Get to know our staff

Pets at home:

I have Shadow, a 7-month-old Doberman Shepherd, and four cats: RND who is 2 1/2 years old, Zane and Ed Sherian who are both 1 year old, Meany who is 8 months old, and Panda who is 6 months old.

What were you doing before working at the ARL:

I was retired medically from the military.

What inspired you to become a Pet Placement Specialist at ARL?

As a disabled veteran with PTSD, at one time in my travels I was fortunate to have a service dog named Max. While managing the change of teenagers and a family I was eager to once again have the assistance of a service dog. While applying for the position of ARL, I had imagined the activity of assisting others finding the perfect companion would be therapeutic and rewarding.

What is your favorite memory at ARL?

Not having participated in any work-related social outings since my time in the military, our most recent team building day has been the most memorable experience thus far. I had the opportunity to get to know the staff and board members and the motivates behind the work they do. The passion of the staff, their dedication and devotion to the animals is inspiring.

What is your favorite thing about your job? What is the most challenging?

Of course my favorite thing about my job is finding each animal their forever home. But more specifically, it’s learning the characteristics of each animal and assisting the public to find the animal that best matches their home environment, family members, and activity level as a few examples. Each adoption is as rewarding as finding the last piece to a challenging puzzle.

The hardest part of the job is the sadness for the animals who have endured so many challenges in life and struggle to assimilate back into a home.

We are so proud to interview with you because you have shared with us that you were a combat veteran who served almost 9 years in the army. It sounds like your journey has been challenging, insightful, and rewarding. Can you tell us about what made you decide to enlist in the army?

I felt inspired by my grandfather and other members of my family who had served in the military. At 18, I felt driven to make a difference and felt the army might find some meaning to my life. I figured I was taking the place of at least one person,  so they did not have to and could be at home with their family and loved ones. Outside of my selfless 18-year-old mind, the military had excellent educational advantages that met my long term goals.

Some veterans remark that spending time with animals has helped them overcome some of the obstacles they have faced after their service. How do you feel your connection with the animals you work with impacts your life?

I have seen first-hand the amazing things companion animals can do for individuals. Dogs and cats provide emotional support and comfort to patients, individuals with disabilities, veterans and families. The dedication of  trained service dogs enables the blind to travel more independently, assist the police with enforcement, as well as assist and alert those with medical needs are acknowledged for their skill. Still, our simple family pets fulfill our need for companionship  or to just provide love and care during an emotional crisis. My prior service dog woke me up from nightmares. The things they are capable of doing seem endless, amazing, and the bonds you build with them are priceless.

Cats or dogs?

Dogs – They are more attentive, loyal, and engaging, in my opinion. In regards to assisting with my PTSD, I’d compare it to having a fellow brother always having my back.

Pets at home:

I own two dogs! A Siberian husky, Kobe, who is 7 years old and a very cute mutt named Grace who is 3 years old. We were told she was a shepherd/doberman mix, but after doing an Embark DNA test, we found out she is mainly pit!

What were you doing before working at the ARL:

I was born and raised here in Berks County, but actually relocated to Colorado for a little over a year. There I was working at a dog daycare and boarding facility which is when I realized I loved working with dogs. After moving back to the area, I applied to work at the ARL. It’s totally different as I’m working with the neglected and less fortunate dogs now as opposed to the spoiled ones, but that’s what makes my job even more rewarding!

How long have you been at ARL, and what does a typical day on the job look like for you?

I started working at the ARL in September of 2019 so I just had my two year anniversary – yay!  Every day in the sheltering world is different! My mornings are normally spent cleaning and helping take care of all the dogs in our care. The remainder of the day is spent working with them and providing enrichment. We run playgroups and will work individually with those dogs that need some more one on one time before they are ready for placement. As a lead, I’m also responsible for keeping the dogs progressing through our system so I see what they need medically or behaviorally in order to get them ready for adoption to find their loving home! 

Let’s talk about pit bulls… October is Pit Bull Awareness Month, and there is still a lot of stigma around these dogs. What would you want the world to know about pit bulls based on your experience at the shelter?

The majority of the dogs that come through our doors are pit bulls, and I will work with every single one of them, regardless of stigmas or past experiences. Some of them are the sweetest ones in the shelter that are just getting overlooked because of their breed! I love when we receive updates on our pit bulls that got adopted and are out there living their best life because they deserve it! I wish everyone would stop worrying about what “breed” a dog is and just love them for their personality! I didn’t stop loving my dog Grace when we learned she was a pit and not a shepherd/doberman mix like we were told!

