Meredith Kolloen
Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming State Medical Coordinator
Meredith has always been a lover of animals from spending most of her childhood clinching a poor kitty in her arms and flea bitten ankles to a enjoying a thriving career in the animal community of Seattle, Washington. She started her animal career with an eye opening experience learning the natural approach's to pet nutrition and soon moved onto a holistic veterinary practice. After spending her days helping heal the pooches of the Pacific Northwest, it was time to move on to places where dogs actually wanted to be....dog daycare! Beginning as a Dog Wrangler (more like Dog Referee), she quickly grow along with the company and became an Event Planner; scheduling Martini Mutt parties to staring in their reality show "The Adventures of Doggie Daycare."
Meredith and her Rottweiler/German Shepard mix, Riley, made the move to Denver, CO in 2007 to complete her Bachelor's Degree. Now that she has gotten her degree, she is pursuing other career options but loves that she is still able to work with animals by volunteering for Big Dogs Huge Paws. Her love of gentle giants and her obsessive need to plan and coordinate makes her a great fit as a Medical Coordinator in charge of scheduling appointments for foster dogs.
Kris Yount
Nebraska, Iowa, Montana State Medical Coordinator
Kris currently lives in Bellevue, Ne with her son, Ben and (in order of adoption) Newfoundland, Xena (Heart of America Newfoundland Rescue); Newf/Saint/Devil mix, Lewis (Furry Kids Refuge); Newfoundland, Jlo (Big Dogs Huge Paws) and Gus a 38 y/old African Grey Parrot who helps keep the dogs in line.
Kris' family's fondness for giant breed dogs began with an Irish Wolfhound in 1985. Extended to a 225lb Great Dane who live to the grand old age of 12 yrs and 2 months. Thru the years she and her boys have raised; multiple dogs and cats, some; goats, chickens, ducks, sheep, horses, an occasional raccoon....living smack in the middle of the city.
Kris has served as a transport/foster/home check volunteer for HANR for many years, Nebraska Humane Society in a fund raising capacity for many years. She began donating time as a transporter and foster for BDHP about a year ago and now serves as the Medical Coordinator for NE, IA and MT.Professionally Kris has been a Deputy Sheriff for 30 years. The job can be stressful some days and there is nothing as relaxing as returning home to happy, huge, wagging tails. Nor is there anything more rewarding than watching a dog who comes into rescue sick and scared, blossom into a happy, healthy giant.
Kristy Pauly
Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma State Medical Coordinator
Kristy Pauly lives in Wichita, KS with her husband, Nolan. She is currently working part time as a lead stylist at Beehive Salon and part time as a Senior Stylist for Stella & Dot. When she is not busy with one of those two jobs she is helping BDHP in whatever way she can. Whether it be taking pictures of fosters, microchipping, making vet appointments or organizing the next garage sale. Kristy and Nolan began volunteering with BDHP in the summer of 2009 and not soon after fell in love with one of their own fosters. She is thankful her husband convinced her to find a hobby that summer after they got married, even if it wasn’t what he had in mind! Kristy is very thankful to have such a supportive and helpful partner in Nolan when it comes to volunteering. <?xml:namespace prefix = o />Kristy has always loved the giant breeds having grown up with a St. Bernard, Great Dane and Great Pyrenees. She currently lives with Charlie the Bulldog (who runs the Pauly Household), and Robert the English Mastiff who after being placed as a permanent foster soon became their own! She loves to spread the word about BDHP and help others understand why adopting from a rescue or shelter is so much better than a breeder.
Lynne Frankovich
Texas & Utah State Medical Coordinator
Lynne has always been an animal lover and discovered BDHPI when searching for another homeless pet to join her family which has had a number of large breeds, including Borzoi and Irish Wolfhounds.
She and her husband Pat, live in Salt Lake City with their three dogs, Lucky, a former medical research dog, Lakota, adopted from the Humane Society and Bernie, adopted through BDHPI. (They have a houseful during the holidays and family dinners, when the kids come over with their three rescued dogs. ) Lynne and Pat started with the occasional transporting of fosters between Salt Lake City and Denver to meet their Forever Families, and Lynne is currently is the Utah/Texas Medical Coordinator.
Lynne works part-time for R & R Transportation, attempts to golf, enjoys going back to school and recently went through the Citizens Academy for the Unified Police Department in Salt Lake, is currently taking dog obedience classes.
Jascha Morton
Medical Co-Coordinator, Medications & Heartworm Prevention
Jascha lives in Centennial, Colorado and works as a Swim Lesson Coordinator at a local recreation center, works part-time as a Veterinary Assistant, coaches a swim team, and does quite a bit of dog sitting on the side as well. She has a huge heart for animals and quite a bit of experience in working with dogs in particular.
