Category: Volunteer Spotlight

Foster Spotlight: Candice & Family

10/23/2025

Happy one year FOSTER ANNIVERSARY to Candice and her family! We're so thankful to have you on the team!

How many animals have you fostered through HSMC?
So far, we’ve fostered 30 cats and 3 dogs. With a lot of variety between solo cats, mamas and their litter, abandoned kittens, panleukopenia kittens, ringworm kittens, and more. It has been a learning experience for all of us.

Favorite part of being a foster?
Watching the transformation. Seeing a scared, fragile animal blossom into a playful, confident companion is the best reward. Kitty cuddles are the icing on the cake.

Funniest antics you’ve seen from your fosters?
Kittens definitely keep us laughing! Watching them in the evenings when they get the zoomies, arch their backs, hiss, and rabbit kick each other.

What do you wish you had known at the beginning of your foster journey?
I wish I had known how supported we’d feel. HSMC provides supplies, guidance, and encouragement every step of the way. Our family has gained more confidence with each new experience we tackle.

Any foster fails?
Yes, we’ve had one foster fail out of 30. There have been many close calls. Smitty fit into our family so perfectly we knew it was meant to be.

In what ways are your children involved in fostering?
Our kids are very hands-on. They help with feeding, playing, socializing, and chores. They love cuddling kittens and have learned so much about empathy and care through this experience. We have all learned to be mini vet techs and my boys are willing to help in any way I need.

GET INVOLVED

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Volunteer Spotlight: Kimberly Wallencheck

9/15/2025

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Kimberly Wallencheck (left in above photo) began fostering for HSMC in 2023 and has since fostered over 60 animals!

"I have fostered parvo puppies, ringworm kittens, bottle babies, URI kittens, panleukopenia kittens, and lots of babies with the poops! I have learned things I never could have imagined and more every day!," Kimberly tells us.

And with all those cats and dogs, Kimberly has somehow only foster failed twice. Kimberly shares, "I am impressed with my restraint! I could have easily failed dozens of times!"

Kimberly volunteers in our office weekly, helping with data entry and customer support, primarily. She also serves as adoption counselor and helps with our events.

One of Kimberly's passions, and a very important role with HSMC, is TNR. Thanks to a grant from Ashley's Kitten Academy, Kimberly has been actively trapping community cats this summer.

Trap, Neuter, Return is a program in which unsocialized outdoor cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped and returned to the location where they were found.

With so many large communities of cats in Mason County, TNR is a valuable way to help reduce pet overpopulation and prevent illness and disease.

So far this year, we have spayed/neutered 399 feral/community cats!

We treat all our animals with great care. Trapped kitties awaiting surgery will have a blanket covering their cage to help reduce stress (above photo). And after surgery, kitties are wrapped in a "purrito" to stay warm during recovery.

Learn More about Community Cats (TNR)

Monthly donations are the backbone of our rescue work, helping us respond to emergencies, provide consistent medical care, and plan for the future. Every dollar makes a difference. Become a "Friend" of HSMC by joining our monthly giving program, and help us save lives all year long!

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Foster Spotlight: Sheralynn, Korbyn and Lyra

6/28/2025

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GET TO KNOW OUR FOSTERS! 💗

In what way(s) do you volunteer with HSMC?
We foster mostly kittens. Plus a few mamas with litters.

How long have you been volunteering with us?
Since June/July of 2024

How many animals have you fostered through HSMC?
40 kittens and 3 Mama so far!

What encouraged you to start fostering?
Korbyn had been asking for a cat for a few years. We weren't in a position to adopt at the time but had the room to foster. It started as a way for him to try being a pet parent without the full commitment from me. It transformed into an amazing way for him to care for another and learn patience, consistency, and brought him so much fulfillment.

Any foster fails?
Only 2! Out of 43 that's a huge win! Drax and Aelin (Rocket) were part of our first "spicy" litter. We worked with them and their 2 siblings for weeks. Teaching them that humans are good and kind (with LOTS of yummy treats!).

Drax was the first to come around and Korbyn fell head over heels. He finally got the cat he had been wanting for so long.

Aelin was the fiercest of the litter and I promised her we would be best friends. Once she decided to love us I couldn't envision her anywhere else.

In what ways are your children involved in fostering?
My son Korbyn (16) plays a HUGE role. Our fosters are housed in his room in the beginning. He cares for all their needs and provides enrichment while they are with him. If we have a group who are ill or contagious they stay in my office, yet he is still very involved in their care.

My daughter Lyra also helps. She loves playing and snuggling with them. Her role comes in when they are set loose in our house for socializing with humans. She especially loves getting them to jump!

What's the most rewarding thing you could do this summer? Foster, of course!

⭐ JOIN OUR TEAM! ⭐
Complete a foster application and we'll be in touch.

I WANT TO FOSTER

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Paws in Print

Foster Spotlight: Candice & Family

Volunteer Spotlight: Kimberly Wallencheck

Foster Spotlight: Sheralynn, Korbyn and Lyra

Paws in Print

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