Meet Gabrielle! RASKC is very honored to name Gabrielle Patterson as Volunteer of the Month. She contributed a total of over 6,500 hours from 2013- 2020, both as a foster volunteer and a Dog Walker. Not only did Gabrielle help a number of challenging dogs and needy kittens, she also provided loving care to two cats with severe skin issues that took quite some time to clear up. Thank you, Gabrielle! 

Q: How did you hear about RASKC? 

A: I actually got a traffic ticket (minor), and one of the ways to “pay off” the ticket was to do community service. I’ve always loved animals and had pets, so going to RASKC to help was a perfect fit. Once I completed my hours, I just kept going because I loved it so much! 

Q: What did you gain from your experience as a volunteer with RASKC? 

A: I’ve gained so much knowledge about kittens and cats through the fostering program. I’ve always had cats as pets, but fostering kittens and adult cats with issues has really been helpful in gaining knowledge on how to handle them when they aren’t feeling well and first steps to try. I’ve also learned to bottle feed neonatal kittens, which was an absolute joy. Additionally, I learned a lot about dog training when I did the dog walking program. 

Q: Tell us about yourself. 

A: My husband and I are originally from Texas, and we moved to Kent after we got married. I actually grew up on a 100-acre farm, so I’ve always loved and been around animals. I worked as a teacher for some time before getting my current position as a legal assistant (boring paperwork). We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Washington, but decided recently it was time to move back to Texas to be closer to family.  

Animal welfare and the environment are two causes that I am passionate about. I’m really proud of the work that I did with RASKC. All of the staff and volunteers are so wonderful, and I know that as a team we have all made the lives of so many animals so much better, which I think is an enormous thing to be proud of! 

Q: What do you do when you aren’t volunteering at RASKC? 

A: I enjoy cooking and baking, gardening, knitting and crocheting, and hanging out with my dog and cats! 

Q: What is your favorite place to take your dog for a walk?   

A: We lived really close to the Green River Trail when we lived in Kent, so that was an obvious choice for daily walks with our dog, Riley. The scenery is beautiful, and it was always fun when we got to see the bald eagles that live around there. We loved to take him on hikes when the weather was nice. One of our favorites was Packwood Lake.  

Q: What would you like to say about volunteering for RASKC? 

A: I truly loved volunteering at RASKC and am so sad to leave the program. I will miss everyone so much. Everyone is just wonderful – with a special shoutout to Foster Care Coordinator Lori Mason – because she is just the absolute best and made fostering an amazing experience. If you are thinking about volunteering and want to help animals, RASKC is a great place to do it!