Holly Henschke to Replace Kayla Wolf
“We are so excited to welcome Holly to the MAPS team,” said Karen Rau, MAPS President. “Her medical experience, animal care knowledge and customer service skills will complement our existing structure and goals at MAPS.”
The pet shelter, temporarily based out of the former airport terminal building on West 29th Street with an adoption center inside the Marshfield Mall, operates with two full-time employees along with volunteers. Main tasks for the Coordinator include caring for general needs of animals (food, water, bedding, cage changing), health observation, sanitization, monitoring pet environments, and recordkeeping. Other duties will include performing adoptions, educating new owners on the care of their pets, and noting the medical history of the animals.
“Being that Holly is also a vet tech, we envision that her role within the organization will change with more shared responsibility with [shelter manager] Kaitlin as it relates to medical care,” said Rau. “She will be helping with intake exams, giving vaccinations/medications and providing another opinion in determining various methods of treatment for our sick animals.”
As a veterinary technician for nearly twenty years, Henschke brings plenty of experience to the table. “I have worked in a variety of veterinary practices, including a clinic just for cats as well as a surgery referral center,” she said. “Most recently, I worked here in Marshfield as a technician at Wildwood Animal Hospital and am thrilled to continue that great relationship with my work at MAPS.”
Such experiences will help Henschke thrive in her new role. “I feel that my medical knowledge and animal handling experience will give me the tools to improve the lives of our shelter animals, helping to make them excellent pets for folks in the community,” she said. “These dogs and cats need all the help they can get and between myself, our staff, and our wonderful volunteers, we can give them that help.”
Recently, she spent a week at in Kansas City at the HSUS Animal Care Expo for animal care professionals, a trip generously donated by Brett Jarman.
“I was extremely fortunate to be able to attend,” she said. “The greatest minds in shelter medicine come together to share ideas on ways we can improve not only the lives of animals in our community, but their people as well. It was a fantastic learning experience and I’m happy to bring back some information on how we can continue to improve our shelter.”
The change-up at the core of the shelter’s staffing is both a happy and sad time for the organization. “This is a bittersweet time for us at MAPS as we welcome a new team member, but face losing another,” said Rau. “We are so happy for both Holly and Kayla as they begin their new careers. This is not ‘good-bye’ for Kayla, but rather ‘see you later’ because she will always be involved with our animals [as ordinance officer]… this time bringing them to us instead of adopting them out to new families.”
Henschke is looking forward to beginning her new role. “I’d just like to extend my thanks to our community for their support and to thank our volunteers for all of the hard work they do,” she said. “I look forward to serving the community and helping these furry little angels find their forever homes!”
