Staff Profiles

Julie McDonnell was the director of the Lane County Animal Regulation Authority / PetSmart adoption program which began in September 2006. The main goal being to increase LCARA's cat adoptions by increasing their exposure to the public. After a very successful year went by, it became apparent the HUGE need to be able to assist not just LCARA, but the community as well. So, in August of 2007, she founded West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue. Since the beginning, she has helped to place over 900 cats into their forever homes. When not working full time, running WCDC and going to school, Julie enjoys hiking with her dog Morgan and hanging out with her own two kitties, Lilly and Lola.

I've been retired for over 10 years and have been doing volunteer work all during that time. Though my first volunteer experiences were primarily with people, it was when I started working with animals that I found real satisfaction. I have been with WCDC since its inception and now function as the Volunteer Coordinator. This group has given me a valuable insight about the plight of homeless animals in our society, and I firmly believe that we as a society are reflected in how we treat our companion animals. When not trying to recruit volunteers or being at home with my husband and cats, I spend as much time as possible with my horse.

I've been involved with WCDC since 2007 and primarily handle financial and other paperwork. I have loved animals ever since my brother and I brought pollywogs home from a nearby pond, and have always had a soft spot for the special-needs critters. Currently employed at the University of Oregon, I've worked with non-profit organizations for many years. When not busy with work or WCDC, I spend time with my four-footed housemates, Chuba and Lucy, and do Scottish Country dancing.

I have always loved animals, any animals--I do not discriminate. As a young child, given the chance I would bring home any and all animals in need that crossed my path. I even brought a goat home once; my parents were not pleased but were resigned to the fact that they had an animal lover in their lives. I continue to bring animals to my own home, but now just to foster so that they can move on to their forever homes. As an adult, I have learned that it takes many people with the same goals of protecting and loving animals. That.s what attracted me to West Coast Dog and Cat Rescue, a true NO-KILL Rescue. When I was given the opportunity to be involved with WCDC I jumped at the chance! I have now been with the group for about two years, first as a kitten foster, then I became the kitten foster coordinator. This has been and continues to be one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of my life!

I've been a part of WCDC since its birth. Though I always found it too difficult and heartbreaking to volunteer for a humane society, with WCDC I finally found the perfect vehicle for me to jump in and help in a big way with something I care about. We are all about No-Kill (we are caretakers until the right person/family comes along to take our critters home), education, spay/neuter, trap/neuter/release for ferals, boosting Lane County adoption rates through outreach, and the cat adoption room at PetSmart. WCDC also helps find homes for the harder-to-adopt population of companion animals: overlooked adults and seniors, disabled, to name a few. WCDC is run totally by volunteers. We get the job done and it feels pretty darn good! I flunked Foster Care 101 as I adopted my very first foster, a little black and white tuxedo kitten named Moo (his full name is now NishNoshFeratu). I use my spare bathroom and a spare bedroom for foster care; some stay a day or two and others for several months. I've fostered mothers with kittens, kittens on their own, adults and seniors, cats recovering from surgery, those needing a little extra TLC because of kitty colds, etc. I do get attached to my various fosters, but am happy knowing they will get a good home with more love and attention than I can give them since I have 5 cats of my own (and a 100-pound Labrador who is afraid of all of them). Fostering can be intensive, but it's always gratifying.