Meet Karen!  With tremendous pleasure RASKC names Karen Grace as a Volunteer of the Month. This Seattle resident is one of our longest serving volunteers, having fostered animals for us every year since 2007! So far, Karen has contributed over 5,500 hours. Foster Care Coordinator Lori Mason said, “Karen does an amazing job. She’s always there when I need her. And she comes up with great names for the animals.” Thank you so very, very much, Karen!

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

Meet Anya! RASKC is very happy to honor Anya Ameling with Exceptional Youth recognition. This Renton resident and her mom Thuy started volunteering with RASKC in 2014. Over the years, pre-pandemic, Anya had served on our Cat Meet & Greet Team, helped at special adoption events, and also was a member our cat-care team at Covington Petco.

Anya takes classes at Bellevue College and plans to enroll at Colorado State University next year.

To read more about Anya, click here.

Meet Vickie!  RASKC is honored to name Vickie Villena as an Outstanding New Volunteer. This Kent resident has demonstrated phenomenal dedication and skill on the Early Morning Cat Crew- training new volunteers, faithfully working a weekly shift, quite often filling in to cover absences- even on Thanksgiving and Christmas this year! A retired nurse, Vickie also helps with donation deliveries, animal transport, and cat photography.

To read more about Vickie, click here.

RASKC commends Old Dog Haven, an absolutely remarkable organization that facilitates care for dogs in their twilight years, especially older dogs who are at profound risk of homelessness.

Since November is “National Adopt a Senior Pet Month,” this is a great time to encourage everyone to appreciate the work of Old Dog Haven.

Since 2004, Old Dog Haven has helped over 7,200 senior dogs. Most of these dogs were unadoptable due to advanced age or medical conditions. Old Dog Haven (ODH) was their last hope. Due to ODH’s work, these dogs lived, or continue to live, in loving, safe homes for the remainder of their lives. Whendogs are placed in a permanent foster home, ODH pays for all of the dogs’ medications and all needed veterinary care.

With only eight staff (five full-time and three part-time), Old Dog Haven facilitates and grows a foster network of 175 permanent “final refuge” foster homes, primarily in western Washington with a few homes in Portland and eastern Washington. Currently, 295 dogs are in permanent care.  

Old Dog Haven has inspired the formation of organizations like Retired Retrievers and the Grey Muzzle Organization.

To read an interview with Old Dog Haven’s Director of Development Paula Moreschi, click here. 

The recent KIRO 7/ Pet Pros Pet-Food Drive garnered thousands of pounds of donations for RASKC and Homeward Pet. To see more photographs and a video on RASKC’s blog, click here.

“We tremendously appreciate these donations,” said LLuvia Ellison-Morales, RASKC Administrator for Communications and Community Engagement. “These donations go directly to families in need through our community pet-food pantry.”

RASKC also thanks the following volunteers who contributed time and mileage by transporting the many donations to RASKC from Pet Pros stores in Bonney Lake, Issaquah, Maple Valley, Puyallup, Renton, Tacoma, and West Seattle: Angela Hayes, Cathy and Craig Brown, Clare Pedersen, Diana Gay, Jacqueline Nelson, Jean Fielder, Jody Epstein, Nikita Saran and Rajakuma Dheemanth, Pam Kocha, and Vickie Villena.

How lucky RASKC is to onboard these new staff members!

• (temp worker) Customer Service Representative III Andrina Jones. Andrina is stepping in to support our call center for a temporary time. We appreciate her jumping in and quickly learning the ropes. Prior to joining RASKC, Andrina had worked for Good To Go! for about three years. Andrina brings expertise in defusing situations and providing exceptional customer service. She has two children, ages 12 and one year old.

• Animal Control Sergeant Rebecca Smoska. Most recently, Rebecca had worked as an Animal Control Officer for Snohomish County. A graduate of Washington State University with a degree in animal sciences, Rebecca previously worked in animal care at RASKC, Northwest Organization for Animal Help (NOAH) and Sarvey Wildlife Center.