What is one thing on your bucket list that you really want to cross off soon?

I want to go to Nashville to hit up some country bars, go line dancing… IDK, maybe meet Blake Shelton if he’s in town?! 

Tell us about a shelter animal you’ll never forget.

What is your favorite thing about your job? What is the most challenging?

Gosh, I have so many favorites! Obviously seeing behaviorally challenged animals make progress is up there on my list. Animals finding their forever homes that they deserve! And I can’t forget my co-workers. I have developed a lot of great friendships here, and we go through so much together day after day. The animal welfare field isn’t always easy and it can be exhausting in so many ways, but it’s always helpful when you have a team you can lean on! Which leads me into the most challenging things. Seeing the neglect endured by some of the animals that enter the shelter as well as all of the great animals that get overlooked day after day is rough. Luckily, the positives outweigh the negatives! 

What is your favorite way to spend time with the dogs at the shelter?

Dog playgroups!! We had Dogs Playing for Life come to us and they taught us how to properly run playgroups with shelter dogs! It was a great learning experience. Not only is it fun for my co-workers and I to watch and supervise, but it’s way more fun for the dogs that get to socialize, play, and just be a dog! It’s beneficial in so many ways. 

What is your favorite memory at ARL?

I was staying late one night for closing, and we had a family drive in from another state to officially adopt a dog. It was a BIG rottweiler puppy – like I’m talking close to 100 pounds – and the adoption counselors asked me if I could help get him ready. Obviously, I said yes, so once he was all ready to go I took him up front to his new family. My co-worker Amanda was going over all the adoption paperwork, and when it was time for him to go home, we asked if they had a leash or needed one. They responded they had one… and the gentleman pulled out an inky dinky shoe lace looking string for a leash (I may be exaggerating a little, but it was super tiny for a big rottie!), and Amanda and myself just looked at each other flabbergasted. I didn’t want to be rude so I took it from him, placed it on the dog, and off they went! Afterwards, we both just laughed and questioned whether or not we should have given him a better leash, but he made it home safely, so it all worked out. 

Pets at home: Bo, a 4 year old Mareema Sheep dog, and Meredith, a 2 year old Great Pyrenees/Bernese Mountain dog mix.

What were you doing before you came to the ARL? I was a part time as an aquarium service technician and full time student at RACC.

How long have you been at ARL, and what does a typical day on the job look like for you?

What is one thing on your bucket list that you really want to cross off soon? I want to drive to Alaska!

What are your hopes for ARL/What do you hope we can accomplish as a team in the future? This organization has made so many positives changes in the last couple of years and I am so proud to be part of it! I would love to see us continue to educate ourselves and the public as we grow our shelter.  I think it would be great to have more kennel space that would allow us to help more animals.

What would you name the autobiography of your life? The Growth Spurt is Never Over.

Tell us about a shelter animal you’ll never forget. Diamond! She was a white, blue-eyed senior pitty who came into ARL during Covid. She was our desk friend and was super smart and also loved to cuddle. She ended up going into foster, and her foster adopted her!

If you could learn to do anything right now, what would it be? To speak French fluently.

What is your favorite thing about your job? What is the most challenging? Honestly, my co-workers are a huge part of why this job is as rewarding and meaningful as it is. One of my biggest challenges is getting overwhelmed from time to time, but having amazing co-workers that always encourage and help me goes a long way.

What is your favorite memory at ARL? The first time I worked at a sponsored adoption event has to be one of my favorites. We did not expect it to be a big event, but the sponsor did a ton of promotion for it, and I believe we did around 50 adoptions that day! The entire building was packed and there was not a single parking spot open. It was insane but also amazing to be part of such a big day and to see all those animals go home!

Cats or dogs? Cats for fostering, dogs for pets.

Any last words of wisdom? “It gets easier, Every day, it gets a little easier. But you gotta do it every day, that’s the hard part. But it does get easier.” -BoJack Horseman

Name: Rachel Minchoff

Position: Animal Care and Dog Behavior Specialist

What you were doing before you came to ARL:
I was in the Navy, and then when I got out I worked in a boarding kennel for a while before bartending at a few places…. All while going to college in between.