Jascha has been involved in rescue for several years and is happy to be a member of the Big Dogs Huge Paws team. She knows the importance of each and every volunteer and is happy to make a difference by helping to distribute medications and heartworm prevention to foster dogs in our program. Her personal pack includes 3 Saint Bernards named Brigsby, Ruby, and Sadie, a Newfoundland named Wilhemenia and a permanent foster Great Dane named Bebe. She also owned a Great Pyrenees/Mastiff mix previously as well so she is no stranger to giant breeds!
Lisa Lajimodiere
Records Coordinator 
Lisa Lajimodiere
Records Coordinator
When Lisa started looking for a way to volunteer in the community she attended a BDHP “meet and greet” event and fell in love with the idea of rescue and became hooked! Lisa started working with Big Dogs Huge Paws in 2010 as an event coordinator. It was great talking with potential volunteers or adopting families and passing along our mission that EVERY BIG DOG DESERVES A CHANCE. When help was needed to coordinate medical records for incoming and current dogs, she was up to the challenge! Lisa is extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with an amazing organization and with such dedicated and awe-inspiring volunteers!
Lisa currently works as a Quality Assessment Coordinator at a community mental health center. She lives in Denver with her husband Tony and their only child, Onyx, an 8-year-old Great Dane who was a failed foster in 2010.
Christina DePriest
Kansas State Co-Coordinator
Christina is from Wichita, KS where she currently resides with her husband Steve and son Deacon (age 5). She has 4 dogs: Cole, a 4 year old Great Dane, Bailey, a 10 year old Yorkie, Cooper, a 1 year old Mini Aussie, and Rogue, a 7 month old English Mastiff . She also has 2 horses (an Appendix QH and a QH), 3 cats, 5 pygmy goats, and 1 duck.
Christina began college at K-State, where she studied Animal Science with an emphasis on genetics, and after 2 years she studied abroad in France when she changed her focus and ultimately got a BS in International Business with a minor in French. She completed her MBA at Friends University in 2008, and currently works in program management on the 787 program at Spirit Aerosystems in Wichita.
Christina has always had a passion for animals, dogs and horses in particular. She began riding at an early age and was always bringing home strays, nursing them to health, and finding them homes. She got her first Great Dane in 2001, and fell in love. Sadly, she lost her due to a kidney tumor in December 2009. While she has a soft spot for Great Danes, she loves all giant breeds and is very excited to serve as the Kansas State Coordinator and continue to help expand BDHPI’s volunteer base and resources in the area!
Tim Irwin
Kansas State Co-Coordinator
Tim Irwin began volunteering for Big Dogs Huge Paws, Inc back in 2009. During his time with the rescue, he has helped perform homechecks, attend events to help spread the word, and has fostered everything from pregnant mama dogs to special seniors and everything in between. He quickly grew into a leadership role as the Kansas State Coordinator and also started up the local Big Dogs Meetup Group which gets together regularly at local dog parks in the area and is an opportunity to meet and recruit other big dog lovers to join our cause.
On a professional level, Mr. Irwin currently works for the Urban League of Kansas as a Service Coordinator for the Youth Empowerment Program after graduating from Wichita State University in 2001. He deals with kids with behavioral problems on a daily basis and devotes his life to helping others, whether they are furry 4-legged friends or troubled teens!
Tim lives with his wife, Lauren, in Wichita, Kansas along with their four dogs, two German Shepherds named Jack & Honey and two young Great Danes named Lollipop & Lady.
Kaywin Sohl
Nebraska State Co-Coordinator
Kaywin has been employed with the State of Nebraska Department of Personnel for over 30 years and has lived all her life in Lincoln NE. She gets her passion for animals from her father. As a young child, she was surrounded by hamsters, pigeons, rabbits, fish, parakeets, banty roosters and countless dogs.
She became interested in rescue about four years ago and currently volunteers for two other rescue groups and can’t get enough of it. In her free time, she enjoys mowing, car shows, working in her flower garden and spending time with her two Great Danes (Titan and Lincoln) on three acres.
Her favorite quote is: No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich.
Brittiny Vegas
Nebraska State Co-Coordinator
Brittiny Vegas works for Broadmoor Management Company as a Leasing Consultant at Highpointe Apartments. She spends her days finding homes for people so it’s not surprising that in her free time she likes to find homes for pets too! Brittiny is grateful that she works at a dog-friendly community and is able to bring in foster dogs when they need additional socialization and obedience training.
From the time she was able to walk she has been rehabilitating abandoned animals of all kinds. After bringing home squirrels, raccoons, dogs, cats, and baby birds, her parents weren’t shocked to find a baby lamb in her bedroom. As class president of her high school, she raised $1500 for the local Humane Society. In her hometown of Milford, NE, Brittiny has always been the go-to person when anyone needed dog training or had an animal related question. In addition to rescuing dogs that could pass as ponies, she has always had a passion for horses. Brittiny has an extensive background in horse training and currently has a thoroughbred that competes in jumping and eventing.
