The Animal Care Team is the backbone of Asheville Humane Society. From feeding, cleaning, and monitoring, to bonding, playing, and walking, our Animal Care Team members are essential to keeping our organization afloat. Every Monday we will be highlighting a team member who has shown exceptional care and dedication to the animals in our care and our mission.
Meet Rian
Animal Care Team Member
Rian has worked with Asheville Humane Society since July 2020. She is hardworking and observant, a fantastic teacher and leader.
What does it mean to you to work in animal care?
To me, animal care means always paying attention. From making sure kennels get fully clean to listening when dogs are coughing or developing any other symptoms. You always want to be present.
What are some of the best parts of your job?
The best part of the job is building trust with the dogs you work with (or cats, but I am usually on the pooch end of things), especially the more fearful and nervous ones. It’s always gratifying when they finally want to approach you for attention or will take a treat from your hand.
What are some of the hardest parts of your job?
The roughest parts of the job are when you lose an animal to sickness or circumstances beyond our control or when an animal you’re invested in gets returned from a failed adoption. We always want to see them go out the door happy and healthy, and it’s the worst when that isn’t able to happen.
Have you had a moment that stuck out to you as a reason you keep coming back? Or, why do you keep coming back?
I don’t think you can spend eight hours a day looking at all the sweet doggy faces and not want to come back and help them out as much as you can. I even have dreams sometimes about my favorites and it keeps me hooked.
Why do you feel passionate about animals?
I, like many of my coworkers, am a textbook introvert. Since pretty early on in my life I have had more luck getting along with animals than people. They’re uncomplicated, nonjudgemental, and offer all the affection you could ever need. What’s not to love?
What do you want the public to know about your job?
You should know that every time you adopt an animal from us, or any other humane society for that matter, you are taking home a favorite of at least one of us animal care folks. Our only hope is that you, as the adopter, are as invested (and honestly, a little obsessed) with your new dog/cat/bird/bunny/etc as we were when they were with us!