Rebecca graduated from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission’s Reserve Law Enforcement Academy where she received the celebrated Patrol Partner Award. Rebecca has completed the University of Florida online Veterinary Forensic Medicine program and plans to pursue her master’s degree.

Welcome, Andrina and Rebecca! 

RASKC has received news that Kirkland Petco on NE 85^th Street will likely close by the end of year in anticipation of the land being redeveloped. RASKC’s Eastside Pet Adoption Center will not re-open during the construction.

RASKC thanks everyone who had made our program at Kirkland Petco a resounding success so far, especially our volunteers.

“We are enormously grateful for the over 35,000 volunteer hours contributed from 2014- early 2020,” said RASKC Volunteer Program Manager Sarah Luthens. “We will always be so grateful for the loving care that volunteers provided to the animals and for the great customer service that they gave to members of the public and store staff.”

The Kirkland program has been the jewel of RASKC's volunteer program, and we hope to re-open our Eastside Pet Adoption Center at some point. During the initial six years, volunteers and staff facilitated 2,748 adoptions- including 820 cats;1,238 kittens; 611 dogs; 71 puppies; and eight other animals. In at least one year, adoptions at Kirkland constituted about 25% of all of RASKC's adoptions!  

RASKC would especially like to highlight the extraordinary work by the Kirkland Team leaders-- Lucy Camelia, Jennifer Hunt, and Teresa Rosenberg, along with previous team leaders Pia Gerholt and Diana Barrett. They trained and onboarded hundreds of new volunteers, helped to ensure smooth scheduling, and worked out a number of logistical and other challenges. At any given time, there were about 136 scheduled and fill-in volunteers who covered 64 shifts in a week. Lucy, Jennifer, Teresa, Pia, and Diana also did a lot of "behind the scenes" work with RASKC staff.

RASKC would also like to commend the 23 longstanding Kirkland volunteers who started in the first two years and stayed throughout the program's life so far. The dedication of Kirkland volunteers has been immense! Also, in recent years, 44 volunteers contributed 100 or more hours!

All of the time and kindnesses that volunteers, staff, and community partners contributed are greatly appreciated.  

Meet Rudy! (A651472)

Breed, Sex, and Age:  Siberian Husky* Male * Two years old *

Arrived at RASKC: last month

Temperament: “I am full of energy and do best when I have a lot of exercise or an activity to keep my mind busy. I love to play!”

Personality color: Red

Thanksgiving dinner preferences: plain sweet potatoes

Hopes for a new pet parent: “I am hoping to be adopted by someone who will be calm and patient while I learn my manners. I want someone who has as much energy as I do!”

For you: “My undivided attention. I’m vaccinated, neutered, and microchipped. I come with a free visit to the veterinarian of your choice, in addition to 30-days free opt-in Trupanion pet insurance.”

Adoption fee: Usually $200 but only $100 now during the Fall Season Special.

Let’s meet: "Learn more about me here. Schedule a time get together sometime soon!"

Meet Yaku! (A652366)

Type, Sex, and Age: Domestic shorthair * female * 18 years old *

Arrived at RASKC: this month

Temperament: “I am a shy, but affectionate once I get to know you.”

Personality color: Blue

Thanksgiving dinner preferences: some plain turkey with no skin or bones

Hopes for a new pet parent: “I dream of someone who is low key, quiet, and attentive.”

For you: “My whole heart, once I know you. I’m vaccinated, spayed, and microchipped. I come with a free visit to the veterinarian of your choice, in addition to 30-days free opt-in Trupanion pet insurance.”

Adoption fee: Usually $30, but half off during the Fall Season Special. Note: Many residents will pay $30, which includes the cost of a required RASKC pet license depending on the adopter’s address.

Let’s meet: "Learn more about me here. Schedule a time to get together sometime soon!"

Meet Betty! (A652852)

Species, Sex, and Age: Rabbit * female * one year old *

Arrived at RASKC: this month

Personality color: Green

Thanksgiving dinner preferences: plenty of hay!

