I began my animal welfare career at the tender age of 20 when I came across an ad looking for volunteers at the old Independence animal control. I stayed there for several years as a volunteer. I worked at HSGKC and Wayside waifs. I spent some time working for a veterinarian, I managed a dog wash, and taught obedience classes at PetSmart when they first came to town - anything I could do to get more knowledge in the animal world.  No matter what I did, I always ended up back in the shelter environment.

In 2016 I started a dog walking-pet sitting business and 1.5 years later opened my first doggy daycare-boarding facility. When I moved the daycare to a larger building, I kept my smaller building and founded Melissa’s Second Chances.   I am a Forever board member and am still involved in helping it grow.  In my free time I opened Second Cup Cat Café in Olathe, and I am currently the Community Program Manager at GPSPCA.  I also own a farm where we rescue unwanted farm animals. I am very proud to have been invited to join the board at Fix em KC where I head up the newly formed Ambassador program.  When I am not helping all the critters of the world, I spend time with my husband and beautiful children, cooking, watching sports, eating out and counting the days until my first grandson arrives.