In December 2022, Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation board member Jeana Chaffin was on a ride-along with Seattle Animal Shelter Animal Field Officer Kevin – a ride-along she successfully bid on at the Furevermore Auction & Gala a few weeks earlier! The exciting day included a follow-up to a dog bite incident, a raccoon chase, and a chicken rescue from a hoarding situation. Recently, Jeana talked with us about her experience out in the field.
What was your experience like at Furevermore?
Jeana: It was fun! It’s always good to engage with the community of people who share the same passion and interest for animal welfare and show their support for the shelter.
What interested you to bid on the Ride-Along Prize?
J: I’ve been a longtime volunteer at the shelter but being in the field is something that I’d never experienced. I’m much more familiar with the Animal Care Officers (ACO1s) at the shelter because I’ve volunteered as a Greeter and a Dog Walker. But spending time with the Animal Control Officers (ACO2s) in the field was something I’d never done before. This gave me a full understanding of what the shelter does. A lot of times we think about the animals, but the people who work there, the staff and volunteers, are not only caring for the animals but also our community. This involves interacting with the public, which can be difficult. Whether you’re working with the ACO1s or the ACO2s, you gain a better understanding of what they do, and more empathy and respect for them. That work can be very emotional, so I gained a lot of admiration for what they have to go through. The officers are all very skilled at negotiation, compassion, and communication.
Can you take us through your Ride-Along day?
The day starts with dispatch who gives you the cases for the day, however there can be emergencies, delays, and new situations that pop up that change the plans. The first task of our day was to follow up with a dog bite incident – this meant talking with the dog’s owner and the person who was bit. The owner of the dog was very upset when we called to follow-up. Officer Kevin very calmly and compassionately talked with them about options to work with the dog’s needs and behaviors, such as walking the dog with a muzzle, containing the dog in another room when there are visitors, working on slow introductions. As it turned out, they’d recently moved, and the dog was under stress. After the talk, the owner was relieved and considering the other options.
After we spoke with the other person involved and came to a resolution of next steps, we got a call about an injured raccoon in someone’s backyard. This was an emergency call, so we headed there next. Officer Kevin got on his gloves, I held a giant container, and after some chasing we were able to get the raccoon safely into the shelter vehicle.
Next, we got a call about two chickens in a hoarding situation involving a missing person report. It was a bad hoarding situation, but thankfully after a while the chickens were found in the kitchen. This was the end of the day so we headed straight back to the shelter and into the vet office. The vet did a health check, and luckily, they were in pretty good shape. A couple weeks later in January they had new names, Chips and Ice Cream, a new home, and were very happy.
Chips and Ice Cream foraging in their new home
What was your biggest takeaway from your experience?
J: It was an emotional, exciting, and illuminating experience – all kinds of animals and people and situations. It was extremely valuable for understanding what the shelter does in its entirety in supporting the community and Seattle’s animals. It demonstrated the staff’s commitment to animal welfare and the betterment of our community. That’s the purpose of the shelter. The shelter is there to help and support Seattle’s animals and the community.
What would you say to people interested in Furevermore and the Ride-Along experience?
J: Spending time with the shelter staff is always a rewarding experience and the field ride along will show you first-hand the work that the shelter does in the community – you’ll have a unique experience that will leave you in awe of the work that the shelter staff does every day.
You could win your very own Furevermore Ride-Along Prize
while helping Seattle’s pets in need!
Get your October 21, 2023 Furevermore Auction & Gala tickets here now.
Thank you for your support!