Jon and Kris Zerby are the Animal Protection Society’s volunteers of the year

APS-FH shares some kind words about their volunteers of the year for 2022.

The Animal Protection Society—Friday Harbor is pleased to announce Jon and Kris Zerby as its volunteers of the year for 2022.

Jon served as an APS board member from 2016 to 2022, but this husband-wife duo have been volunteering for APS-FH for many years — before Jon served on the board, even before APS-FH had a formal volunteer program. Jon and Kris have volunteered at community gatherings and fundraising events, walked dogs, visited with cats, helped with repairs, run odd errands, and generally have jumped in to do whatever was needed over the years.

Their latest volunteer adventure is running our Pet Food Pantry with their APS alumni dog, June. The Pet Food Pantry provides free pet food and supplies to pet families in need. Program patrons must be low-income, and their pets spayed or neutered. The Zerbys uphold these program requirements with kindness and diplomacy.

Jon and Kris pick up pantry food and supply donations from the shelter and take them to Treasure Hounds. Here they bag the cat and dog kibble, organize and stock the pantry shelves, work at the pantry handing out food and supplies, and provide extensive statistics to help us fundraise for the program. While doing this work, they are constantly seeking avenues and resources to better meet the needs of the people and pets they serve.

In 2020, the Zerbys advocated for the PFP’s hours of operation to be lined up with those of the Friday Harbor Food Bank, making it more accessible for patrons of both services. In 2021, they initiated a collaboration with Meals on Wheels to send Pet Food Pantry food and supplies home to Meals on Wheels patrons with pets. Recently, the availability of pet food has been inconsistent, and the prices have increased dramatically. Jon and Kris regularly go off island on a nearly all-day hunt to numerous stores for pet food for the program.

“It is the best job I never had,” says Kris about the PFP. “Every related hour is a pleasure.”

Thank you Jon, Kris, and June for being the friendly faces and the wagging tail behind the Pet Food Pantry and for all of your service over the years!

APS-FH has numerous volunteering opportunities. If you are interested in helping, visit our website to learn more about our volunteer program.

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