Menu
Kerrville Pets Alive! is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the lives of homeless pets in Kerr County, Texas. Kerrville Pets Alive! Works to keep pets in homes and out shelters by assisting Kerr County Animal Services with funding and volunteers and providing animal welfare resources to the Kerr County community.
Since the formation of KPA!, there has been a substantial decrease in the number of pets euthanized in Kerr County.
Our KPA! Board Members serve without compensation. We are a nonprofit that is 100% volunteer-run, and every dollar donated helps save animals’ lives right in our community.
President
Karen, her husband Layng and three children, 23, 20 and 18, moved to Kerrville from Houston 10 years ago. She has been an animal lover her entire life and involved herself in animal welfare activities in Houston following her 8-year career with the United States Attorney's Office as their Public Information Officer. After settling in Kerrville, Karen began to volunteer at Kerr County Animal Services. She also served various KISD PTO organizations, as a Director for Kerr County United Way and Chairman of the Kerrville 2050 River Corridor and Parks and Open Spaces Committee. In 2019, Karen joined forces with other animal advocates to form Kerrville Pets Alive!. Since then, she has been working with others to make Kerr County a better place for people and their pets.
Karen's four-legged family includes 2 dogs, Rusty and Prince and 2 cats, Big Kitty and Tesha. They are all rescues, and both cats are KCAS alumni.
Email: Public Relations
Vice President
Brenda Hughes is a local 30-year business owner who is a founding member and current Vice-President of KPA! Brenda and her husband, Buzzie, own a restaurant in Kerrville and have raised four children who continue to reside and work their professional careers in Kerr County with their 15 grandchildren. Brenda is serving her second term as Place 4 councilmember on Kerrville’s City Council.
Treasurer
Leslie was born and raised in San Antonio but has lived in the Texas Hill Country since 1997. Graduated from Schreiner University in 2005 with a degree in Accounting and Information Systems. Leslie joined Davidson Freedle CPA in 2007. This is where her work with local non-profits began. She has volunteered with Relay For Life and served on the Board of Directors for Magdalene House and Hill Country Charity Ball Association.
Leslie loves reading, traveling, dancing and spending time with friends, family and pets Sophie and Nala.
Email: TreasurerSecretary
Susan moved to Kerrville with her husband and daughter over 10 years ago. She worked for many years as an Operations Manager in Houston before landing in the Hill Country and renewing her passion for both the arts and animals! Susan has a special place in her heart for cats and that's how she found her way to Kerrville Pets Alive! With her daughter now grown she is enjoying volunteering for KPA. In her free time she enjoys the theater, traveling, and spending time with her own pet crew. She has a miniature schnauzer and several rescue cats.
Email: Cat Rescue
Gayle has a wealth of animal experience and has been an advocate for the humane treatment of wildlife and domestic animals for decades.
Her professional experience includes 36 years in law as a legal secretary, legal assistant, and paralegal in criminal and family law.
Gayle has a Masters in Counseling and she worked 10 years with severely emotionally disturbed children and adults. She has also worked for 6 years with Intellectually Developmentally Disabled children and adults and served as a CPS investigator for 7 years.
Email: PEMA
Worked as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist for 31 years. Served in Operation Desert Storm in Kuwait and Iraq, in charge of Anesthesia Services for the 912th MASH unit (last MASH to serve!) Own and operate Karen Johnson Imaging - digital media services. Have had dogs since I was 5 years old, and presently have a rescue Newfoundland, a Malinois (Ag Barn) and a Lab/Pit puppy (street dog from San Antonio). Married to another dog lover, John, who also served with me during the Gulf War as an Oral Maxillofacial Surgeon. Had one son, who passed away from cancer, helping us make the decision to move from cold Missouri to Texas to retire to play golf and heal. ( Then, I met Karen G..... LOL) We live on 40 acres and love every minute on the ranch, and feel very lucky to live in Texas and volunteer for Kerrville Pets Alive!
Email: Dog Rescue
Tara recently moved back to Texas after spending 20 years in Omaha, Nebraska and has not skipped a beat with her community involvement at Kerrville Pets Alive! as the Events and Volunteer Coordinator. Tara has always been surrounded by rescue animals and currently has four dogs, Nala (who is part of our Pup Squad), Tex, Sammy, and Henry as well as Fred the cat. She is also a wife and a mother of two, Addison 16, and Caleb 12, and is a local real estate agent. Finding homes for humans and shelter animals is her mantra!
Email: Volunteer Coordinator
Wendy has called Kerrville her home since 1987. She and her husband Kevin married in 1997 and have been business owners since 1998. They have two children, Campbell (23) and Randon (21). As an accountant by trade, Wendy has served as Treasurer and Director on numerous PTO’s and non-profit boards over the past 20+ years. Current boards include Kerrville Public School Foundation and Hill Country Ministries. Wendy has co-chaired KPA’s annual Fur Ball since its inception, she is active in helping women struggling with alcohol and drug addiction and is the accountant for Club Charles. She and her family love all animals! You are guaranteed to find rescued wildlife amongst their four dog and five cat household. She enjoys her weekly bible study, reading and the sunshine. During her free time you can find her lounging by her pool or hanging out on the Frio in Leakey.
Email: Fur Ball Coordinator
Jodie Tilmon and her husband have lived in since 2004. She is currently a Mortgage Loan Officer and has been in the real estate industry for almost 20 years. As the daughter of an Ag Teacher and growing up on a ranch, Jodie developed a deep appreciation and love for animals early on in life. This passion led her to get involved with Kerrville Pets Alive!, where she helped organize the inaugural Fur Ball. Recognizing the deep need for advocates for the animals of Kerr County, Jodie remains committed to supporting animal welfare initiatives in the community through KPA!. Alongside her husband, Jodie is a loving parent to two fur babies, Breeze(pictured here) and Tee.
Jennifer was born and raised in southern Germany but has lived in Texas most of her adult life. She left the Austin area and moved to the Kerrville area in 2008, and never looked back. Jennifer has worked in the veterinary field for almost two decades, she has been with Town and Country Animal Hospital for the last 16 years and counting. Working in the veterinary field, she became more familiar with animal rescue and welfare needs, and thus started a long journey of working with various animal organizations locally and in the surrounding areas. She has fostered and adopted countless animals over the years, but particularly has an affinity for animals with special needs or chronic health issues, that otherwise might not be adopted. Jennifer is excited to join Kerrville Pet's Alive and support their mission and animal welfare efforts in our community.
Monetary donations can be mailed to the PO Box address and walk in monetary donations can be made at the food pantry in Riverhills Mall. Chewy and Amazon orders can still be delivered to 414 Clay St.
Our mailing address is:
317 Sidney Baker S., Suite 400
PMB 345
Kerrville, Texas, 78028
Our physical office location is
414 Clay Street
Kerrville, Texas 78028
Our food pantry is at
Riverhills Mall (located in a space near the entrance to Belk)
200 Sidney Baker St S
Kerrville, Texas 78028
Open MWF from 10a to 2p
