County, and nationwide.

Pride

In recognition and support of the LGBTQIA+ community, King County Executive Dow Constantine has proclaimed June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month.

King County is a leader in advancing equitable policies and practices based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Executive Constantine urges "everyone to honor the fight against discrimination and to honor the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people to our County and our society." Read the full proclamation here.


RASKC honors Volunteer of the Month: Ellie Wightman

Ellie

Meet Ellie! With tremendous pleasure RASKC names Ellie Wightman as Volunteer of the Month. In pre-COVID times Ellie contributed at least two regularly scheduled shifts almost every week at our Eastside Pet Adoption Center in Kirkland Petco (still COVID closed). She has covered a great many fill-in shifts too. Since she began in 2016, Ellie has contributed almost 750 hours!

Kirkland Team Lead Volunteers Teresa Rosenberg and Jennifer Hunt have often lauded Ellie’s skill, time generosity, and wicked sense of humor. “Ellie has been a very dependable and proficient volunteer on some key shifts. She brings a lightheartedness to the adoption center that we really appreciate too,” said Teresa. Thank you, Ellie!

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


Limelight shines on Exceptional Youth: Debbie Noune

Noune

Meet Debbie! RASKC is honored to present Debbie Noune with Exceptional Youth recognition. She began volunteering for RASKC in 2017 on the Cat Meet & Greet Team and has contributed almost 200 hours so far. We can count on Debbie to bring cheerfulness, positive energy, and artistic flair to her shifts.

“I have seven pets- two dogs, three cats, a rat, and a Quaker parrot. I adopted my parrot and two of my cats from RASKC, including Max (pictured with me), plus two other rats who have since passed away. All of my pets are extremely sweet and playful, except for two of them- my very shy parrot and my senior cat, who is content to just cuddle and sleep next to me.

“I’m 20 years old, have lived in Federal Way almost my entire life, and I’m a fulltime freelance artist and animator. My father was an artist for 27 years. He helped guide me as an artist when I was very young. I hope to work on my own graphic novels in the future.”

To read more about Debbie, go to RASKC’s blog.


Spotlight on Outstanding New Volunteer: Kelli Matheny

Kelli

Meet Kelli! RASKC is extremely pleased to name Kelli Matheny as an Outstanding New Volunteer. A resident of Kent, she contributes time as a Shelter Helper, foster volunteer, and as a Dog Walker. Just before the pandemic began, Kelli became qualified to work with some of RASKC’s more challenging dogs. Kelli also spearheaded a multi-day project to precisely insert hundreds of slats for the fence art in two of RASKC’s dog yards.

It is not uncommon for Kelli to go the extra mile for RASKC. For example, one of the times when our washing machine was broken, Kelli took five big loads of laundry home to wash.

“At RASKC, I truly enjoy seeing the animals, as I think everyone does. Knowing that whatever I am doing- laundry, dishes, walking dogs, etc. - is helping the animals, and that feels great. I could have had an especially difficult day, and one shift volunteering make me feel like I just won the Lottery! It’s the secret sauce for me for sure. I certainly have missed it!!”

To read more about Kelli, go to RASKC’s blog.


Pride in our Partners: Pasado’s Safe Haven

Pasados

RASKC commends Pasado’s Safe Haven, an organization of almost 40 employees based in Sultan, Washington. This organization aims to “inspire humans to reimagine their relationships with all animals, from helping individual animals recover from abuse at our sanctuary, to improving the way larger societal systems treat animals through investigations, education, training and advocacy,” according to Pasado’s Communications Director Stacey DiNuzzo.

“Pasado’s Safe Haven is committed to continuing to work to ensure that all the systems in our society respect animals -- from the criminal justice system to our education systems to our own belief systems,” said DiNuzzo. “We want to help inspire people to think about their relationships with ALL animals, not just family pets. We also want to educate people about the negative impact that animals raised for consumption have on the planet as well as the links between factory-farm animals and public health.”

To read an inter!view with Pasado’s Stacey DiNuzzo, click here.


Congratulations to RASKC volunteers in the Class of 2021