MEET FFR VOLUNTEER
Kayda Muckey

Name:

Kayda Muckey

Occupation:

Underwriter

Birthplace:

Sacramento, CA

About my family:

My mom Susan is a piano teacher near Elk Grove, CA and my dad Mark is a dentist. They live in Sacramento with two cats (both one-eyed) and a donkey named Jasper. My brother Matthew is the Associate Principal trumpet player for the New York Philharmonic, and my sister Meredith is an accountant for a bank in Phoenix, AZ. I am married to a wonderful cat lover named Dan who is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Companion animals I share my home with:

We have 2 cats; Cabernet (7 years old) and Sierra (6 years old). They have the same mom (she is one of the one-eyed cats at my parents' house), but they are from different litters.

Favorite hobbies:

Running, walking, kayaking, snowshoeing, skiing, biking, hiking, crocheting, gardening.

Favorite foods:

Pizza, hamburgers, chocolate chip cookies, gingersnap cookies, French fries, and celery with peanut butter.

Favorite movies:

The Hurt Locker, Shrek series, Gran Torino

Favorite TV shows:

Medium, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Holmes on Homes, Giada at Home

Favorite way to relax:

Sitting on the easy chair with my blanket and my cat Sierra sleeping on my lap.

Books I'm currently reading:

Stuff for insurance classes, and it isn't fun!

My first job was:

A meteorologist at the National Weather Service

Job (besides my own) I'd most like to try:

Work as an animal rights activist

I play the following musical instruments:

Piano and clarinet

Most-extreme sport or activity I've tried:

Waterfall rappelling

Country in the world (besides the U.S.) I'd most like to visit, and why:

France, because they have great cheese.

My idea of a perfect vacation:

Sitting on a beach with my toes in the sand and a nice warm breeze.

Most surprising fact about me:

I have actually traveled quite a few places (except France), and my next destination is Croatia.

Secret skill or ability that few people know about me:

I can touch my tongue to my nose.

Causes or issues that matter most to me:

I really wish that people would spay or neuter their pets because I can't stand to think of all the animals that have to be euthanized. That just breaks my heart. I also really dislike animal abuse and cannot stand those commercials on TV.

Current volunteer role with FFR:

Volunteer Director

Why I decided to volunteer with FFR:

I originally wanted to do LapCats, but the volunteer director told me that volunteers at PetsMart were needed more.

What I like best about volunteering with FFR:

Meeting new people and trying to match pets to homes. I also love the kitties.

A favorite story about my volunteer experience:

I was working one day at PetsMart doing the adoptions, and an older lady came looking for a cat with her daughter. She couldn't decide which kitten to pick... so she took both of them home!

Advice I have for other people wanting to volunteer:

Just do it. Pick a weekend and make time for it. If you don't, then you will never have time to do it.