When you consider that all our board members and staff are unpaid volunteers, it is amazing the quality of people we attract to us. We’d like to introduce ourselves to you.

Shelter Personnel

Mary and her helpers

Mary Donaldson
Shelter Manager

If you’ve called, dropped off or visited TARPS in the past 2 years, you have probably spoken with Mary. Calm and professional, she handles every situation with aplomb.

When Mary moved to Vermont she was already an animal lover. She bottle-fed her first newborn kitten (the runt of a litter) over 24 years ago. From then on she has raised and fostered so many animals even she has probably lost count.

Six years ago, it was natural for her to be drawn to us. She first volunteered to foster orphans and began helping out at the shelter. She then served on the board of directors and worked closely with the shelter manager in an assistant capacity.

When our Shelter Manager needed a sabbatical because of work and family hardship, Mary stepped up to fill in. Unfortunately the shelter manager was unable to return in a full-time capacity, so Mary was asked to fill the position.

We are grateful to have her working with us as she brings so much to the shelter. She is here about 24/7 and loves each animal as if  it was her own. Her knowledge of animal care and welfare is immense as is her kindness with volunteers and visitors.

A one-year cancer survivor, she has shown us her bravery, positivity and perseverance. She took very little time off even during the worst of her ordeal. She was even heard to credit her work here as crucial to her recovery.

In the next few years, Mary would love to see TARPS in a larger facility, one that could accommodate spay/neuter clinics with a separate medical area. She’d like to provide better nutrition options for the shelter’s animals. Additionally, she’d like to be able to expand her shelter knowledge base by taking courses and attending workshops.

Carla Westine
Volunteer Coordinator

Carla has been with us for over 3 years. So many recent changes and improvements at TARPS are directly attributed to her. Thanks to Carla and her husband Mike, this past year saw the addition of three outdoor enclosures which vastly improve the lives of our residents.

Retired from work at the Vermont Country Store, Tuesdays, Carla is found cleaning, organizing and addressing issues in and around the shelter. She trains new volunteers. She steps up on our Shelter Manager’s day off and pretty much runs the show. She served on the board of directors from 2009-2011. She was awarded TARPS’ 2011 Volunteer of the Year for her remarkable contributions to both the shelter and our organization.

Carla’s help in the addition of two outdoor enclosures has brought joy to many.

Carla accepted the position of Volunteer Coordinator this year. She will be working with all of the volunteers, setting up  regular volunteer meetings, improving communication between volunteers and staff and coordinating volunteer efforts both inside and out of the shelter.

She’d like to continue to improve the conditions at TARPS- and hopes they will have a new building. Until then, she’ll continue to work to make things as good as they can be at the present location.

“It is amazing what TARPS accomplishes when you consider what they have to work with. Thank goodness for all the volunteers and the generous people and businesses in the community that support the mission. There is a lot of compassion out there and thankfully so.” Carla exclaims. “I’d like to invite the public to get acquainted with TARPS, and see the work being done here. Despite the dilapidated building, good things are happening here at the shelter. There are lots of ways to help, check out their Volunteer page and join the effort—it’s fun, it’s satisfying and doing good feels good!”

Cait greets Mark Anthony

Caitlin Regan
Adoption Coordinator

Though Caitlin is a new member at TARPS, it seems as if she has been here forever. She has wonderful people and animal skills, and is patient with both. She is often at the shelter, talking, playing and caring for the animals, in a sense, getting to know each of them personally.

Before becoming an adoption coordinator, she updated records, input information and pretty much stepped up to do everything she could for the shelter.

Recently she was elected interim Treasurer on our board of directors.

As an adoption co-ordinator, she works with potential adopters, helping them to find a cat who will be just the right fit for their family.