Pets at home:
Jill, my 8ish year old best friend and pit bull, Jackson, the most handsome 4 year old black cat, and Minnow, our newest addition who is 3 months old!

How long have you been at ARL, and what does a typical day on the job look like for you?
I have been at the ARL for about 7 months now. There is no typical day here at the shelter, but most of the time in the morning, it’s a lot of cleaning in the morning to keep our dogs healthy and comfortable. In the afternoon, we work with more difficult dogs and get our playgroups together.

What are your hopes for ARL, and what do you hope we can accomplish as a team together in the future?
My hopes for the ARL are just to keep getting better and better! I really hope that our dog behavior program will continue to get stronger, and we keep getting to expand our resources. Dogs Playing for Life has already made a difference in the behavior and health of our dogs and taught us all some really imperative tools for improving the lives of our shelter dogs!

If you could learn to do anything right now, what would it be?
How to breathe fire.

Tell us about a shelter animal you’ll never forget.
There’s so so so many that I don’t think will ever be forgotten, but one who really sticks out in my mind is John Wayne, a little old beagle who was surrendered because his owner became extremely ill. Or Robert, a gigantic Mastiff who was very fearful and showed it through aggression. He took a lot of work – I was able to get him out of his kennel only with a lot of patience and hot dogs. Once we had our initial walk, we became best buds. Oh! And Sir Cheetoh Squiggles and sweet Nana! These two have been with us for the longest time and need a loving an understanding home! You should come meet them and fall in love with them just like I did!

What is your favorite memory at ARL?

One of my favorite memories is when a dog named Chloe was adopted. She was a long stay here and had been returned once… Then waited for the longest time to be adopted again. The people who adopted her were a really wonderful younger couple who were excited to help her with her training and be as active as possible. It’s happy endings like those that I get to look back on, and it makes the stressful days feel not so bad.

Cats or dogs?

I always loved dogs, but since having a cat and working here, I definitely have a soft spot for them now. Overall though, I’m more of a dog person. Oh, and bunnies! Love them too!

Name: Paige Seitz

Position: Foster Program Supervisor

What you were doing before you came to ARL:
I was the livestock guarding dog program manager for the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia, Africa!

Pets at home:
I have Budd, an 11 year old chihuahua mix, and Sid, another 10 year old chihuahua mix.

How long have you been at ARL, and what does a typical day on the job look like for you?
I have been with the ARL since September 2019, so about 1 1/2 years. A typical day for me normally includes lots of kittens and organizing their transport out of the shelter and into foster homes. Since young kittens are very vulnerable to picking up diseases, we work on getting them out of the shelter as soon as possible. I also work on scheduling foster animals to come in for vaccines, to be spayed or neutered, and to have checks by our medical staff. I also work on getting adult cats and dogs into foster homes as well – Sometimes they are shut down or very reactive in a kennel and need the more relaxed space of a foster home to be their true self!

What would you name the autobiography of your life?
“You GOAT This!” An autobiography about a shy girl who moved across country to follow her dreams and find her true self. (The goat part is because I am obsessed with goats!)

What are your hopes for ARL, and what do you hope we can accomplish as a team together in the future?
I would love for the community to recognize what we do and ask more questions and get more involved as the ARL has come so far in the last few years and is better than ever!

If you could learn to do anything right now, what would it be?
I would like to learn to play the ukulele. I am terrible at reading music and have never been great at learning an instrument, but I really like the way they sound!

What is the most rewarding part of your job? What is the most challenging?
I love getting to see animals of all sorts thrive outside of the shelter in their foster homes. Right now, the most challenging thing is not having enough fosters to get kittens out as quick as possible.

Cats or dogs?

I love both, but I have always been a dog person. I have tried to study big cats for my internships and career and somehow, I always end up back with dogs. Haha.

Any last words of wisdom?

Everything happens for a reason. You might not realize it at the time, but in the future, when you look back, you realize you wouldn’t have it any other way because somehow, everything worked out just the way it was meant to be.

Name: Hailey Auriemma

Position: Animal Care Specialist and Cat Lead

What you were doing before you came to ARL:
I had been a server in restaurants for 6 years. I had never thought about working in an animal shelter, but one day, I saw a post on Facebook that there was an opening here, and I didn’t even hesitate before I applied. Best decision I ever made!

Pets at home:
I have a 5 year old cat named Blue, an 18 year old sun conure named Jeffree, a middle aged ferret named Teddy, and currently I have a foster kitten named Azula – All are from the ARL!

