Staff
Suzanne West - Executive Director/Board Member (please see bio under Board Of Directors section)
Jessica Paolello - Clinic Manager, Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator
Jessie joined Sarvey in December 2013. She graduated top of her class as a Veterinary Assistant at the Great Lakes Institute of Medical Careers and in her undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies and Geography at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
While attending college, Jessie started volunteering at Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Pennsylvania working with birds of prey. This experience led her to pursue other opportunities in caring for wildlife. She worked as an intern with Northwest Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Bellingham, WA (now known as Whatcom Humane Society Wildlife Center) and The Conservancy of Southwest Florida in Naples, Florida.
Jessie also spent time volunteering at the FreeMe Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Johannsonburg, South Africa. Before accepting the position at Sarvey Wildlife Care Center, she worked as the Avian Care Specialist at the Center for Birds of Prey, in Mt. Pleasant, SC. During her time there, she furthered her knowledge of raptors, as the center boasts 120 different species from around the world.
As Clinic Manager, Jessie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Sarvey Wildife Care Center. She has helped to incorporate new medical techniques, husbandry, and wildlife care to our hospital. Her favorite animals are beavers and porcupines. She enjoys teaching the public about co-existing with wildlife and how to humanely and non-violently remove unwanted wildlife from their homes.
Lesley Kovar, DVM - Consulting Vet and Sarvey Board Director
Dr. Lesley Kovar graduated from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1991, before moving across the country to settle in Seattle. Dr. Kovar has been practicing small animal medicine at Bothell Pet Hospital since 1993, and also has experience with exotic pets and birds. She spent several years working at a zoo in New Jersey, and has a passion for wildlife. She feels fortunate to be able to offer her services to Sarvey Wildlife Care Center and in January 2020, Dr. Kovar joined the Board of Directors.
Amanda Baer-Peckham - Assistant Clinic Manager, Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator
Amanda joined the staff at Sarvey in January, 2020 and is excited to have the opportunity to fulfill her passion of helping wildlife. She had been an intern during the 2018 Baby Season and returned as a seasonal staff member the following summer. Amanda graduated from Washington State University in December 2019, where she received a B.S in Earth and Environmental Sciences with a focus in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Sciences.
Amanda discovered her love of working with wildlife after completing a volunteer abroad program in Laos at an elephant conservation center. After returning from Laos, Amanda changed her major from Microbiology to Wildlife Ecology. In November of 2020, Amanda transitioned from a Wildlife Rehabilitation Assistant to becoming a licensed rehabilitator. She passed the state exam this fall and we are happy to have her on the team. During the spring of 2021, Amanda was promoted to Assistant Clinic Manager.
Cathryn Gandy - Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator
Cathryn joined Sarvey’s staff as a seasonal wildlife rehabilitation assistant in the spring of 2020 after graduating from Oregon State University with a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Science. Prior to working for Sarvey Wildlife Care Center, she completed summer internships at Wildlife Images in southern Oregon, and Center for Wildlife in Maine. In the spring and summer of 2018, she worked as a rehabilitation staff member at Elaine Conners Wildcare in New Hampshire.
After baby season 2020 ended, Cathryn was offered a permanent staff position at Sarvey Wildlife Care Center, and recently earned her Washington State wildlife rehabilitation permit.
Although Cathryn enjoys working with all of the animals that come into the center, her favorite patients are the baby opossums and songbirds that come in for care in the spring and summer months. Her favorite part of the rehabilitation process is watching hand-reared animals grow up and finally be released back into the wild where they belong.
McKenna Merrifield - Office Assistant
McKenna joined Sarvey in July of 2022. She graduated from UC San Diego in 2020, where she received a B.S in Marine Biology. Previously, she worked as an administrative assistant at a law firm, as well as a veterinary assistant in an animal hospital. Her time as a veterinary assistant sparked her passion for animal care, and she has always been fascinated with wildlife.
McKenna is our Office Assistant, so if you call us looking for help, chances are you’ll speak with her. Her favorite part of the job is speaking with the public and offering advice to callers about wildlife. She feels fortunate to be able to help people who find animals and want to do what is best for them.
Shayla Bruskland - Wildlife Rehabilitation Assistant
Shayla joined the staff of Sarvey in May 2023 as a seasonal wildlife rehab assistant. She graduated from the University of Washington in March 2023, where she received a B.S. in General Biology and a B.A. in Art. Previously, Shayla had volunteered in park restoration to improve native habitat in the Seattle area, and she spent time at Sarvey as an intern during the summer of 2022. She was excited to return to Sarvey as a seasonal staff member to pursue her passion for wildlife care. Shayla become a valued member of the rehab team and was offered a permanent full-time position in the fall of 2023.
Shayla enjoys learning about the diversity of animals that come into the clinic and is excited to help both orphaned and injured animals be released back into their habitat. When she is not working directly with wildlife, she spends time creating wildlife drawings and paintings.
Kylie O'Toole - Wildlife Rehabilitation Assistant
Kylie traveled around the U.S. working in a variety of facilities caring for wildlife before joining the staff at Sarvey in October 2023. She completed internships at Wildlife Images in southern Oregon and at World Bird Sanctuary in Missouri. Kylie also spent time as a hoof stock zookeeper at the Lee Richardson Zoo in Kansas. In 2022, she joined the Vermont Institute of Natural Science as a staff member. The Institute specializes in avian rehabilitation, so Kylie is particularly excited to have the opportunity to work with the large diversity of species that come through Sarvey’s doors, especially the raptors and large mammals.
Kylie has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hofstra University where she majored in Urban Ecology and minored in Sustainability Studies. Her favorite part of the rehabilitation process is treating challenging and severely compromised patients for their possible release. She also loves caring for plants and jokes her apartment is basically a greenhouse!