Hopes for a new pet parent: “I can’t wait for my new person who’s flexible and engaging. Someone who’ll get down on the floor with me on for bunny play time.”

For you: “A lifetime of hoppiness. I’m vaccinated and spayed. I come with a free visit to the veterinarian of your choice, in addition to 30-days free opt-in Trupanion pet insurance.”

Adoption fee: Usually $30 but only $15 now during the Fall Season Special.

Let’s meet: "Learn more about me here. Contact my scheduler, so you and I can get together sometime soon!"

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Meet Pumpkin! (A653064)

Species, Sex, and Age: Guinea Pig * male * one year old *

Arrived at RASKC: this month

Personality color: Green

Thanksgiving dinner preferences: plenty of leafy greens.

Hopes for a new pet parent: “I am waiting for that special someone who will enjoy playing with me every day.”  

For you: “Forever friendship. I’m vaccinated and neutered. I come with a free visit to the veterinarian of your choice, in addition to 30-days free opt-in Trupanion pet insurance.”

Adoption fee: Usually $5 but only $2.50 now during the Fall Season Special.

Let’s meet: "Learn more about me here. Contact my scheduler, so you and I can get together sometime soon!"

Meet Izzy! (A649486)

Breed, Sex, and Age: Pit Bull * female * two years old *

Arrived at RASKC: two months ago

Temperament: “I am gentle and loving.”

Personality color: Blue

Thanksgiving dinner preferences: apples and peanut butter.

Hopes for a new pet parent: “My heart longs for someone who is calm, patient, and loving.”

For you: “Forever companionship. I’m vaccinated, spayed, and microchipped. I come with a free visit to the veterinarian of your choice, in addition to 30-days free opt-in Trupanion pet insurance.”

Adoption fee: Usually $100 but only $50 now during the Fall Season Special.

Let's meet: "Learn more about me here. Let’s get to know each other. Schedule a time to meet get together sometime soon!"

Meet Marmalade! (A644868)

Type, Sex, and Age: Domestic shorthair * female * Eight years old *

Arrived at RASKC: this month

Temperament: “I am sassy and independent.”

Personality color: Red

Thanksgiving dinner preferences: salmon

Hopes for a new pet parent: “Bring me someone who will love my independence and low maintenance lifestyle.”

For you: “Companionship without strings. I’m vaccinated, spayed, and microchipped. I come with a free visit to the veterinarian of your choice, in addition to 30-days free opt-in Trupanion pet insurance.”

Adoption fee: Usually $30, but half off during the Fall Season Special. Note: Many residents will pay $30, which includes the cost of a required RASKC pet license depending on the adopter’s address.

Let’s meet: "Learn more about me here. Schedule a time to get together sometime soon!"

If you would like to make a special donation to support RASKC’s efforts with the pet-food banks, please donate gift cards.

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

Our dog program would love to receive long leads, about 20- 50 feet or longer. 

Our foster program would love to receive meat-based Gerber baby food; kitten playpens at least four feet across with zippers (not Velcro); snuggle kitties with a battery-generated heartbeat; Miracle Nipples, both sizes; and pet food or cat litter for our Pet Treasure Chest.

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

Meet Maya! This sweet female Mastiff Dogue de Bordeaux has been with RASKC since last year. Big girl Maya, weighting in at 103 pounds, is so ready to be at home for the holidays.

Her previous owner brought her to the shelter, because they could no longer care for Maya and her medical needs. This sweet, loyal, sensitive soul is also energetic, spirited, with a fun-loving personality.

Marvelous Maya would do best in a home as the only pet and with family members who would provide her lots of exercise and mental stimulation.

Maya is spayed, current on vaccinations, and microchipped. Her adoption also comes with 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 Maya on RASKC’s website at www.kingcounty.gov/adoptapet. Scroll down the page and insert her name. You may meet this dog and other pets by scheduling an appointment through our website. If you need assistance, contact us at 206-296-7347 (PETS), pets@kingcounty.gov.