SPCA Stories

Meet Gabriel Lopez! Gabe is one of our amazing Customer Care Specialists. He's often one of the first people you meet when you walk through our doors, and he helps care for our adoptable animals, too.  Gabe is an absolute star and is also featured in many of our social media reels, stories, posts, etc.  We promised links to go along with this podcast, and we'll deliver:  National Animal Shelter Ap...

Fall in Love at SPCA Monterey County this Sunday, October 4! During the SPCA’s Fall in Love adoption event, you can adopt a pet for free, as all their adoption fees have been paid for by our generous, compassionate donors (pay it forward donations greatly appreciated!). Please help us celebrate an empty shelter and every pet in a loving home. Every pet from dogs and cats to rabbits, guinea pigs, d...

Bonus Episode of SPCA Stories Alert!  This is your “How to Make Your Visit Smooth” guide to our upcoming Free Microchip and Affordable Vaccination Event!  On Friday, September 18, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the SPCA Veterinary Clinic will be offering free microchips and $25 vaccinations. No appointment is necessary. We know these events are incredibly popular—and that means there can be a wait. So, if...

Meet Kennedy Rivera, one of our amazing Community Educators!  Humane Education is such an important part of what we do here at SPCA Monterey County. Our educators connect with people of all ages in our community, helping them develop and nurture compassion, empathy and respect for animals — and giving them the tools to become thoughtful, responsible members of their communities.   If you’re a teac...

Meet Blanca!  She is our amazing South County Educator.  Kind, energetic, incredibly smart, and wonderful with kids, Blanca brings her passion for animals and humane education to communities throughout southern Monterey County.  Blanca makes sure more children and families have the opportunity to learn about compassion, responsible pet care, animal welfare, and the human-animal bond - right in the...

BONUS EPISODE!  Our first event in May was incredibly successful, and because of the response from our community, we're doing it again!  SPCA Monterey County is holding another free microchip and affordable vaccination event on Friday, July 17, from 9 am to 2 pm at the SPCA Veterinary Clinic in Salinas.  We are joined by Blanca Marquez, SPCA Monterey County South County Community Educator, to spen...

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!