RASKC commends the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County. Starting in 1888, they have grown into one of the state’s largest animal-welfare organizations. They care for about 10,000 pets each year. Other key services include:

• Reuniting thousands of lost pets with their owners,
• Providing medical care for ill and injured pets at the shelter, and
• Offering comprehensive low-cost spay-neuter programs.

The Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County advances the welfare of animals and promotes positive relationships between animals and people.

RASKC recently interviewed Communications Manager Lindsey Heaney. To read more, click here.

RASKC broadcasts a big THANK YOU to Mud Bay for choosing RASKC to receive so many donations this month from its Holiday Giving Trees campaign!

For many years, Mud Bay has displayed ornaments featuring pictures of RASKC pets on winter holiday trees in their stores, along with encouragement for customers to make donations to RASKC.

This year four Mud Bay stores are helping RASKC in this way- Covington, Kent, Fairwood, and Maple Valley. Actually, most of these stores encourage donations for RASKC throughout the year!

Thanks also to the RASKC volunteers who make frequent deliveries between the stores and our pet adoption center- Cathy and Craig Brown, Cynthia Kelly, Joyce Grajczyk, and Penny Ruckle.

Happy Holidays!

Enormous gratitude to the Stand Up For Pits Foundation, Inc, who held another donation drive for RASKC and Metro Animal Services earlier this month. This year was the biggest SUFP event ever in our region! More than $9,000 in cash and pet-care items were donated by so many generous people.

Special thanks to RASKC volunteer Melissa Blake who again this year contributed over 10 hours on this event, including making several donation deliveries to our pet adoption center.

Many thanks also to Tacoma Comedy Club for providing the venue for this donation drive.

How lucky RASKC is to onboard these new staff members!

Shelter Administrator Alex Ropes. Alex (pictured) brings more than seven years of experience with the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County in various roles, including Adoption Services Representative, Outreach Assistant, Volunteer Manager, and as Director of Community Services. In these roles Alex provided animal care and customer service, and she led a team focused on managed intake, outreach, humane education, and services that help pet owners help their pets.

Alex has experience managing the Pets for Life program, launching a Trap Neuter Release program, overseeing a community pet-care fund, and coordinating rescue transport.

Hurray for so many organizations and individuals who contributed cat blankets to RASKC this year- including Starbucks employees (500 blankets), Girl Scout Troop 4371 (Renton), Eastern Star Juanita Chapter #187, and Talley High School students (Renton) via ComfortforCritters.org.

Dozens of RASKC volunteers, including Jay Edwards (pictured), Lindsey Krause, Vyrna Layton, and many others made and donated cat blankets. Vyrna is famous for having been featured in a delightful video produced by KING 5 a few years ago about making cat blankets.

RASKC’s greatest need for cat blankets occurs between June- November each year. If you might be interested in making and donating blankets next year, please complete this form.

Thank you!

Meet Gracie!

Pit Bull * male * seven years old * 55 lbs * A646288 *

Arrived at RASKC: August 2021

About me: “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! My personality color is red.”

Holiday gift wish: Likimats smothered with peanut butter

Hoping for a new home: “I am hoping to be adopted by someone who will be calm and patient while I learn my manners. Yet, 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 a participating veterinarian, in addition to 30-days free opt-in Trupanion pet insurance.”

Adoption fee: Reduced to $50 during the Fall Season Special.

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

Meet Zack!

Domestic shorthair * female * eight years old * A652982 *

Arrived at RASKC: last month

About me: “I am super affectionate, outgoing, and carefree. While my teeth might need some special attention, please let my “green” personality win you over.”

Holiday gift wish: savory salmon flavor dental cat treats

Hoping for a new home: “I dream of someone who will return the love that I will shower on you.”

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

Adoption fee: Usually $30, but reduced to $15 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 Bun Affleck!  

Rabbit * male * one year old * A654371 *

Arrived at RASKC: this month

Holiday gift wish: Plentiful rabbit litter for RASKC

Hoping for a new home: “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 neutered. I come with a free visit to a participating veterinarian.”

Adoption fee: Usually $30, but reduced to $15 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 Mimn!

