Volunteer Appreciation Picnic June 09
About Us-Meet the Team
Volunteers

Volunteers are the backbone of Pacific Wildlife Care. Thanks to the support and dedication of over 75 volunteers, PWC is able to care for more than 1,500 injured, orphaned and pollution-damaged wild animals each year.  Volunteer positions include:
  • Rehabilitation Center Workers
  • Hotline Support
  • Wildlife Transporters
  • Home Rehabilitators
  • Board of Directors
  • Front and Back Office Support
  • Website and Newsletter editors
  • And the list goes on...

To learn more about volunteering at PWC, please visit our Volunteer section of this website.

Center Wildlife Rehabilitators

Jeanette Stone, Center Operations Chair
Jeanette Stone Jeanette joined PWC as a Wildlife Rehabilitation Center volunteer in August, 2007.  She became Vice President of the Board in January, 2009.  When the President moved out of the area in June, 2009, Jeanette took over and served in that capacity through February, 2010. 

Jeanette has a BS degree in biology from the California State University, East Bay and received her Clinical Laboratory Scientist training at Washington Hospital in Fremont, California.  She worked in the clinical field for over 25 years; the last 13 as laboratory manager.
Jeanette has attended classes and received training from the International Wildlife Rehabilitators Council, the California Council of Wildlife Rehabilitators, the International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC), and the Oiled Wildlife Care Network. Her education covers a vast array of topics including wound care, wildlife feeding and nutrition, fluid therapy, oiled bird care, and clinical pathology. Her ability to perform basic laboratory diagnostic testing on site leads the staff in implementing effective treatment plans. 

Dani Nicholson, Wildlife Rehabilitator
Dani Nicholson

Dani became a member of Pacific Wildlife Care in 2001 after rescuing orphaned opossums from her property. The following year she became a permitted rehabilitator specializing in seabirds. She has completed numerous courses in wildlife rehabilitation from IWRC, NWRA, CCWR and OWCN.
 
In 2002, Dani joined the PWC Board of Directors as treasurer and served in that position for four years then served as president through 2008. Currently, she serves as the chair of center operations. In April of 2007, Dani opened the Pacific Wildlife Care Center in Morro Bay, and was involved there full time caring for the animals and training volunteers.

Dani worked for 20 years in accounting and construction management. She and her husband owned a health food store in Morro Bay for eight years. She has two grown sons and two grandsons and enjoys traveling, family, and a good book.

Kathy Duncan, Wildlife Rehabilitator, Board of Directors Education and Outreach Chair
Kathy Duncan Kathy joined Pacific Wildlife Care in 2000 and began training as a wildlife rehabilitator and wildlife educator. She strives to keep up on the current techniques and treatment protocols in the field of wildlife rehabilitation by attending conferences and symposiums. Kathy was one of the initial volunteers involved with the opening of the center in 2007 and is committed to providing a high level of care.

Kathy has a passion for educating the public on the value of these creatures with which we share the planet. She serves as chair of education on the PWC Board of Directors and conducts many of PWC's wildlife presentations.
Before the center opened, Kathy rehabilitated animals from her home, specializing in the care of small mammals and critically ill birds of prey. She has a special fondness for opossums. Kathy maintains her memberships in the Opossum Society of the U.S., the National Opossum Society, the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council, and the California Council of Wildlife Rehabilitators.  Kathy is a long-time resident of the central coast with her husband, Bob, one dog, three cats, and her educational animals Olive, the opossum and Xena, the kestrel. They have a grown daughter, Jessica.  


Debbie Buckheim, Wildlife Rehabilitator
Debbie Buckheim
Debbie began wildlife rehabilitation after joining Pacific Wildlife Care in the spring of 2002. Working from her home, she soon realized she had a passion for rehabilitating injured and orphaned passerines. Debbie now cares for the majority of PWC's songbirds once they have been examined and triaged through the center.

Debbie completed the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC) Basic Skills training and continues to keep abreast of new rehabilitation treatment protocols by attending CCWR symposiums and conferences. She has developed a good rapport with experts in the field of wildlife rehabilitation and corresponds with them whenever she has questions.
Before becoming a wildlife rehabilitator, Debbie worked in the mental health field for over 20 years as a registered nurse. She loves to travel (when she can find the time) and enjoys listening  to live music, especially accordion. Debbie and her husband are long-time residents of Atascadero.

