Seattle Animal Shelter announces new manager for
award-winning volunteer program
Kara Main-Hester begins duties Oct. 20

SEATTLE — Seattle Animal Shelter Director Don Jordan announces the appointment of Kara Main-Hester to head up the shelter’s award-winning volunteer program. Main-Hester begins her duties on Oct. 20, 2008.

“Kara brings a wealth of experience to this important job, not the least of which is her active participation in our volunteer program for the past two years. She will be a great addition to our dedicated staff, with her commitment to our programs and the well being of the animals,” said Jordan.

Main-Hester is a recent graduate of the University of Washington where she received her PhD in Microbiology. Her previous experience includes consulting to non-profit organizations, grant writing, event planning, and budget management. For the past two years she has been a volunteer team leader at the shelter.

Seattle’s volunteer program has more than 600 volunteers and 350 foster families who collectively donate more than 100,000 hours of service a year. The program has been recognized by the Humane Society of the United States and the American Humane Association. Last year the Association of Washington Cities awarded the city of Seattle a Municipal Excellence Award for the shelter’s volunteer and foster care program.

“Volunteers are vital to the success of this shelter. With their help, we’re constantly striving to increase the number of animals adopted and reduce the number of animals euthanized,” adds Jordan.

Besides the foster care program, volunteer opportunities include fundraising, event planning, off-site dog walking, pet therapy, and assisting at the shelter.

 The Seattle Animal Shelter is open every day, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for licensing, and noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions. It is located at 2061 - 15th Ave. W. The phone number is (206)386-PETS(7387). Animals available for adoption can be viewed online at http://www.seattleanimalshelter.org