This week the Rescue Ranch Adoption Center will be losing a key team member to a new opportunity in Oregon. We’re sorry to see Ari Strasser go, but we’re happy for him as he sets out on a new adventure.
Ari arrived at Rescue Ranch with his wonderful bully mix, Krieger, in the spring of 2020. He started out learning the ropes as a kennel tech and progressively took on more responsibility. Soon he was handling facility maintenance and leading the cleaning team. But it was during the devastating Lava Fire that Ari’s organizational talent and problem-solving skills really shone through.
“It’s been a privilege to witness Ari’s growth over the past three years. He’s a very caring person and obviously loves the dogs.”
In 2020, the Happy Camp Fire brought in an unprecedented 40 extra dogs, as well as, temporarily, as many cats and some other animals. The 2021 Lava Fire, however, was on a whole other scale at 214 intakes in total! Most of the dogs came in as evacuees, but there were also a number of strays and injured: a puppy found alive under his dead mother, one dog with burns all over her body, and two dogs with terribly injured paws.
The entire team leapt into action. It was a never ending cycle for the skeleton crew: scrambling to find shade cloth to protect evacuees from the sun, cooldown dogs, keep them comfortable, water and feed them, scoop poop, do intakes and releases, sort paperwork, treat the injured, and the list goes on. Ari took the lead in many tasks. He problem-solved as he went and proposed practical systems for dealing with the influx. He stepped up wherever needed.
Rescue Ranch recognizes Ari’s contributions as a team member and leader.
Management noticed his performance and promoted him to Assistant Manager. In 2022, Rescue Ranch was hit with a double-whammy: first the McKinney Fire with 169 intakes and, just weeks later, the Mill Fire with 91. That’s 260 dogs! Once again, Ari was instrumental in the successful management of the crisis
In 2022, he joined the Rescue Ranch adopters club by adding beautiful Siberian husky mix, Samoa, to his family.
Ari took his new role to heart, studying and learning as much as he could about shelter management, team leadership, and dog handling.
“Ari recommended we do some online dog training videos and made sure we were prepared and had more knowledge in our dog handling. I’ve learned a lot working at Rescue Ranch. He is a great person and leader and has been awesome to work with. I wish him the best in his new journey.”
“Ari is a firm but fair leader with the team and the dogs. I’m going to miss working with him”
He continued to assist with RRAAP runs, rescue transports, and the usual unexpecteds that happen at ungodly hours.
Ari earned the respect of his team and they organized a goodbye lunch in his honor .
“Ari is a great guy and does a fantastic job, I wish him the best!”