Claudia Duckworth, Wildlife Rehabilitator
Claudia Duckworth Claudia has been a member of PWC for more than 18 years. She has volunteered in many different capacities: as a phone volunteer and hotline coordinator, as a member of the board of directors in different positions (including president), and as a wildlife transporter taking animals to the different rehabilitators homes and vet offices where she assisted with exams and treatments.

Claudia was first made aware of Pacific Wildlife Care when a swallow's nest fell off her eaves. She felt totally helpless with the naked babies and was so grateful to the woman from PWC who took them off her hands.  
At that point, she didn't know a Blue Jay from a Robin and had no knowledge of or even interest in wildlife rehabilitation. Now, after years of home rehabbing, learning, reading, attending conferences and seminars, it is Claudia that is helping others by taking injured and orphaned wildlife off their hands. She has a full-time job which prevents her from working at the center as much as she would like, but whether she is at the center, at work or her home in San Luis Obispo, Claudia is committed to providing the highest standard of care to the animals at our rehabilitation center.

Virginia Flaherty, Wildlife Rehabilitator
Virginia Flaherty Growing up in California, Virginia developed a passion for wildlife and the outdoors at an early age. By age ten she was a veteran of many Sierra backpacking trips led by her father. "I remember feeling complete happiness at being outside backpacking with my dad. It was very special to be together in such a beautiful place." Virginia's family members are long-time residents of the Central Coast. Virginia is also an accomplished world traveler, having spent part of her childhood in Germany and traveling to virtually every country in Europe. Since then she has also traveled to South America, New Zealand, the Himalayas and Indonesia. She speaks German fluently and can converse in French and Italian.  
As a guide, field manager and hiring coordinator for Backroads® for 15 years, Virginia developed a knack for creating smooth-running events and trips, no matter the size nor complexity. "I get a kick out of taking the hassle out of trips so people can focus on why they are really there, to be outdoors having fun and to enjoy a beautiful natural place."  Virginia graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 1985 with a B.A. in German Language and Literature. She was a champion swimmer in high school and held her high school record in the breaststroke for 21 years. In 2003, Virginia and her husband John traveled to China and adopted their daughter, Kinley.

Virginia joined PWC in 2002 after seeing an educational presentation by Jeri Roberts (one of PWC's wildlife educators). She began wildlife rehabilitation in 2003 specializing in seabirds.


Education and Outreach

Kelly Vandenheuvel, Wildlife Rehabilitator, Board of Directors Public Relations Chair, Wildlife Educator
Kelly Vandenheuvel Kelly has been a volunteer with Pacific Wildlife Care for 26 years.  She has been doing wildlife rehabilitation since the group formed in 1983, specializing in rehabilitation for birds of prey and small mammals. 

She is a part of the education and outreach committee, and does presentations for PWC at local schools, clubs, organizations and events.  Kelly is also the public relations chairperson for PWC.  Kelly's background is in advertising and communication, and she worked for The Tribune and San Luis Obispo County newspapers from 1981 through 2003. 
In addition to her hands-on experience with wildlife, Kelly has completed the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC) Basic Skills training, Advanced Feeding and Nutrition, Wound Management, Pain Management and Fluid Therapy courses. She has also attended the 2007 and 2008 California Council for Wildlife Rehabilitators, and OWCN's oil spill deployment training.  Kelly lives on her Cayucos ranch with her husband, and a menagerie of animals.

Piper Hunter, Wildlife Rehabilitator, Wildlife Educator
Piper Hunter
Piper joined Pacific Wildlife Care in 1985. Her love for wildlife began at an early age when she was exposed to many different types of animals, including raccoons and foxes. 

After college she began a career as a CA State Park Ranger, giving nature talks and conducting wildlife campfire programs.  After her second child was born, she became a full-time mom and began rehabilitating wildlife from her home. 
Piper's first educational animal was Hoot, a great horned owl. Together, they gave educational talks several times a year to local schools. Hoot, now 22 years old, is still actively involved in PWC's Educational Outreach program and continues to delight adults and children of all ages.

Currently, Piper works part-time conducting reminiscing activities at local nursing homes (through the Cuesta College emeritus program). She has two grown children attending college and lives at home with her husband on their five-acre parcel in Arroyo Grande. Piper feels PWC is an "Incredible organization" with "many wonderful volunteers." She is happy to be associated with PWC and is committed to the organization's goal of educating our community to value and respect wildlife and the environment we share with them.