How long have you been at ARL, and what does a typical day on the job look like for you?
2 years as of June 2021! Time flies! I usually spend my mornings cleaning and helping to take care of all of the cats in our care. I figure out what cats need in order to progress through the shelter as quickly and positively as possible so they’re ready to go up for adoption. My life has become entirely cat-oriented – Which anyone who has known me over the years know is so strange, considering I was always a dog person!

What would you name the autobiography of your life?
“What?” I feel like I’m always saying that when people are talking to me because I’m always mishearing things.

What are your hopes for ARL, and what do you hope we can accomplish as a team together in the future?
I hope people can see how hard everyone tries here and how dedicated we are to what we do. There’s a lot of people working here that go beyond what they need to do and it really shows in the animals in our care. We’ve grown a lot even since I’ve started here and I’m proud to work for this organization.

If you could learn to do anything right now, what would it be?
Hmm… Probably tattooing. I love art and always enjoy playing around with new mediums. I think it would be amazing to learn the most permanent form of art, and I have quite a few tattoos myself.

Tell us about a shelter animal you’ll never forget.
There’s too many to name! So many to impact on your life in the short time they’re here. I guess I’d pick my cat Blue. He came into the shelter right as my fiancé and I were in the process of moving, and I fell head over heels for that hunk! It ended up working out that I was able to adopt him and bring him home only a few days after settling into our new place! He’s the light of my life, and I’m so lucky to have him!

Cats or dogs?

I was a dog person until I started working here. But I love both! I can’t wait till we’re able to add a dog to our pack at home.

Any last words of wisdom?

Do whatever you want to do, as long as it’s not hurting anyone. You’re never going to please everyone so you might as well do what makes you happy.

Name: Jason Banning, DMV

Position: Medical Director

What you were doing before you came to ARL:
After graduating in May 2019, I began a one year shelter medicine internship that concluded in June 2020.

Pets at home:
Kaia, a 6 year old female pit mix, Caoimhe (“Kee-Vah”), a 6 year old female husky mix, and Cat, a 6 year old male domestic shorthair.

How long have you been at ARL, and what does a typical day on the job look like for you?
I’ve been with the ARL since July 2020.  A typical day sees me in surgery in the morning, primarily spaying and neutering but also performing dentals and other special procedures as needed. The afternoons are split between helping with the shelter’s medical cases and developing plans to expand our medical capabilities to include additional services, such as vaccine clinics and medical and surgical assistance for partnering animal welfare organizations.

What is your favorite thing about your job? What is the most challenging?
My favorite part is being able to provide medical assistance so that a pet can remain with the family that they love and who loves them. The most challenging part is constantly striving to maximize the impact we are making on our animal’s and our community while using minimal resources.  The more efficient we can be as an organization, the greater the number of animals we can help.

If you could learn to do anything right now, what would it be?
I would learn how to perform a lateral fabellar suture surgery to help dogs with ruptured knee ligaments.  Cranial cruciate ligament rupture (similar to an ACL injury in humans) is a fairly common orthopedic disease that particularly affects our overweight, larger dog breeds.  Surgical repair is the only reliable means of alleviating the pain and lameness associated with the injury, and that surgery can be quite expensive, particularly for someone just adopting the animal.  This, understandably, causes these dogs to stay with us for longer periods of time and currently there is very little we can offer other than pain medication.  Being able to provide some surgical support to these animals would both help them feel more comfortable and help them be adopted sooner, as the new owner will not have to worry about ongoing pain or an expensive surgery.

Name: Meg Yohn

Position: Feline Behavior and Enrichment Coordinator

What you were doing before you came to ARL: I’ve done quite a few things, but right before this, I was a third-shift warehouseman, throwing kegs and cases of beer for a living, driving forklift, loading trucks, et cetera. I’d started volunteering here as a photographer to keep my sanity when I got off work. When I lost that job, I took the plunge and applied here; fingers, toes, arms, legs, and eyes crossed. Best decision I could have made.

Pets at home (include name, age, breed!): 7 cats: Muttle; the derp, Stache; the spaz, Boo; the screamer, Willow; the noodle baby, Adeline; the angel, Bernard; the brainy lunatic goose in a cat-suit, Nugget; the torbie siamese. (AKA; Bucket of attitude)… It’s an interesting crew.

How long have you been at ARL, and what does a typical day on the job look like for you?

