Meet Shayleen!

Shayleen’s love for animals started early, and she always knew she wanted a career working with them. With a longtime interest in dog training, she began working at a local animal shelter to gain hands-on experience with dogs. She even fostered quite a few dogs from the shelter through Big Paws! She discovered a passion for rescue work and helping animals find their forever homes.

Shay joined Big Paws as a dog trainer in 2026, drawn to our mission of rescuing dogs and helping them find loving homes. Her goal is to help dogs and their families better understand each other, giving every pup the best chance to thrive and stay in their forever home.

Shay and her husband share their home with two rescue dogs, Darcie and Dee, along with their two cats, Draco and Deli. She’s excited to continue learning, growing her training skills, and helping dogs and their people build happy lives together!