Furball Fundraiser

Karly’s love of animals began as a child.    Her favorite books were about animals, and she constantly followed around the family dog.  Growing up, she always knew she wanted a career around animals.  Originally, she considered becoming a veterinarian, but she ended up working with animals in a different way.  Karly started her career at the shelter, originally named Canyon County Animal Shelter, as a county employee.  During this time, Karly went from cleaning kennels, to being a veterinary technician. to supervising the animal control unit, and everything in between.  When the shelter privatized, Karly returned to her duties working in the Canyon County Jail.  However, she kept being led back to the shelter, later renamed West Valley Humane Society.  She became a member of the shelter’s board of directors to stay connected to the work she loved most.  Eventually, it became apparent that Karly’s true calling was to run the shelter to help it grow and evolve to be a model of excellence.  Her work at West Valley Humane Society illustrated her spectacular leadership skills and the shelter was transformed into a private non-profit that implemented progressive programs aimed at protecting and honoring animal lives while supporting the needs of her community.  She made connections outside of her area so she could find the right home, program, or placement for as many animals as possible.  Karly’s passion and dedication to animal welfare benefited her entire community, her staff, and her family.  

People who knew Karly, knew that she was very private.  She stayed away from the spotlight, preferring to let her work speak for itself.  However, she was a loyal friend, a fantastic sister, a wonderful daughter, a devoted mom, and a loving wife.  She made sure the people around her felt comfortable, and she was that rare person who could listen to a problem without ever offering judgment or harsh criticism. 

Karly’s compassion was unparalleled, and words cannot adequately express how much she will be missed by her friends, family, and staff.  West Valley Humane Society will honor Karly’s legacy by continuing the hard work and dedication to excellence in animal welfare that she instilled in her employees; many of whom were molded by her keen leadership.