NBAS – Staff

Kathy Sousa, ​Cat Care Coordinator 

Kathy grew up in San Anselmo. At age 18, she started as a “kennelman” at Marin Humane Society, where she worked for the next 25 years. Most of those years were spent in the spay/neuter clinic as a vet assistant, helping to perform thousands of low-cost surgeries every year. In 2001, Kathy began working at the Petaluma Animal Shelter, soon becoming the resident cat whisperer.  She loves the challenge of rectifying problems between pets and their owners and coming up with creative solutions. Kathy currently has seven cats, five of which are special needs, and one big couch potato dog. A good day for Kathy includes cuddling with her animals and eating Mexican food.

Mary Myers, ​Cat Care Coordinator

Meet Mary, our Cat Care Coordinator! Mary was originally from Oklahoma but has lived in Sonoma County for 23 years. She’s traded cake decorating (a 21-year career) for her true love: caring for cats. When not at the shelter, she enjoys quilting, hiking, fishing, and camping (with her cats by her side). Mary’s love for cats makes her the purr-fect person for the job! 

Bella O’Toole, Dog Care Coordinator
Bella is originally from Maine but has lived in Sonoma County for the past 4 years.  She graduated from Bergin University of Canine Studies with a Bachelor’s in Cynology and has worked for Big Dog Rescue in Penngrove.  About NBAS, Bella says, “I love the people here! We’re like one big family who help each other out and always have each other’s backs. I also love how well the animals are taken care of. We all try our hardest to make them comfortable and happy.” Waiting for Bella when she gets home are 4-year old black Lab, Oakes, and 6-month old pittie mix, Apple. Her favorite food is sushi.

Maria Mendiola, Customer Service Representative
I grew up in Petaluma and have also lived in San Diego.  I love being bilingual and I find it rewarding to be able to help and communicate with the Hispanic community. I am thankful to be working here and lucky to be surrounded by staff and volunteers who love and care for the animals. When not working I love to spend time with my dog Tilin who I adopted from NBAS, spending time with family in San Diego, or going to Disneyland is my favorite thing to do.

Jamie Fisher, Customer Service Representative

Jamie is originally from Washington State and her Love of animals has been a thing for all of her life. At 18 she started working with animals as a volunteer at many shelters and has even volunteered at the wildlife rescue. Jamie has been trained in animal behavior and in dog grooming. she enjoys coffee, a good book, and spending time with her kids.

NBAS – Clearlake Staff 

Tara Andrieux, Animal Care Attendant

Dena Maninger, Animal Care Attendant

Animal Control Officers

Russ Marshall, Animal Control Officer

Skyler Tornay, Animal Control Officer

NBAS Board of Directors

Robbi Lakos, Board President
Robbi@northbayanimalservices.org
Robbi works in the insurance industry and has lived in Petaluma for 17 years with her husband Greg and 4 cats. Robbi started out volunteering at the shelter in 2015 with the cats, and shortly thereafter, she took home her first foster kitten. She has been hooked ever since! Robbi continues to volunteer at the shelter most evenings and fosters both healthy and sick cats, ranging from bottle babies to senior cats who need extra attention. Robbi and Greg have fallen in love with fostering so much that they have converted their spare bedroom into a foster room.  She also volunteers at Petco adoption days and other special events.  During those events, Robbi enjoys educating others about the shelter and assisting with adoptions.

Brenda Marshall, Board Member (Secretary)
Brenda has worked as an independent court reporter for the past 32 years, while also serving as a volunteer animal advocate. Specifically, Brenda has volunteered every month at the Petco spay/neuter clinics for 6 years. She began doing cat/kitten foster care in 1993 for the Rohnert Park Shelter and has done foster care for the Petaluma Animal Shelter since 1995. Brenda has taken in pregnant moms, bottle babies, kittens and cats of all ages, as well as geriatric cats with days, weeks or months to live. She is experienced with giving fluids and medications for all kinds of issues and illnesses.

