Now that you’ve taken a stroll around our new website, it’s time for an introduction to your local animal shelter crew! We’re small but mighty and these individuals are the ones here early in the morning cleaning litter boxes, doing laundry, and trimming the nails on your beloved pets.

Let’s say hello and learn a little bit about everyone

RBHS Shelter Manager: Liz

This isn’t my first time working here at the shelter. When I was a teenager and the place was much smaller I was a volunteer that cleaned the animal pens and took dogs for walks. As I got older and came back from college semesters I found myself working as a technician here and doing the same work with a few additional responsibilities. Years later when I was living back in Red Wing, it was a struggle to find any time of career/job in the animal field so when I happened to see this job posted, I pounced on it and pursued it HARD. I knew I would be good for the shelter and help increase visibility, policies and maybe even someday be part of a plan to relocate and build a bigger and better shelter. Animals have always been a huge part of who I am and what I love. There were countless letters written to my parents about how I could handle the responsibility of a dog, take it for walks, pick up after it, etc. There might even have been a letter or two requesting a horse and that it could live in the clubhouse in our backyard…in city limits!! I was denied the horse but my letters may have worked a time or two for a dog throughout my childhood. Now, I get to make the decisions on the pets that live in my house and my daughter has picked up my love for animals and wants to take them all home now. Karma is getting me strong on this one! Currently, we own a St. Bernard named Olaf (who my dad would say is my childhood dream of a horse come to life) and 2 cats, Cher & Daisy.

RBHS Assistant Manager: Kathy

Kathy is our seasoned pro with many years of animal control experience from her days living in Florida. She traded the heat for the snow and has worked at RBHS for 6 years now. She has an eclectic list of skills ranging from wrestling alligators to assessing dog behavior and catching loose cats in the building. An important part of our day-to-day crew we couldn’t get it all done without her. Kathy LOVES Boxers and we’re still hoping for a batch of puppies to come through our door so she can take one home to her pack!! For now, she’ll have to settle for her 3 cute pups, Xena, Shae & Cheyanne.

RBHS Shelter Coordinator: Kelli

If you have expressed interest in becoming a volunteer here in the last 2 years, then you have met Kelli. Her responsibility is to make sure we have properly trained volunteers to interact with our animals, schedule the orientation sessions, and interact with our volunteers on a daily basis. She is also a big part of organizing community events, working on marketing and fundraising efforts, and organizing all of our countless physical donations. All of that is on top of the regular shelter duties. The girl is BUSY! We are thrilled that she did find time to become a first-time cat owner and take home Bynx & Mystic shortly after starting here 2.5 years ago.

RBHS Part-Time Shelter Assistants: Elliot, Mary, Olivia, Carley

These four workers are the animal lovers who help us out on a daily basis. All of them bring different strengths and skills to the table and show up each shift and make a difference in these animals’ lives. Here are their cute pets that they get to go home to after taking care of the ones in the shelter.