Kayla Wolf is Second Employee to Join MAPS Team
Since forming in September 2011, Marshfield Area Pet Shelter (MAPS) has helped thousands of animals and people, through rescues, adoptions, spay/neuter initiatives, and more.
The nonprofit organization is actively raising funds for Marshfield’s first humane animal shelter, while currently operating out of a temporary location on West 29th Street (in the former airport terminal building) and through an Adoption Center at Marshfield Mall.
Last month, the organization hired its second employee (with the first being Kaitlin Loberg, shelter manager, last summer). Kayla Wolf will serve at Animal Care Coordinator for this growing group of dedicated community members.
“Kayla has been volunteering with MAPS at our Adoption Center since October 2015 so she is already familiar with our organization,” said Karen Rau, MAPS President. “Her skills include a strong background in customer service and she recently passed training to become a Certified Humane Officer. Her commitment to animal welfare and her dedication to a career involving animals will be valuable as MAPS moves forward and expands.”
Wolf has always wanted to pursue a career with animals, and in 2015 she job shadowed with the Marshfield Ordinance Control Officers. Shortly thereafter, she enrolled in a Humane Officer class and obtained her certification. In late 2016, she was offered the Animal Care Coordinator position with MAPS and came on board in February of 2017.
In her new position, Wolf will oversee animal care for both the Intake Shelter and the Adoption Center.
“I hope to help our volunteers achieve MAPS’ goals and answer any questions they may have,” said Wolf. “While I have many goals as Animal Care Coordinator, my primary goals are to maintain uniformity in the specialized care of the animals by supporting their overall growth, well-being and health.By providing caring and nurturing environments this can be accomplished through interaction and management of their care and feeding.”
Some of the essential functions for which Wolf will be responsible include numerous animal husbandry tasks (cage changing, providing feed, water, and bedding, etc.), performing animal health observation, monitoring environmental parameters, room and equipment sanitization, and recordkeeping. She will also be responsible for conversing with owners, noting down medical histories of pets, and educating clients on the care of their newly adopted pet.
Wolf is looking forward to helping create an even better local community for animals and people.
“The most rewarding part of working in animal welfare is knowing that I’m making a difference by helping the animals while educating the public at the same time,” she said. “Animals aren’t able to speak for themselves and we can be their voice.”
Though Wolf joining the MAPS staff is a significant addition, volunteers continue to be an integral component of MAPS’ success.
“Caring for hundreds of animals a year takes an army of people. We currently rely on eight volunteers per day at both our intake facility on 29th St and our Adoption Center,” said Rau. “We will always need committed volunteers, but as we grow, we need to start building a network of skilled employee to help oversee the day to day operation of caring for our animals, mentoring incoming volunteers and providing leadership roles for the organization.”
A donation-dependent organization, MAPS relies heavily on private donations and fundraisers to offset their many expenses, including employee salaries.
“Without our community’s support and the support of countless donors, hundreds of animals would not be given a chance to be healthy, happy and in a home,” said Rau.