Sable Rabbit *one year old * female *A654704 *

Arrived at RASKC: this month

Holiday gift wish: hard plastic keys- a baby toy that’s fun for me."

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

For you: “Forever friendship. I’m vaccinated and spayed. I come with a free visit to a participating veterinarian.”

Adoption fee: Usually $30, but reduced to $50 during the Fall Season Special. 

Let’s meet: Learn more about me here. Contact my scheduler.

Meet Mangus!

Pit Bull * male * two years old * A652023 *

Arrived at RASKC: this month

About me: “I am exuberant and love to exercise. My personality color is red.”

Holiday gift wish: indestructible dog chew toys

Hoping for a new home: “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 a participating veterinarian, in addition to 30-days free opt-in Trupanion pet insurance.”

Adoption fee: Usually $100 but reduced to $50 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!

Domestic shorthair * female * eight years old * A644868 *

Arrived at RASKC: last month

About me: “I am sassy and independent. My personality color is red.”

Holiday gift wish: catnip

Hopes for in 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 a participating veterinarian, in addition to 30-days free opt-in Trupanion pet insurance.”

Adoption fee: Usually $30, but reduced to $15 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!

Judy Kane

Judy Kane and her spouse Claude were foster volunteers extraordinaire. They donated over 15,000 hours. Judy was one of RASKC’s first scheduled volunteers at a partner store, having volunteered on countless shifts many years ago when RASKC (then King County Animal Care & Control) ran a cat-care program at Bellevue Crossroads Petco.

Foster Care Coordinator Lori Mason said, “I miss Judy so much. She is truly such an inspiration to me.”

Former RASKC Bellevue Crossroads Lead Volunteer Rita Bout said, “Judy was an amazing lady and the best foster parent. She had a lot of patience and a true gift when it came to connecting with cats. She also had a wicked sense of humor.” 

Judy lives on in our hearts!

Marie Gerken

Marie Gerken and her adult daughter Dawn were named RASKC Volunteers of the Month in 2016 for their prolific and exemplary service starting 10 years earlier.

Marie served in many roles- on our Cat Meet and Greet Team, on our Reber Ranch Cat-Care Team, and at countless special adoption events and community booths. She and Dawn also provided so many animal transports. Marie helped with several RASKC fundraisers. She also helped plan many RASKC Volunteer Appreciation banquets, and she was famous for procuring an amazing number of donations as door prizes.

In 2019, Marie won a Workplace Free Lunch Friday from STAR 101.5 and Oberto Specialty Meats. She chose to have the catered lunch take place at RASKC to honor our staff and volunteers.

Former RASKC Animal Services Coordinator and Shelter Administrator Nickie Ford said, “Marie was always such a joy to work with. She did so much for the animals and for RASKC. She was such a caring person with a big heart. We all miss her so much.”

Marie lives on in our hearts!

The ASPCA offers several tips to promote pets’ safety during the holidays.

Be careful with seasonal plants and decorations with special attention to:

• Holiday trees
• Mistletoe and holly
• Tinsel
• Candles
• Wires and batteries

ASPCA advises avoiding holiday food dangers involving sweets, leftovers, cocktails, and special treats. Click here for details.

Additionally the Humane Society of the United States offers these holiday tips.

Wishing you and your pets a safe and joyous holiday season!

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, and LickiMats.

Volunteer Lana Bulanova is sponsoring this wish list to help RASKC rabbits. Donations of rabbit litter would also be appreciated. RASKC has cared for an unprecedented number of rabbits this year!

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.

Cross-posted from the King County Employee News

Is it time to schedule your COVID-19 booster?

If it has been at least six month since your second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or at least two months since your single dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, you are eligible for a booster shot.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend everyone currently eligible should get a COVID-19 vaccine booster to maximize protection.

To schedule a COVID-19 vaccine booster, visit www.kingcounty.gov/vaccine or use the Washington State Department of Health’s vaccine locator to check out your options and get on a waitlist.

With the Omicron variant now circulating, it is more important than ever to get a booster dose, to wear a high-quality and well-fitting face mask, to avoid crowded indoor spaces, and to get tested if you have symptoms.

Thanks for all you do to help keep yourself, your family, workplaces, and our community to be healthy and safe.