Introducing the 2026 Board of Directors!!!

Kristi Boucher
President
Sierra Teas
Vice President
Margaret Cooper
Vice President
Bekka Kraai
Secretary
Sarah Weaver
Treasurer

I began working with animals at the age of 16, starting my career at Petco, where I spent nine years growing through multiple leadership roles, including General Manager and District Trainer overseeing 14 stores. I later served as District Manager for Pet Pros before transitioning into a Hospital Manager role for a busy veterinary practice. 

Since 2017, I have proudly served as the Animal Control Officer for the Bothell Police Department. My commitment to animal welfare, public safety, and community education has been at the forefront of my work. 

In addition to my professional career, I have been an active member of the Washington Animal Control Association (WACA) Board of Directors since 2018, holding positions including Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President, and Interim President. 

I am passionate about supporting and mentoring officers in the field, advancing professional development, and fostering strong community relationships through education and advocacy. 

I moved to Washington in March 2023 to join Joint Animal Services as Field Supervisor, and since then, the shelter has truly felt like home. I now serve as the Animal Welfare and Field Manager, where I continue to combine my passion for animal advocacy with leadership and mentorship. I bring over 10 years of experience in animal welfare, including both volunteer work and professional roles, primarily in my home state of Texas. My career began in 2015 as an Adoption Counselor with the Humane Society of North Texas, where I later transitioned to the Humane Investigations unit. In 2017, I moved to Austin to help launch the Neighborhood Level Program and worked as an Animal Protection and Field Training Officer, focusing on animal neglect. In 2021, I became a subpermittee wildlife rehabilitator with North Texas Wildlife Rescue, where I cared for orphaned animals until they were ready to return to the wild. While animal advocacy remains at the heart of my work, I’ve developed a strong passion for mentoring new Animal Control Officers by promoting ongoing education and sharing knowledge that strengthens the future of our field. I’m excited for the opportunity to continue my work with the WACA board, where I can contribute my experience to supporting Washington’s animal welfare professionals and advocating for the well-being of both animals and the communities they serve. 

I have worked as a Community Service Officer for Lake Stevens Police Department for the last three years. Prior to that, I worked for a pet insurance company and in veterinary clinics as a receptionist and assistant. I have a French Bulldog named Gremmie and an Arabian horse named Bentley. I love helping animals and am excited to continue to serve on the WACA board for 2026. 

Bekka Kraai, a born and raised Washington resident, is a dedicated animal welfare professional with five years of experience spanning all aspects of shelter operations, including adoptions, intake, transfer and rescue coordination, foster program management, community cat programs, and field response. She has played a key role in developing several programs from the ground up, most notably Joint Animal Services’ Volunteer Animal Cruelty Response Team. Her hands-on experience supporting the field team during large-scale warrants, assisting through every stage of the warrant process, has given her valuable insight to advocate effectively for the animal victims she is charged with finding rescue and foster care placement. A proud pet parent to two disabled cats, Bekka is deeply committed to compassionate and inclusive animal welfare

I am Animal Services Officer Sarah Weaver. I currently work for Snohomish County Animal Services and have been working this job since January 2024. I am currently serving as a reservist in the United States Navy (USN) and have been in the USN since May 2016. I graduated from the 17 weeklong Park Ranger Law Enforcement academy in May 2025, where I learned so much about case law, officer safety, and defensive tactics. I worked as a team with my fellow classmates and was awarded the certification for taser and pepper spray.

In almost two years as an Animal Services Officer, I have worked on a large number of cases ranging from leash law to animal cruelty, as well as serving alongside my team when we did our first successful animal fighting warrant. I have completed 461 cases as the primary officer. Joining WACA was always a goal of mine, but I first needed to complete Field Training, as well as graduating from the academy – both things have been successfully achieved.

WACA is an organization dedicated to promoting professionalism and excellence in animal care, education, and enforcement while protecting animal welfare and public safety through training and support. This mission statement aligns with my goals as well.

Chris Miller

Paul Batchelder

Leslie Wall

I am excited to represent eastern Washington on the WACA board! My primary goal is to Improve public safety and animal welfare through education and outreach. I started my journey in the animal control field in 2013. I have served as an Animal Control Dispatcher, Animal Control Officer, and currently as a Field Operations Manager. From 2013-2017 I worked for Wenatchee Valley Humane Society, serving Chelan and Douglas County. From 2017-2021 I worked for Regional Animal Services of King County. In 2023 I began working for Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service. In 2015 I graduated from the WACA – ACO academy. In 2019 I graduated from the National Animal Control and Humane Officer Academy. I am grateful for the opportunity to assist other ACO’s in our state with their professional development.

In 2010 I started my career as a livestock nutrition specialist for a local feed mill, specializing in livestock care and farm management systems. In 2014, while still working in the livestock industry I joined North Country EMS as a volunteer EMT serving Northern Clark County, SE Cowlitz, and Skamania County. During my time serving as an EMT, I received extensive technical rescue training while working with the Mt. Saint Helens Volcano Rescue Team and Life Flight.

In 2019 I received my certification as a Wildlife Control Operator for WDFW, specializing in public education, nuisance wildlife abatement, and predator control. In July of 2022 I was hired as an ACO for Clark County Animal Protection and Control, I successfully completed ACO Officer I and ACO Officer II training through NACA. In March 2023 I graduated from the WACA ACO Academy in Burien WA. I was promoted to lead officer in August of 2023.

While working as an ACO, I have earned the nickname “NETS” for my ability to safely capture animals in difficult situations.

I have a strong passion for protecting animals and cultivating relationships within the community.

 

 

I am passionate about helping animal control officers feel prepared and empowered in their work. In my current role as Assistant Animal Services Manager for Everett Animal Services, I develop training programs and resources that give officers the tools, knowledge, and confidence to serve their communities safely and compassionately.

In addition to field training, I lead shelter initiatives that improve animal flow and outcomes, including daily population rounds and programs such as “Wandering Rovers,” which increases visibility and adoption opportunities for dogs. I have also strengthened internal processes through the creation of standard operating procedures and cross-department collaboration to streamline shelter operations.

This past year, I was selected for the Northern Tier Fellowship, where I worked alongside shelters across multiple states to develop best practices, evaluate operations to improve efficiencies at Everett and within our local animal control community. I am also actively pursuing the Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) credential to deepen my leadership and industry knowledge.

How to Become a Board Member

Each fall we are looking to expand our board and gain new team members.  The board has about 6 meetings per year, some of which can be by conference call.  There are two events that the WACA Board works hard on each year, the Spring Animal Control Officer Academy at CJTC, as well as the Pacific Northwest Animal Care & Control Conference in the Fall.  These are activities that you as a member, are needed to participate in and help plan.  It takes a team to pull these kinds of events off.  As a reward, each Fall, there is an annual working retreat in some fun location.  Different positions are available from Conference Coordinator, Academy Director, Membership Committee Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Social Media, Newsletter and much more.  The board is a great way to network, add something to your resume, have fun and help a great group achieve big accomplishments as a team effort.

Interested in joining the Board of Directors?

If you are interested in being a board member and would like to represent your Agency as well, please complete and submit the following documents to info@washingtonanimalcontrolassociation.org

  • Cover Letter
  • Resume