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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.

Questions?

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Shelter Hours 

Shelter: Monday thru Sunday 9am - 5pm

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LOCATION 

752 Lovejoy Road NW

Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

ADOPTION Hours 

Monday thru Sunday

10am - 430pm

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Assisted Shelter Walk-throughs begin at 11am

TO RECLAIM A PET 

Monday-Sunday

8am - 5pm

Thursdays until 6pm

 

Please utilize our Animal Control Tab for instructions on reclaiming an owned pet

ANIMAL CONTROL

Monday thru Friday

8am - 5pm

 

After hours, holidays and weekends are emergency calls only.

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Emergency Calls Definition

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Dangerous Dog Hearings

Notice of Hearing:

Wednesday May 8th, 2024 10 AM 

Location: 25 Walter Martin RD, NE, Suite 200

Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

Wednesday April 10, 2024 at 10AM CST

Location: 25 Walter Martin RD, NE, Suite 200

Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

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CONTACT

Animal Control & Humane Society

850-243-1525

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After Hours Emergencies

850-685-6003

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Lost & Found Pets:

customerservice@paws-shelter.org

animalcontrol@paws-shelter.org

PAWS is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Federal Tax ID #59-0815515 

Contributions to the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society are tax-deductible as allowable by law.  

Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Registration #CH5664 

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

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