meet our team
Tracey Kinsley
Executive Director
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Tracey recently moved to the area and joined the PAWS team in May. She lived in Indian River County, FL, for 40 years but is thoroughly loving the Emerald Coast. She has a deep passion for animal welfare and extensive experience in the industry, having worked in various roles dedicated to improving the lives of animals, including at the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County. Her background includes leadership in community development, fundraising, and communications to raise awareness and support for animal welfare organizations. Tracey has fostered more than 40 animals, with a special talent for bottle-feeding kittens. She is an avid sports lover and has a deep passion for nonprofit and social service organizations. Above all, she is a proud mom to two children and three stepdaughters. In her spare time, she enjoys spoiling dogs and cats and exploring the area.
Dr. Megan Stapleton
Veterinarian
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Dr. Stapleton grew up in the Hudson Valley region of New York and has been an avid animal lover since childhood. Her summers were spent at an outdoor day camp, where her mother frequently had to check her lunch box to ensure there were no critters contained within! Her weekends were spent with her father, where her love of animals was further cultivated through horseback riding lessons, fishing trips, and caring for a plethora of pets at home. She knew from a very young age that she wanted to work with animals and initially pursued a career as a licensed veterinary technician. With encouragement from her veterinarian mentor, she began her studies at the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph, Ontario. During her clinical year, her passion for community outreach was cultivated through various externships. Most notably, her experiences on a Rural Area Veterinary Services trip solidified her desire to pursue a career focused on shelter medicine. After graduating from OVC, she was accepted to Cornell University as the Maddie’s Shelter Medicine intern, where she received intensive specialized training in all aspects of shelter medicine. Upon completion of her internship, she moved from New York to Georgia, where she was the Shelter Veterinarian for the Atlanta Humane Society for three years. A lifelong desire to live close to the beach then lead her to pursue job opportunities in Florida, where she worked for two different shelters over the next few years. Her professional interests include feline enrichment, canine behavior, veterinary disaster response, and accessible care programs. While at home, Dr. Stapleton can often be found curled up with a book, with at least one cat on her lap! She is an avid reader with an extensive home library. She and her fiancé currently share their life with five feline companions: Prince George Nubbins, Sir Ernest Biscuitmaker, The Honorable Ruthie Spayder Skinsburg, Steve the Serious Camper, and Gandalf the Yard Cat. When not catering to the various needs of the clowder, they enjoy riding bikes and walking the beaches in search of the perfect seashell. She is very excited to begin her journey with PAWS and looks forward to becoming an integral part of the community here!
Kira East
Director of Operations
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Kira East has been an integral part of PAWS for many years, contributing her expertise across multiple departments. Driven by a deep passion for giving a voice to the voiceless, she continually strives to improve the lives of animals in her care and beyond.
At home, Kira’s dedication is evident in the loving environment she creates for her four dogs and three cats. She tirelessly seeks innovative solutions that enhance animal welfare and advocates for those who cannot speak for themselves. Kira’s impactful work within the shelter and in the broader community has made her a vital member of the PAWS team.