TRACS animals receive extra TLC

THOMPSON FALLS – As one walks into Thompson River Animal Care Shelter they see puppies and kitties galore, each one lovingly cared for. It has a proud history of servicing animals in need and finding them new homes and doting owners.

TRACS is currently in the process of making some changes. Thompson Falls native Marcy Shermikas has been hired on as the new manager-in-training. Founder of TRACS Wanda Thorpe is excited about the shift.

“TRACS has been operating for seven years and has been generally managed by myself with the help of volunteers,” Thorpe said. “Going forward we have hired someone to come in and work on a daily full-time basis.”

Thorpe knows Shermikas and the additional help will change TRACS for the better.

“She has the background and skills to manage the place and it gives me a nice break,” Thorpe said. “I have devoted 70 hours a week for seven years to shelter activity. It gives me a chance to step back so I can focus more on the financial side of things such as grant writing.”

With Shermikas devoting her time to running the shelter, Thorpe will have much more time to find additional funding. This could only mean good things for TRACS.

Shermikas has been away from Montana for several years. After high school, she joined the army. She served for eight years and was deployed to Iraq three different times. Then she lived and worked in Texas for three years – but in all that time she kept home close to her heart.

“My first week was really good. I love being back in Thompson Falls. I missed everything and I always hoped to move back,” she said.

After serving her time in the army, Shermikas knew she wanted to work with animals. She accomplished that goal in Texas but was not completely satisfied.

“I was an animal control officer in Texas for the past three years,” she said. “My mom was volunteering at the [TRACS] and when I came home for vacation back in September Wanda approached me with the idea. The more I thought about it the more I realized I wanted to do it.”

Shermikas was passionate about her work as an animal control officer. She helped many animals and people; however, there were unsavory aspects to the job.

Due to limited funding and space, Shermikas was sometimes forced to euthanize animals. This was a part of the job that was difficult for her. Despite the negative parts of the job, Shermikas learned a great deal as an animal control officer and acquired applicable skills.

“A good deal of it really comes down to being knowledgeable about animals and speaking to people,” she said. “Thankfully, it is a no kill shelter so I can do more of the rescue work and less of the city work. I get to help the animals.”

Helping animals is all Shermikas ever wanted in a job. She has already begun to bond with the shelter animals as any animal lover would.

“I have met all of the animals and I already have a couple favorites,” she said. “I have always loved animals even as a kid.”

Shermikas is eager to help find the shelter animals loving homes and to witness the transition.

“The best part of this job is not only getting to work with the animals, but knowing they are going to bigger and better things,” she said. “The goal is to find them great families. It is great to see it happen – how the animals have moved in with their families and changed their lives.”

Although Shermikas has a lot of animal experience, she is eager to keep training for her new job.

“I finished my first week today so it is still fairly new,” she said. “It is an ongoing process. There is always more to learn and more to do.”