Making a Difference in the Lives of Homeless, Abused & Abandoned Animals

 Hello, I’m Laurie Palazzolo. I have been a Certified Veterinary Technician since 1993. If I’m not out in the great outdoors, or with animals, I’m not truly happy! I have been a Surgical Technician in the P.A.W.S. Clinic since 2010. When I’m not working, I volunteer my time to HSWM as a Board Member, Medical Foster and “Spot” the Parade Dog. If I’m not helping rescue animals, I am out rescuing people on the Navajo County Search and Rescue, Inc. Team.

Thank goodness I have a great family that understands my crazy life and supports me! I think if I were a dog, I would be a Border Collie; high spirited, high energy, and always needing something to do. 

 I live in Lakeside with my partner Traci. I’ve had two full-time careers in my life – I am a retired Sgt. from Tempe Police Dept. After, Traci and I started up a landscape construction business in the Valley. We ran that business for several years and retired to the White Mountains in 2011.

 I got involved shortly after we moved here. I started as a volunteer and have done many “jobs” while at HSWM, to include, the Volunteer Coordinator; Critter Camp Director; Newsletter Editor; Board of Directors Secretary; and now I love working in the PAWS Clinic!

I used to tell new volunteers that HSWM gets into your soul and it sure does! I love HSWM and the people associated with it! I proudly proclaim to be a failed foster a few times over and now I live with 3 rescue dogs…2 came from HSWM. I hope to remain involved with HSWM for several years to come!

        Notwithstanding his extraordinarily busy work schedule, Mr. Carter finds time to serve as Treasurer and former Vice President of the Governing Board of Directors for the Humane Society of the White Mountains where he has also served on their Finance, Budget, and Building Committees. Being a private pilot, Mr. Carter has also volunteered his time and airplane to fly animals to rescues for the Humane Society to find their forever homes. Mr. Carter also served on the Advisory Council for Northland Pioneer College's Construction Technology Program. Lastly for recreation, Mr. Carter and Whiteriver Construction sponsor (and Jason has played on) Volleyball, Softball and Bowling Leagues and Teams for the City of Show Low and Town of Pinetop-Lakeside.

 Mike Bosley moved to the White Mountains along with his other half, Adria Acosta, from Kodiak Alaska, after many years as a commercial fisherman. Mike and Adria managed White Mountain Purified Water and Ice and grew it into The Pour Station, a coffee shop in Show Low. Mike and Adria have 3 fur babies, Saltery, Zacher, and Kiliuda (all named after locations on Kodiak Island). Mike and Adria recently welcomed a baby boy, Talon Antonio, to make their family complete. Mike has served on various Board of Directors around town and currently is the chairperson for Derby Down the Deuce. Mike can be seen helping out in the community doing various services such as a DJ, emcee, auctioneering, or hosting a show on the local TV station. Mike Bosley joined the Board of Directors in 2018. 

  Malaina (Crozier) Spillman grew up in Pinetop-Lakeside and has a long family history in Pinetop-Lakeside.  After graduating from Blue Ridge High School, Malaina attend Northern Arizona University and received a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with an Emphasis in Health & Gerontology.  After graduation Malaina returned to Pinetop-Lakeside, she and her husband have a son and daughter.  Malaina works for the Town of Pinetop-Lakeside as the Recreation Coordinator.  She has a tremendous love for all animals, especially Golden Retrievers.  Malaina’s first dog as an adult was a Golden Retriever named Duke that she rescued from the Humane Society. Malaina and her family currently have 2 rescue dogs, German Short-hair named Ozzie, Terrier/Dachshund Mix named Beebe, a golden retriever named Daisy, 2 rescue miniature horses, Bella and Bolt, another horse Sissy, 2 Araucana chickens named Funky Chick and Hay-Hay and a fish named Delta.   

 Hi there! I'm Cassie. I have worked here at the Humane Society for about a year and a half now and I absolutely love it. I work up front in the office doing many different tasks, and I also help clean in the back. My husband and I moved here from Las Vegas in April of 2018. In my spare time I love being with family and I also foster animals that come into the shelter. We currently have two foster fails at home. Paco is my love bug chihuahua and Ninja is our crazy cat. We also have 3 wonderful daughters that live in Oregon. We absolutely love it here in the White Mountains and are so happy to call this our new home.  

 Hi! Im Taylor. I have worked at the humane society for a couple months now, And it is by far my favorite job I have ever had the opportunity to have! When im not here in the front office, you can catch me being a crazy helicopter mom to a busy Bee toddler! And on my free time I enjoy spending time outdoors and riding horses.  

 As a Veterinary Technician of 25 years, I’m always trying to help the animals in any way I can. We moved here from Wyoming in 2017. My husband Les of 40 years and grandson Riley, 3 Horses, 4 cats, and 2 dogs. My favorite thing’s to do is riding my horses, hiking, rock hunting and just being with my family. I have worked at the HSWM for 1 ½ years. I started on the medical staff which included working in the P.A.W.S Clinic where we do spay and neuter’s. In January 2019 I took on a new position for HSWM. So I am now the Outreach Coordinator and still help with the animals every day. I now have a great new family at Humane Society of the White Mountains 

John and I moved to Lakeside in April 2018. Before we were even done unpacking, I was solicited to help with Happy Tails. I volunteered John to help as well, starting with the July 4th parade and then Happy Tails. We both fell in love with the HSWM family and everything they work hard to accomplish. I was hired as the part-time bookkeeper in January 2019 and it didn’t take long for me to realize this was THE – BEST – JOB – EVER! I love the people, the animals, the volunteers and everybody locally and around the state working for the same common goal – to help animals in need. One of the volunteers I worked with at a recent PACC911 adoption event in Phoenix said it best, “I’m surrounded by people who feel the same way about animals as I do. I feel like I’m home with these people”.

John and I have four dogs. At our peak a few years ago we had 5 dogs, 4 cats and a Beta fish. Talk about crazy!! As time has passed we have realized we simply can’t have as many animals as our hearts have love for - another reason HSWM is so perfect for us!

In my free time I love to ATV, camp, kayak, travel and work in my flower garden – anything outdoors and even better if we are doing it with some of the wonderful friends we have made here! We bought our first tiny toy hauler this year about a month before camping season ended so we look forward to doing a lot more camping in the beautiful White Mountains in the summers to come.

I have worked at HSWM for 12 years and I have loved every minute of it. It can be very bittersweet at times but it is all worth it. In my free time I love spending time with my family, (I have a rambunctious 2 1/2 year old that keeps me on my toes) I love being outdoors and  the beautiful White Mountains we live in. I have 2 dogs and 1 cat, 2 of which came from HSWM as Foster Failures, who also keep me on my toes.