Meet The Team
Dianne Canafax
President
Dianne is a highly successful certified professional dog trainer with 25+ years of experience, which includes private and public classes, behavior modification consultations, service dog training, and therapy dog training. Dianne’s greatest passion is helping people to better understand their dogs in order to strengthen the relationship between dog and human. The focus in all her classes is on how dogs learn and the “why” behind their behaviors. Dianne uses positive, scientifically proven, non-forceful training methods to emphasize the relationship between dog and human.
Dianne has volunteered with local animal shelters for more than 15 years and has been involved in animal rescue for the past 12 years. She is the co-founder of Kitsap Animal Rescue & Education (KARE). Her professional certifications include Karen Pryor Academy Clicker Training Partner, Certified Professional Dog Trainer through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, and Certified Therapy Dog Evaluator for Pet Partners. She updates her credentials with frequent continuing education courses in animal behavior and training.
Vickie Josal
Board BiVice President / Volunteer Coordinator / Foster & Adoption Coordinator / Certified Trainer
Positive reinforcement and reward-based training are Vickie’s philosophies for both four- and two-legged students. She teaches our Canine Good Citizen/Therapy Dog Preparation class, Reactive Rover, Private Behavior Modification sessions, and Behavior Assessments. She also does outreach such as Vender Booths at community events, teaches Doglish at local schools, and works closely with the HOPE program.
Vickie has had 15 yrs experience as a volunteer at the local shelter as a Lead Dog Walker, Enrichment Assistant, Transfer Greeter, and Animal Transporter. Vickie has been a volunteer with KARE since 2012. Vickie is proudly also a former Pet Partners Therapy Team.
Vickie is always on the lookout for educational opportunities on canine behavior and how she can make a difference in their lives. To date, Vickie has graduated from the KARE Canine Behavior Internship Program and L.E.G.S. by Kim Brophey, as well as completed seminars by Sue Sternburg, Debbie Jacobs, Clicker Training Chicken Camp with Terry Ryan and Kelly Bollen, in addition to many other webinars and classes.
Vickie lives with her husband, Todd. She has had the honor of sharing life with several dogs and currently is mom to Sia, her 6 yr old foster failure labradoodle. When Vickie is not doing “dog stuff”, she enjoys spending time with her kids and grandkids, granddogs, and having family time at the lake in Minnesota.
Nelson Leopold
Board Treasurer / Certified Trainer
Nelson is a graduate of Karen Pryor Academy and a Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP).
Although he grew up with dogs and cats, Nelson’s training journey didn’t begin until he and his wife adopted two boonie dogs while living in Guam. After relocating to Washington, he discovered that his beloved pups struggled with reactivity, leading him to seek professional guidance.
That search brought him to KARE’s Reactive Rover program. While the program helped both of his dogs, it also sparked a passion for animal behavior and training. Learning about behavior felt like a natural fit, and Nelson quickly realized he wanted to deepen his knowledge and help others build stronger relationships with their dogs.
Nelson began volunteering with KARE while still participating in Reactive Rover classes with his dog, Kuma, and has remained actively involved ever since. He currently teaches Primary and Reactive Rover classes, assists with Canine Good Citizen and Pet Partners Therapy Dog classes, provides private training, and conducts behavior assessments for KARE’s HOPE program.
When he’s not at KARE, you’ll likely find him relaxing on the couch with one or both of his dogs.
Jill Kudera
Certified Trainer
Jill is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer and has been part of the KARE team for six years. Jill offers private lessons at KARE, as well as Puppy, Adolescent, and Adult Primary classes and Reactive Rover Levels.
After more than 18 years as a veterinary technician, Jill became increasingly interested in understanding the why behind dog behavior—what dogs are communicating, what they’re experiencing, and how we can help them navigate a world built for humans. That curiosity led Jill to positive reinforcement training and completely changed the way she looked at working with dogs. The more Jill learned about behavior, body language, fear, stress, motivation, and how dogs learn, the more she wanted to know—and that learning never stops.