Steve Reid, Board Treasurer
Steve is a long-time Petaluma resident who works at the Bay Area Air Quality Management District in San Francisco and has over 20 years of experience in the environmental field. Steve also served as a founding board member at Gilead House, a transitional housing program that began in 1999 in Novato and still serves families in need today. A life-long animal lover, Steve and his family began serving as puppy raisers for Guide Dogs for the Blind in 2008, eventually adopting the puppy they helped train after she was “career changed.” The Reids then served as foster parents for various cats and dogs from the Petaluma Animal Shelter, adopting a second dog and a cat. 

Gale Valentini, Board Treasurer (Current)

Gale has lived in Petaluma since 1992 and has been a supporter of NBAS from it’s inception.  She is retired from a career in human resources and financial services with a detour to the culinary field.  Cats have always been a part of Gale’s life with more than one and up to four living in her household.  In addition to her cats, she enjoys gardening and quilting.   

Jeanne Allen, Board Secretary (Current)

Jeanne Allen retired from her thirty-six year career in federal law enforcement in addition to sixteen years as an Recruitment Coordinator for the Department of Justice. In 2016, she joined the Board of Directors for Humankind Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing the challenges between law enforcement agencies and their respective communities. Jeanne has been a shelter volunteer for the past 16 years in addition to volunteering at a variety of public adoption events, spay/neuter clinics and the weekly Petco cat adoption events. Jeanne also volunteers her time at Lily’s Legacy, a senior dog rescue in Petaluma. Jeanne has had three rescue cats and she later adopted two more cats from the shelter. Jeanne is a avid hiker and enjoys traveling with her husband and son.

 

Jill Countermine, Board Member

Jill has lived in Sonoma County for 25 years. She has always had a love for animals, frequently bringing home lizards in coffee cans, tadpoles, and birds after they ate too many pyracantha berries. Growing up, Mrs. Terwilliger’s (San Rafael WildCare) field trips were always the best, and petting a cheetah, not once, but twice was beyond amazing. Jill has been a volunteer for the shelter for at least 13 years, at the shelter, Petco, and other special events.

Susan Simons, Board Member
Susan has been in the animal welfare profession for almost 30 years, in roles ranging from volunteer to Executive Director, and in organizations ranging from open admission shelters to private non-profit rescue groups. Starting with Petaluma Animal Services in 1990, Susan worked with the staff to create a foster program for kittens and a mobile adoption program, while simultaneously working at the California Center for Wildlife in San Rafael as Operations Director. Susan soon became a member of the shelter staff and expanded her role, directing the foster care program, the medical program, and starting a public access TV show called “Petaluma Pets for Adoption.” In 1997, Susan went to the Pets Lifeline nonprofit in Sonoma to become Manager then Executive Director, remaining there for 11 years. Susan has also worked with Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County since 1990, serving as a trapper, foster parent, and adoption counselor. Susan is currently on the Forgotten Felines’ Board of Directors and an Assistant Tech at their weekly spay/neuter clinics in Santa Rosa.

Sue Davy, ​Co-Founder, and Communications Coordinator
suedavy@northbayanimalservices.org

Sue discovered animal welfare 12 years ago through fostering animals for the Petaluma Animal Shelter. As Office Manager and Board member, she collaborated with other organizations throughout the county to improve animal welfare.Her love for software and the desire to have a greater impact took her to a job with the largest animal management software company in the industry, where she managed large projects, communicating effectively across time zones and cultures to keep projects on track. Through helping animal welfare agencies refine their processes and use the software more effectively, she learned about the cutting edge programs in Animal Welfare, sharing that knowledge at national summits. Sue has successfully managed projects and led groups to meet goals that they thought were unattainable. Her calm leadership inspires confidence and teamwork, and she is a mentor to staff, leading through example and by taking time to help others achieve their goals.In 2018 Sue co-founded North Bay Animal Services and served as Board President, helping the organization in the startup years. Her focus has been on organizational health and fiscal sustainability and goal setting. Throughout her volunteer work experience, Sue continues to foster pets in need. She has lost count of how many moms and puppies she has helped to find their forever homes. Her foster litters become part of our community – friends, family, former adopters all share in the experience. Sue joins us as Communications Coordinator, bringing her unique experience from years in the local and national animal welfare scene, coupled with her Petaluma perspective from over 25 years of active involvement in our community.