With over 15 years of dedicated service as both an employee and volunteer, Deanna has worked with numerous animal shelters, rescue organizations, and veterinary hospitals. Her expertise spans animal welfare, event planning, logistics, volunteer training, and community outreach. Driven by a deep passion for helping underserved animal owners, Deanna strives to ensure every companion animal stays with their families instead of living in overcrowded and understaffed shelters.
Her compassion extends far beyond her professional life — her family farm is a loving home to rescued animals of all kinds, including chickens, peacocks, dogs, and cats. Through both her work and personal life, Deanna embodies a steadfast commitment to improving the lives of animals and the people who care for them.
Co-Founder/Director
Deanna Meyers
Throughout my work as a veterinarian for 28 years, I realized the incredibly valuable role that people and pets play in each other's lives. To honor this bond, I have consistently built programs and organizations in the Buffalo area that provide accessible veterinary services for those who typically have challenges in obtaining such care. I co-founded Operation PETS and Feral Cat FOCUS. These successful and impactful organizations “meet people where they are” to create a better life for animals and people in our community. Better Together Pet Resource Center is our newest effort which provides resources to keep pets with the people who love them and avoid the surrender of animals to overcrowded shelters.
Co-Founder/President
Kathleen Makolinski, DVM, DABVP (Shelter Medicine Practice)
More Info coming soon!
Board Member
Ivan Adams
Karen Slomba is the owner of Slomba Shelter Solutions, an innovative company that provides shelter management consulting and veterinary solutions for animal shelters across America. A 20-year veteran of the animal welfare industry, Karen has served as a director of four nonprofit and government contracted shelters in New York and Florida. She was a founding member of the Animal Alliance of Western New York designed to create a no-kill community. She is a member of the Advisory Board for the Florida Association of Animal Welfare Organizations.
Karen understands the challenges of today’s shelters and knows how to make an impact. She is widely known for her “outside the box” thinking, often creating new solutions to common industry problems.
Karen shares her home with 13 geriatric and infirm cats and a dog who feels terribly outnumbered.
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Board Member
Karen Slomba
With over 37 years of federal service, including 7 years as a Human Resources Specialist with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and 30 years with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Carina has dedicated her career to helping people through expertise in staffing, recruitment, employee support, and more. Her time at the VA also allowed her to work closely in clinical support roles, serving those who served our country. A lifelong animal lover with a deep interest in pet health and well-being, she is excited to bring her skills, compassion, and commitment to the mission of Better Together Pet Resource Center.
Board Member
Carina Halpin