Staff Spotlight: Julia Bonsell
Julia Bonsell with the first cat she adopted. A 9-year-old stray with no teeth, urinary cystitis and FIV.
A familiar face at the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County, Julia Bonsell’s dedication to animal welfare started during her grade school years when she began volunteering regularly at the shelter. Throughout the past seven years, Julia has remained dedicated to animal welfare, taking on different roles within the organization. Now, as the shelter’s Volunteer Manager, her experience and knowledge contribute significantly to serving animals and people in our community. Meet Julia:
Q. What does a day in your life as the shelter’s Volunteer Manager look like?
A. As the Volunteer Manager, I start my day with emails and communicating with our volunteers. Each day presents new opportunities, shaped by the evolving needs of our program. Some days are dedicated to onboarding new volunteers, assisting various departments within the program, and often involve extensive data entry to ensure the success of our new recruits.
Q. How long have you been a staff member?
A. I’ve been a staff member for seven years, starting with facilitating adoptions. From there, I moved on to the dog department, where I learned various dog handling skills. After that, I spent time in Animal Receiving, supporting the community and refining my handling skills with different species. I then led adoption events in the community while overseeing the shelter’s critters (including rabbits, Guinea pigs, and more), followed by a stint in the cat department. Subsequently, I led Shelter Services, overseeing dogs, cats, critters, adoptions, and other animal services. Now, I’m managing the volunteer program. Each role has helped me refine my handling skills, train staff who are now in leadership roles, and support shelter operations through transitions, all of which prepared me for leading the volunteer program.
Q. What inspired you to want to work at the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County?
A. Growing up without pets, participating once a month in activities like sorting newspapers, crafting toys, and even making bird feeders proved instrumental in teaching me the profound impact small gestures can have on an animal’s well-being.
I dedicated my weekends to service throughout my grade school years. Despite later exploring opportunities in the corporate world, my connection to the shelter remained steadfast, eventually leading me to pursue a career in animal welfare.
My longstanding involvement with the shelter not only shaped my passion for animal welfare but also paved the way for my professional journey in the field.
Q. What do you enjoy most about working here?
A. I, of course, love working with the animals, but I also find great fulfilment in serving as a resource to my colleagues, volunteers, executives, and the community.
Q. Why are you so passionate about the work we do?
A. Growing within this organization has provided me with firsthand experience of the significant shifts in animal welfare philosophy nationwide. Paired with witnessing the changes in the neighborhood where I grew up, this has broadened my perspective, enabling me to better customize my approach to serving pets and the people who love them in our shelter and in our community.
Interested in a career at the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County? Check out our careers page for opportunities and apply today!
