SPCA Stories

Meet Christina Torres, Store Manager of Pet Food Express in Carmel. We'll talk about what makes Pet Food Express unique, why community partnerships matter, and how working together helps create happier, healthier lives for pets and the families who love them. Pet Food Express has been a longtime supporter of SPCA Monterey County, helping countless adopted pets get off to a great start while suppor...

Meet Peter, Assistant Shelter Manager at SPCA Monterey County. Peter helps oversee the daily care of our pets and works closely with staff, volunteers, and adopters to help create successful outcomes for pets and people alike.  Peter is passionate about animal welfare, helping people find the pet that is just right for them and so much more! Giveaway time!  Listen until the end of the episode - we...

🚨 BONUS EPISODE ALERT! 🚨 If your pet isn’t microchipped yet or is due for vaccinations, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. In this special bonus episode of SPCA Stories, Ashley Fessenden, SPCA Monterey County Clinic Practice Manager, joins us with important details about SPCA Monterey County’s upcoming Free Microchip and Low-Cost Vaccination Event happening Saturday, May 30th on the SPCA...

Meet Pasi Eltit!  She is one of the dedicated Client Care Specialistsat SPCA Monterey County. From scheduling appointments and assisting clients, to supporting wellness services and helping the clinic run smoothly each day, Pasi plays an essential role in creating a welcoming and compassionate experience for both pets and the people who love them. You can help animals in need.  Learn more about SP...

Greetings!  This episode we’re joined by Bonnie Logue, SPCA Monterey County’s Behavior & Training Manager. Bonnie oversees the behavior side of our TLC Program — that’s Treatment, Learning, & Compassion — helping shelter pets build confidence, learn new skills, and prepare for brighter futures. She also leads our Ruff Start Program and the behavior and training classes we offer to the publ...

Spring has sprung—and here at SPCA Monterey County, that means one thing: puppy and kitten season is here! Every year, as more young animals come into our care, the need for foster families grows in a big way. In honor of this busy and lifesaving time, we’re re-sharing a special episode all about our foster program. You’ll hear from Abigail Shaw, our Lead Foster and Transfer Coordinator, and Desti...

In honor of National Volunteer Appreciation Week, we’re revisiting one of our favorite conversations—highlighting the heart, dedication, and impact of our incredible volunteers. Today, we’re re-sharing our episode featuring Chris Patton, a volunteer with our Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. Chris is one of the many compassionate individuals who give their time and energy to care for wild...

This week, we’re celebrating something truly special—National Volunteer Week—and the incredible people who give their time, their hearts, and their compassion to the animals in our care. Volunteers are the quiet heroes behind so many of our success stories. They show up day after day to walk dogs, comfort shy cats, work with barn animals and wildlife, assist behind the scenes, and help create brig...

This week’s episode of SPCA Stories is a little different. We’re trying out a new storytelling format—bringing you closer to the moment, the emotion, and the journey of one very special dog. Instead of our usual interview, this episode unfolds more like a story—one that lets you experience each step along the way, from rescue to recovery to a happy ending. This is a story about compassion, resilie...

When disaster strikes, people often have just minutes to make life-changing decisions—what to grab, where to go, and how to keep their families safe. For many of us, our animals are family. But what happens when pets, livestock, and wildlife are caught in the middle of an emergency? Here in Monterey County, there’s a team trained and ready to help. From evacuations and large animal rescues to shel...

Meet Kennedy Rivera, one of our amazing Community Educators here at SPCA Monterey County!  Kennedy is fun, smart, and incredibly creative, and she brings so much heart to the work she does with animals and the people who love them. She’s passionate about helping our community learn how to care for animals and build compassionate connections with them. Kennedy also runs one of our most popular prog...

Meet Lisa Borne, SPCA Monterey County Controller!  Brilliant with numbers and strategic to her core, Lisa keeps our financial world running smoothly.  Lisa is fun to talk to, and she brings a genuine passion for animals to everything she does for us at the SPCA and beyond.