Oh my goodness, is any day typical? I first check in to see if there’s any help needed for cleaning in the morning, and from there… I do behavior assessments and modification for our cats and make sure we have the right information in our system to make sure they get the right home. I conduct behavior consults for families in need, whether it’s small questions or major problems that have them on the brink of surrender. I do enrichment and clicker training for our cats, build informational tools for clients, the public, and our staff on feline behavior and welfare, work on revising, expanding, and strengthening the behavior program, making DIY cat toys, run the Cat Pawsitive program – the list never ends, really. I like growth and diversity…so I’m always looking to put new things into my agenda to shake it up.

What would you name the autobiography of your life?

Uhh. I don’t know. You know, I actually think I’d call it “I don’t know.” Or! A word that is meant for something unknown or difficult to figure out, like “Enigma.” I like the word enigma. My life has been a riddle wrapped inside of a mystery inside of an enigma…or something, how does that line go again?

What is your favorite thing about your job? What is the most challenging?

There’s so much. My favorites… Seeing behaviorally challenged animals make progress, seeing them go home, helping my clients keep their companion animals (and hearing them tell me all about their repaired relationship and how much they love them, whereas just a few weeks ago they were ready to kick them out or crying to me over the phone and at their wits-end), responsible guardianship, building, strengthening, and retaining the human-animal bond.

The challenging stuff…understanding I can’t do it all. I can’t help everyone, and I can’t save every animal from coming into the shelter. Handling the tough calls, the sad people, and the sick animals can get difficult. Also, the vitriol some spew towards the organization…we’re not perfect, but, man…in four years I have seen such an improvement in care!

What is one thing on your bucket list that you really want to cross off soon?

I want to take a for-real diploma or certificate program, or even get a legitimate degree soon…rather than keep taking all of these rinky-dink professional development courses I do now. I’d also like to start rock climbing and get into art again!

What are your hopes for ARL/What do you hope we can accomplish as a team in the future?

I envision so many possibilities that I already see us headed towards with time. I want massive TNR programs. I want grassroots educational/outreach programs going beyond ourselves, welfare problems, legislative problems, all of it! I want legislative programs. I want to do classes for the public. I want to do more behavioral training. I want to build my department bigger and better! I want a new building one day so we can have a ton of free roam cat area and vertical space and can ditch tiny kennels forever…grumpy cats who hate cats can get portaled kennels with more space and call it a day. Mobile behavioral counseling, mobile adoptions! Selling behavioral aids and supplies to make things easy. Starter kits, too. Everything to set a new guardian up for success. I dream big. I want so many things for us and our community, and I can’t wait for us to achieve these things!

If you could learn to do anything right now, what would it be?

It might sound weird, but I’m really into genetics right now. I want to learn more about how certain genes influence certain things, and I’ve always been intrigued by how it all works. I’d also like more formal English education; y’know, the really nerdy stuff so I can decipher the most cryptic writing! Forensic science really interests me, too. And of course, rock climbing and art. I want to learn all the things. I am a perpetual student. All I do is read stuff. They called me Encyclopedia Meg growing up because I just store random facts.

Tell us about a shelter animal you’ll never forget.

I will never forget Rambo. He was a diabetic, obese tripod cat who was surrendered last year, couldn’t walk, and was terribly shut down. I enrolled him in our Cat Pawsitive program, and I bought him a walkabout harness to take weight off his legs and support him in training because his legs would literally buckle beneath him. We got him mobile again so he could take several steps on his own before needing to rest – he didn’t buckle as much anymore, he became so much more social, rubbing and rolling as soon as he’d hear our voices.  His diabetes went into remission, no more insulin…and I think he lost somewhere between 1-3lbs before getting adopted. Rambo was a champ!

What is your favorite memory at ARL?

The day I was hired? The day I was told there would be a feline behavior program? The day I was asked to head it? Those days we all got together after tough times and…just, were a team, and still do. Getting accepted into Cat Pawsitive..twice! A lot of kooky times with escape artist cats, silly things…I have a lot of stories, I don’t know!

Cats or dogs?

Cats for me! Dogs are great, but we don’t communicate well for some reason! And, for me, as a woman on the spectrum who is easily overstimulated (just like many of the cats I treat!)…they’re just too noisy and hyper for me! Me and cats just “click!” and maybe being neurodivergent is a part of that – I feel we’re a lot alike, intrinsically! I’ll still snuggle a pup when they’re calm and cozy, or take them on a walk – but, I’m easily overwhelmed with those not of the feline kind.

