At Furry Friends, Johnson’s primary responsibility is helping manage the health and medical needs of the cats and kittens in their care

Furry Friends recently welcomed a new staff member, Dara Johnson, RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician).

Johnson was first introduced to Furry Friends by Furry Friends Executive Director Jenn Hutchman. The two worked together at several spay/neuter clinics, and it quickly became clear that Johnson’s experience and passion for animal welfare would make her a good addition to the Furry Friends team.

Johnson initially joined Furry Friends as an independent contractor, teaching foster families and volunteers how to manage basic medical needs for the cats and kittens in their care. She was such a positive fit that she was soon invited to join the staff as a part-time medical team member, working 10 hours a week.

A passion for veterinary medicine

Johnson left the Northwest to move to Southern California to pursue her medical training. She attended Pima Medical Institute, where she earned her veterinary technician credentials. During her internship at a county animal shelter, Johnson discovered how much she loved shelter medicine.

After completing her training, Johnson worked on a mobile spay/neuter bus, gaining valuable experience providing veterinary services in communities that needed them. She later traveled to Mexico, where she trained veterinary technicians in spay/neuter techniques so they could perform the procedures themselves and expand access to affordable veterinary care.

Eventually, Johnson returned to her home in Southern Washington, where she worked for several years at a local veterinary practice.

Caring for Furry Friends’ Cats

At Furry Friends, Johnson’s primary responsibility is helping manage the health and medical needs of the cats and kittens in their care. She works closely with foster families and volunteers and evaluates cats who may need additional medical attention. When a cat requires care beyond Johnson’s area of expertise, she works with Dr. Langer, who provides veterinary care for many of the cats in Furry Friends’ care.

Johnson’s role will become even more important when the new Furry Friends Medical Building is completed. The building is expected to be up and running in November.

The new medical facility will allow staff and volunteers to provide much more care at Furry Friends. They now have IDEXX laboratory equipment and imaging capabilities, which will allow them to perform their own X-rays and many lab tests in-house. This will save the organization considerable money and, more importantly, allow it to diagnose and treat cats more efficiently.

The new facility will also allow Furry Friends to perform a variety of veterinary procedures beyond spay and neuter. Johnson will help set up the surgery suite and medical areas and will assist our veterinarian with procedures performed in the new building. Having an experienced RVT on their team will be an invaluable part of expanding their medical capabilities.

A lifelong foster mom

Johnson is also a Furry Friends foster volunteer — and she is certainly no newcomer to fostering. Over the years, she has fostered hundreds of cats and kittens. She especially enjoys taking in cats and kittens who need additional medical care and extra attention before they are ready for adoption.

Johnson has also volunteered with another local rescue, Sacred Pawz, giving even more of her time and expertise to animals in need.

Life outside of Furry Friends

When Johnson isn’t caring for cats, she has a busy household of her own. She and her family have two children, a five-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son, who help her care for their household menagerie.

The family shares their home with four cats, a blind dog, six chickens and two ducks.

Johnson is also an avid gardener. She enjoys growing vegetables, plants and flowers and has a particular talent for starting plants from seeds. When she happens to find a little free time, she likes to relax by creating beadwork jewelry.

Happy to have Johnson!

Furry Friends staff and volunteers believe they are incredibly fortunate to have Johnson joining their leadership team. Her veterinary knowledge, shelter experience and dedication to helping animals will be especially valuable as they expand their medical services.

But beyond her obvious skills, Johnson is said to be “a joy to have around. Her effervescent personality and infectious smile brighten the shelter, and we are so happy to have her as part of the Furry Friends family.”

About Furry Friends

Furry Friends is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, no-kill cat rescue serving Clark County, WA and surrounding areas. With over 230 volunteers and a small staff, the organization rescues and rehomes more than 1,200 cats each year. Furry Friends specializes in helping cats from hoarding situations, many of whom require extensive medical care and socialization before adoption.

To learn more, visit https://www.furryfriendswa.org/ or email information@furryfriendswa.org.