One of Jill’s favorite parts of training is helping people have those lightbulb moments when something their dog is doing suddenly makes sense. Instead of simply asking, “How do I make my dog stop doing this?” Jill wants people to understand why their dog is doing it and what they can teach them to do instead. That shift in perspective can change everything, and Jill loves being a part of it.
Natalie Artemyeff
Board Member / Training Coordinator / Lead Trainer
Natalie started at KARE as a Reactive Rover student with her own dog in 2024. Discovering a skill and passion for dog training, Natalie is now a KARE board member, the Training Coordinator managing KARE’s Training Center, and she is also a Reactive Rover instructor. Natalie has been a KARE training intern since 2024, and she often assists with Therapy/CGC classes, Primary classes, Specialty classes & workshops, Puppy Playdates & Doggy Playtimes, and Chicken Camps. Natalie and Nelson also lead free twice-monthly dog Walkabouts at Kitsap public parks.
Natalie has adopted both cats and dogs from shelters, and she personally understands the challenges and gifts that come with rescues. Natalie finds great fulfillment in using positive reinforcement and relationship-based training to help support the special bond between people and their pets.
When not at KARE, you can usually find Natalie enjoying nature, catching a live show, or taking a nap.
Christie Merrill
HOPE Program Coordinator & Pet Center Manager
Christie has been with KARE/HOPE since May 2026. Christie serves as KARE’s HOPE Program Coordinator and Pet Center Manager at the Pacific Building. She supports individuals and families experiencing housing instability by coordinating participant outreach, vaccinations, behavioral assessments, veterinary care, temporary foster placement, and other pet-related resources. Within the Pacific Building, Christie oversees the Pet Center’s day-to-day operations and helps residents manage their pets’ care, medications, health needs, and shelter requirements. She works closely with community partners, volunteers, trainers, and veterinary professionals to help people and their pets remain together throughout the housing process.
Christie wanted to become more involved in her community and contribute to work that makes a practical difference in people’s lives. Pets are family, and Christie is inspired by the opportunity to help people overcome barriers without having to give up the animals they love.
Christie’s background includes project and program management, community outreach, education, and coordinating day-to-day pet care within a shelter environment. Christie also has extensive experience teaching lifesaving skills, managing training programs, and supporting people during stressful or unfamiliar situations.
Christie shares her life with Maggie—also known as “Magzilla”—the dog who turned Christie’s whole world upside down with her stubbornness and reactivity, and who decided that Christie was the person best suited for her. Maggie continues to teach Christie some of life’s most important lessons: to love unconditionally, remain calm under pressure, and remember that no matter what the day brings, it should always end with snuggles.
Meredith Dunne
Medical & Educational Grant Manager
Meredith Dunne’s work in animal welfare is deeply personal and rooted in lived experience.
Her passion for helping pet owners facing medical hardships comes from personal experience. In her late twenties, while she was a college student, her soul dog Riley was diagnosed with chronic kidney failure. As his condition progressed, she found herself struggling to afford the care he needed and feeling overwhelmed by both the financial and emotional stress. Although Riley ultimately passed peacefully, she was deeply moved by the compassion and support of the community that rallied around them during that difficult time.
That experience continues to shape the way she approaches her role at KARE. As Medical & Educational Grant Manager, Meredith draws on that perspective when reviewing applications for low-income grants. She understands the love people have for their animals and the stress and heartbreak that can come with trying to provide care in challenging circumstances. Her goal is to meet every applicant with empathy, dignity, and understanding.
Before stepping into her current role, Meredith served as KARE’s Adoption Manager for five years, where she helped guide countless animals into loving homes. She also brings extensive veterinary clinic experience, as well as time spent as Medical Coordinator for the Denver-based rescue organization Big Dogs Huge Paws, where she supported the medical needs of dogs in foster care.
Outside of KARE, Meredith owns Marlowe Flower Field, a small flower farm focused on seasonal, naturally grown blooms. She continues to stay closely connected to KARE as a volunteer and supporter, and last year she partnered with the organization by donating a portion of her plant sales to help fund its programs.