Any last words of wisdom? (Share a life motto, quote, movie line, etc.)

Never stop learning, never stop trying. It’s never too late, keep on growing. Don’t be afraid to be you; no matter what that means – we’re all a little weird! Be good to others, always have an open ear, a hungry mind, and a generous heart…

Name: Amanda Mellinger

Position: Pet Placement Specialist

What you were doing before you came to ARL: I worked in restaurants for many years before I made the leap to adoption/animal care and I’m so glad I did!

Pets at home (include name, age, breed!): 3 guinea pigs: Milton (2) Harvey (2) and Henry the Skinny Pig (1) (Henry is a hairless guinea pig I adopted from here and if you’ve never seen one, they look like baby hippos!)

I have 3 hamsters adopted from here as well: Frido Kahlo (2) Paige (10 weeks) and Yozhik (5 months)

How long have you been at ARL, and what does a typical day on the job look like for you?

I worked here previously, but I couldn’t stay away and asked to come back shortly after I left! I am a pet placement specialist, so once we are open for adoptions I spend my day helping people find their new best friend! I am also the adoptions lead for the small animals here at the shelter, so I spend time making sure our small animal room is ready for incoming animals, write accurate bios for them, and educate my team and the public on the care of the smallies!

What would you name the autobiography of your life?

“What just happened?”

What is your favorite thing about your job? What is the most challenging?

My favorite thing about the job is definitely spending time with the animals and seeing them go into their forever homes! It is also really uplifting when adopters send us photos of their new family members and we can see them living it up!

The most challenging thing is seeing the same great animals get passed up time after time because they are a little bit more difficult. It really hurts to see them brought back after only a few days of trying. We know how great they can be, we see their potential, but we understand they need a special someone to give them the time they need to blossom. It’s hard to see them looking so sad as they wait their turn for love.

What is one thing on your bucket list that you really want to cross off soon?

I would really like to take a Fall vacation in the woods somewhere secluded (maybe Vermont!) in a lake side A-frame cabin with a small group of friends and a lot of good beer!

What are your hopes for ARL/What do you hope we can accomplish as a team in the future?

I hope that one day people can get over themselves and their perceptions of who the ARL WAS and take the time to see us for who we are NOW. We’ve grown so much as an organization and we have such a wonderful team now. Everyone working here busts their buns to make sure every animal coming through this building is shown love and is cared for. The adoption team in particular goes above and beyond each day to be a tool for the community, and works hard with the public to find everyone the right fit for their home.

In the future I hope we can expand our organization and provide more services for our community and those in need. There are so many people who love animals and aren’t always able to access the vet care or grooming services they need, and it would be really awesome to have things like that or (my dream) a cat café! Serving coffee and doing adoptions simultaneously! What could be better!

If you could learn to do anything right now, what would it be?

I am currently attempting to learn Spanish! We have a lot of people in our community that are solely Spanish speaking and it would be really great to be able to help them instead of scrambling to find someone who is fluent.

Tell us about a shelter animal you’ll never forget.

If you ask anyone they all know my answer to this! Molly! AKA Molly Wobbles! The best hippo in the world. We got a pittie in that was brought here by the police. They went to the house to arrest her owner and she came wobbling up to the door so they shot her in the neck. So I’m expecting this rough and tumble, vicious beast and I turn the corner to find…a big grey pittopotamus smiling from ear to ear at me! My Molly bear! She was severely overweight, had a bullet in her neck, and was happy as could be. I fell in love! We put her on a weight loss plan and took her for short walks every day. I would climb into her kennel with her and give her eye medications and cuddle with her. We took her to the Reading Museum for a field trip! I still have pictures of her hanging on my wall, she was the best dog and now she’s happy in her forever home being loved up on and rolling around on every couch!

What is your favorite memory at ARL?

One night after we closed we were feeding all of the animals and giving them their medications before tucking them into bed. My coworker, Andrew, asked me what I thought this one particular medicaiton smelled like and I immediately and correctly replied, “Skateaway Roller Rink.” We still laugh about that!

Cats or dogs?

Both! I could never choose!

Any last words of wisdom?

Be nice to each other and be nice to yourself. Life is hard enough without being nasty to people all the time.  A little kindness goes a long way!