Brittiny has rescued, fostered and rehabilitated over 100 dogs throughout the years. She thrives on being able to turn a scared or sickly dog into a treasured family companion. When Brittiny learned about the Big Dogs Huge Paws Organization she quickly became an active volunteer. She always helps in any way that she can by processing applications, doing home checks, fostering, transporting, welcoming new volunteers and planning events.
Brittiny currently lives in Lincoln, NE with her 2 year old daughter, Ella, Luha the Great Dane, Apollo the Great Dane, Ruger the Great Dane, Nova the thoroughbred, and countless foster “kids”. She is fortunate that her family is so flexible and supportive of all the new dogs that come into their lives and that her daughter shares her passion for animals. In her free time she is a frequent visitor of the Holmes Lake Dog Run and enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Becky Polniak
Transport Coordinator
Becky Polniak lives in Grand Junction, Colorado with her husband Frank, son Brayden, daughter Lillian, and St. Bernard, Molly. She was raised around Great Pyrenees but dreamed of one day having a St. Bernard. She found out about Big Dogs Huge Paws through the internet and wanted to do whatever she could to help. She started as a volunteer in 2010 helping with transports that came through the Grand Junction area. She has since taken on a position as Transportation Coordinator because she wanted to become more involved with the rescue and help in a greater capacity. Besides her love of big dogs she also loves to knit, sew, craft, gardening, and canning the fruits in her garden.
She is often accused by friends and family, of being a professional volunteer and has served in many volunteer capacities, always revolving around children or dogs in need, for 30+ years.
Judy Mead
Social Media Coordinator
Judy is a lifelong animal lover with a passion for the gentle giants! She started volunteering with BDHP in 2009 and enjoys thinking of new ways to help the rescue. Currently she makes embroidered projects that you can often find for sale on the BDHP Facebook page. She has a Biology Degree from Metro State College of Denver and plans on starting a teaching career in the near future. Judy currently works for the City of Aurora, Colorado.
Judy has a fantastic and tolerant husband, Craig, and two great kids, Emma and Parker, who are all regulars at BDHPI events. She shares her home with two Great Danes, Lady and BDHP alum, Holly. Lady is Judy’s first dog as an adult and she could not have picked a breed that fit her lifestyle better! Judy started the Volunteer Only Facebook page and oversees the BDHPI promotional products for sale.
Marissa Knight
Medical Co-Coordinator, Medications & Heartworm Prevention
Marissa lives in Englewood, CO with her failed foster Neshobe the senior Great Dane, and 2 rescued Goldens, Chloe and Ava. She has been an active volunteer with BDHPI since its inception.
Marissa is responsible for distributing monthly Heartworm prevention to our foster dogs as well as any other medicines they may need. In addition, she assists with transports, home-checks, dog food pick up, foster supplies, micro-chipping, photographing incoming dogs, and fostering. She loves helping dogs in need and enjoys educating others about these special Giants. The rewards of rescue are very visible to her via the happy endings that our organization creates and she also enjoys the camaraderie of being around other “crazy dog” people.
In addition to volunteering with Big Dogs, Marissa and her Canine Good Citizen Chloe, visit patients and hospital staff at Porter hospital. She and her dogs enjoy swimming and hiking as well as lots of lounging around.
Wendy is the Regional Director of Sales for a NYC company. She first started volunteering with BDHPI in 2009 doing home checks, fostering, and anything that was needed. In 2012 she started helping to set up new vet relationship and the Officers quickly discovered that Wendy has a special skill in negotiations and asked her to join the leadership team as our Charitable Partners Coordinator. Wendy lives in Boulder Colorado with her husband, CJ, a tolerant and loyal supporter of Wendy's drive to save as many large breed animals as possible. Over the last 15 yrs., eight large breed dogs have made Wendy and CJ's home complete; at times a complete: mess, madhouse, hospice, medical center, spa and final resting place. Impaired dogs find the soft spot in Wendy's head, I mean heart, and tunnel in for the duration. She and CJ spare no effort or expense to enrich the journey they take with their animals. Wendy and CJ joke that they need to ask the dogs to borrow their Tahoe. Their family of dogs is always evolving and the pack changes more than their hearts would like, but the dedication is eternal.
Wendy Sullivan
Charitable Partners Coordinator
Wendy and CJ sold their 2 story home to buy a ranch, in deference to the limitations of senior large breed animals, which they currently share with 3 Mastiffs and a Dane. When a mastiff member of their family, Oso, went blind and then lame they refused to give up and bought him a custom designed wheelchair and invested in daily acupuncture. This gave him an extra 3 yrs to share the joys of daily swims, walks, car rides and homemade meals. When a call went out to save a mastiff in Phoenix, Wendy flew there and drove her back to CO; where she thrives now, albeit damaged beyond repair, yet finally home.
