Staff Spotlight: Rachel Monczynski

Meet Rachel Monczynski! As one of the shelter’s Foster Care Leads, Rachel has spent the last 7 months helping find foster homes for pets that need a temporary place to grow and thrive.

Rachel with her two Sphynx cats, Chris and Martin.

Rachel took her love of pets and majored in it, literally. While she originally wanted to focus on marine mammals, a college internship at a local animal shelter set her on the course to a Master’s degree in Anthrozoology and a career in animal welfare. Since joining our team in early November, Rachel and the other members of the Foster Team have placed over 2,000 pets into foster homes!

We connected with Rachel to learn more about her day-to-day here at the shelter, what she likes about working here, and stories that have had the biggest impact on her. Read her Q&A below!

Q: What does a day in your life at the shelter look like?

A: While my routine may remain somewhat similar day to day, there is such a variation to the pets that I support that everyday always feels different, which is part of the fun!

My typical morning routine involves checking in with our Veterinary Team about the foster pets scheduled for any surgeries or medical appointments that day. I will also visit and check on the pets awaiting foster placement and say “hi” to all the pets in the shelter during our daily rounds.

Throughout the day, I do a little bit of everything, including: reviewing and answering messages about pets in or in need of foster homes, gathering supplies foster parents may need for the pets they are caring for, and collecting information about pets in our care that may benefit from being in a temporary home environment with a foster. If young kittens, puppies, or bunnies are brought in to the shelter, I asses them and set up temporary in-shelter housing for them while I send out a message to our foster list to find them a foster home.

Before I leave for the day, I ensure that any pets in need of overnight care that arrived during the day have gone to their foster homes. I also prepare any paperwork that is needed for pets out in foster homes that are coming in for surgery the following day.

Then I do it all over again the next day, just with different pets!

Q: What made you want to work at the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County?

A: I love how inclusive the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County is when it comes to people’s identities and with new ideas. We celebrate everyone for who they are and encourage people to bring their different perspectives to the table on how we can improve the organization. I am always inspired to think about things differently, which helps me grow both personally and professionally.

Q: What’s your favorite part of working here?

A: My favorite part of working here is being surrounded by such an amazing group of people. From the employees to volunteers, we have people from all walks of life and different lived experiences. I always look forward to saying good morning to everyone and sharing a few laughs throughout the day.

Q: Is there a particular animal or adoption story that has stuck with you?

A: The adoption story that sticks out to me is actually my own! After our family dog had passed away five years ago, we had not gotten another pet. Shortly after I started at the shelter, I fostered two cats that came in from an animal control case. It only took the first night for me to know these two boys were meant to be a part of our family. It makes me sad to think of where they came from but so happy that they came into our lives.

Q: What’s one thing you wish more people understood about your work?

A: I think the most important thing about my job that people may not know is that placing a pet into a foster home is only the beginning. Once an animal is in foster, we are checking in weekly, submitting prescription refills, tracking vaccines, scheduling surgeries, updating website profile pictures, and more. We are in constant communication with current and future fosters, answering emails about everything from questions about our medical support app to working through a behavior concern. We work closely with our Veterinary, Marketing, Adoptions, and Animal Care Teams. All of the hard work is worth seeing the healthy, happy animals return to find their new homes!

Chris in Rachel’s Home.

Rachel, thank you for all your hard work and dedication to the shelter!

Interested in a career at the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County? Check out our careers page for opportunities and apply today!