History • Board of Directors • Open Paw in Shelters • Minimum Health Requirements

Kelly began her career in Chicago running her own private behavior counseling service and managing a training, daycare, and boarding facility. She moved to Los Angeles to work with the SPCALA's Outreach Department in an after-school program for at-risk adolescents – teaching communication and conflict resolution, and building self-esteem through dog training. While in L.A. she realized the tremendous role of humane education in reducing the ill treatment of humans and animals alike. After relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area to become Director of Sirius Puppy Training, Kelly co-founded OPEN PAW – an international, community-based humane education program. Kelly is an active member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.

Colleen Boyle
Colleen Boyle became involved with Open Paw in October of 2000 when she was introduced to its unique coordination of approaches designed to help individuals, shelters, and communities work together to prevent animals from being surrendered and abandoned. She is convinced that only by attending to the source of unwanted animals will we solve the problem of the continued senseless waste of the lives of pet animals in this country.

Colleen is an adjunct professor of Philosophy at Contra Costa College in San Pablo, CA.


Sharon Fletcher
Sharon Fletcher is a marketing communications professional with over 12 years experience in the corporate world. Sharon's true passion is animals.She has volunteered with animal organizations for over 10 years. In preparation for adopting a dog for her family, Sharon began educating herself on dog behavior and training methods. Sharon became a co-trainer with Sirius Puppy Training, a volunteer foster dog trainer with Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation and a volunteer with Open Paw's pilot shelter program at the Berkeley East Bay Humane Society. She is an active member with the Association of Pet dog Trainers. Sharon has worked as a sales executive, marketing manager, graphic design production manager and investor, and public relations manager in the Bay Area. She earned her B.S. degree from CSU Sacramento in Marketing with an emphasis in visual communications. Sharon lives in Oakland with the loves of her life: her husband, Craig; Jake, a 5-month old Bernese Mountain Dog puppy; Oliver, 5-year old Himalayan mix; and Marvin, a 3-year old long-haired orange Tabby.


Lisa Fine
Lisa Fine served on the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society's Board of Directors for 9 years. Not long after becoming its Executive Director in 2001, she became dismayed at the lack of handling the animals received and, worse, the number of under-socialized, unmanageable and unwanted pets being euthanized in municipal shelters – typically due to peoples' ignorance about basic pet care. Lisa integrated Open Paw's "4-level" training protocols into the daily routine of the animal shelter and initiated mandatory, intensive counseling for adopters before they went home with a new pet.


Dr. Ian Dunbar
Dr. Ian Dunbar is a veterinarian, animal behaviorist, and author of numerous books on dog behavior and training, and host of the British television series "Dogs With Dunbar". During the past 30 years, Dr. Dunbar has given over 750 one-day seminars and workshops for dog trainers and veterinarians in an effort to popularize the notions of off-leash, puppy socialization classes, temperament modification and dog-friendly, lure/reward, fun and games dog training.

In 1993, Dr. Dunbar founded the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, which is now the largest association of professional trainers in the world.

Dr. Dunbar's books, videos and "Behaviour" column in the American Kennel Club's Gazette have all won numerous awards. In a recent National survey of dog books and videos, Dr. Dunbar's "How To Teach A New Dog Old Tricks" was voted as the Best Book and "SIRIUS Puppy Training" was unanimously voted the Best Video.

Dr. Dunbar has recently written two books especially for the Open Paw program: "BEFORE you get your Puppy," and "AFTER you get your Puppy." His publishing company, James and Kenneth Publishers, generously donates BEFORE You Get Your Puppy for potential adopters and volunteers at Open Paw facilities.