01/12/2025
[🌟Employee Spotlight: Casey Shook]
❓Where did you grow up, what brought you to your current city, and what do you miss most about "home"?
🐾I grew up in sunny St. Petersburg, Florida! I moved to Oregon for law school, drawn by the state's professional opportunities in animal law and its natural beauty. Five years later, I know it was the right choice, but I miss being just 15 minutes from the beach and watching sunsets daily.
❓Describe your ideal weekend.
🐾A mix of fun and relaxation: one outing like a movie, hike, or thrift shopping, but mostly spending time at home with my family.
❓Describe your pets, their nicknames, and silly antics.
🐾Benny (Ben, Bean): My 10-year-old rescue dog. He always carries his favorite toy, a stuffed toast, everywhere. He’s besties with my rabbit Izzy and steals his veggies.
Andouille (Dewey, Doob): A spunky dachshund who alternates between being a sweetheart and a troublemaker. He loves to perch on the couch, oversized toys, and blanket burrowing.
Pumpernickel & Shortbread: These two are brothers and I lovingly joke that they share one brain cell. They are both obsessed with eating, loafing on their mini couch and playing their favorite game of unstacking their "cups of rage" and running around in their tunnel.
Izzy: He is my mischievous rex rabbit and he loves crunchy treats, climbing furniture, and causing chaos, like chewing papers and eating plants.
❓Share the best piece of advice you've ever received.
🐾View yourself through the eyes of someone who loves you. When I’m critical of myself, I remind myself how my loved ones would see me - with kindness and encouragement.
❓What drew you to this field, and how did you get started?
🐾I’ve always been drawn to animals. Starting with shelter and rescue work, then vet clinics, I transitioned to animal rights nonprofits. My path shifted to law but eventually led to studying animal shelter leadership, where I feel most impactful.
❓What advice would you give someone just starting their career in your field?
🐾Explore all career options in animal welfare—there’s more to it than animal care, like fundraising, marketing, and volunteer management. Also, prioritize self-care to avoid burnout in this emotionally demanding yet rewarding field.