Meet Ciera Duits-Cavanaugh, SPCA Wildlife Center Manager.  Ciera leads the day-to-day operations of our Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, where compassion, expertise, and dedication come together every single day. Under her care and leadership, our team rescues and treats more than 2,500 wild animals each year, giving them the opportunity to heal and return to the wild where they belong....

Meet Les Lamcke, SPCA Facilities Manager!  Every door, kennel, and system reflects Les’ dedication to SPCA Monterey County - he knows our facilities inside and out.  His dedication and passion helps the animals in our care to thrive.  For more information about SPCA Monterey County visit www.spcamc.org!

Meet SPCA Dr. Jen Wernsing, one of SPCA Monterey County's exceptional veterinary staff members!  For more information on SPCA Monterey County, visit www.spcamc.org .   Season 1 of SPCA Stories is coming to a close with this episode. We will take a bit of a hiatus, with Season 2 commencing in January!  We will continue with the interview-style format  - we still have many wonderful SPCA folks to in...

Meet Sherrie McCullough, esteemed Chair of the SPCA Monterey County Board of Directors.  For more information about SPCA Monterey County visit SPCAmc.org.

Meet Zack Young!  Zack is an IT technician for Livewire Information Systems - the amazing company that takes care of all of the SPCA’s important tech needs.  Zack is a great guy who loves animals and truly appreciates the work that is accomplished at SPCA Monterey County.  For more information about SPCA Monterey County visit spcamc.org; for more info on Livewire Information Systems visit livewire...

Meet Crystal Botello!  Crystal is one of our incredible Customer Care Specialists.  These vital team members welcome the public to both our adoption center and our intake shelter, holding a wide variety of responsibilities - all performed with the utmost compassion.  For more information about SPCA Monterey County please visit www. SPCAmc.org.

Meet Jamie Doglione!   Jamie is in charge of SPCA Monterey County's highly regarded Ruff Start program.  Ruff Start provides a second chance for shelter dogs that need extra training, socialization or care before being placed for adoption - pairing these shelter dogs with inmate trainers at Salinas Valley State Prison.  Learn more at www.spcamc.org!  

Meet Christy Jacoby!  Christy oversees the day to day operations of the SPCA Benefit Shop, located in Carmel, CA. The SPCA Benefit Shop is an amazing second hand boutique, and all proceeds go to help the animals at the SPCA.   For more information visit www.spcamc.org

Meet Rosanna Isely, Vice President of Operations for SPCA Monterey County. Rosanna oversees our Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, the SPCA Barn, Humane Investigations, the SPCA Behavior Department and the Facilities Department.  Rosanna is incredibly knowledgeable and experienced, she is passionate about her work and about the animals.  For information on our programs and services and to...

Meet Susan Imwalle, Vice President & CFO for SPCA Monterey County! Susan leads and administers SPCAMC’s financial departments, helping programs develop and deliver on our mission.  Susan has a great sense of humor and cares deeply about the SPCA.  Enjoy! For more information on SPCA Monterey County Programs please visit www.spcamc.org

Meet Chris Patton, one of our incredibly hard-working, compassionate volunteers.  She currently volunteers in our Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Center where she helps staff work with injured and orphaned wildlife. Chris also handles DD, our Education Red-Tailed Hawk.  Chris and DD visit schools, libraries, and other events to teach our community about the incredible native wildlife in Monte...

Summer Animal Camp registration is in full swing, so we thought it would be fun to hear from a special guest who has attended our amazing summer camp in the not-so-distant past!  For more information on our camps and all of our educational programs visit www.spcamc.org!

Meet Tiana McNair, one of our incredibly hard-working, compassionate Animal Care Specialists!  Tiana and her team tend to the needs of the animals in our care - everything from feeding and cleaning kennels to administering vaccinations and providing extra love - for all pets available for adoption and behind the scenes awaiting their turn.  Tiana is warm, kind, funny, and magnetic - and she clearl...