Katy Florke has been part of the PAWS & More Animal Shelter for 20 years, and a fundraiser honoring her dedication to the animals is coming to a close at the end of the month. 

As the Animal Care Team Manager, Florke contributes to the well-being of every animal who comes through their doors. Her passion for dog behavioral training has changed countless lives. KCII spoke with Florke about her years of dedication to the animals, and what it means to her,  “Heartbreak and love all at the same time. There’s definitely a lot of sad things that we see in our line of work, it’s just part of it. But then, it’s so rewarding to see those animals come in, maybe like, defeated or sick, or just struggling, and then us getting to see that change, and making that perfect match is so rewarding. And I’m getting to see those pictures afterwards of when they are in their new homes, and so loved, and so well taken care of. It just makes all of it so worth it and so rewarding.”  

In honor of her two decades of service, PAWS has launched a fundraiser for Bea’s Fund, their dog training program that’s close to Florke’s heart. The community is invited to donate $20 in her honor now through the end of September. You can give through the Facebook post, PayPal, Venmo, or by mailing or bringing a check or cash to the shelter. Every dollar goes toward giving dogs the training they need to thrive and find their forever homes.