Meet the Arizona Humane Society Agents

 Andy Starr – Field Operations Director
As the director of field operations, Andy runs the Arizona Humane Society’s ground-breaking Emergency Animal Medical Technician (EAMT) program as well as coordinates the AHS’ Disaster Response team.

"I earned a bachelor of science degree in physics at St. Michael’s College in Vermont. Following college, I worked for the United States Postal Service for a number of years. Finding that unfulfilling, I decided to try my hand at something new and trained to be a financial adviser. After a short career in that field, I was still trying to find my place, somewhere I could make a positive difference in society. At the urging of my wife, Christene, I applied for a job at the AHS. As she put it, "You like animals so much, why don’t you apply at the Humane Society?" I never really thought about the Humane Society as a place to work before she mentioned it, but Christene was right. I have always loved animals, and the more I thought about it, the more it sounded like a perfect fit."

Andy was hired as part of the admissions staff, helping to intake the hundreds of animals the AHS takes in every day. A short time later, Andy transferred to the field operations department, just in time to attend the first EAMT Academy. Andy spent the next few years responding to thousands of calls for animals in distress and investigating animal cruelty. Andy was promoted to supervisor, manager and to his current position, director of field operations.  Andy and his wife, Christene, have one daughter, Ashton, and two sons, Hunter and Ryan. The Starrs share their home with three dogs - Skippy, Beauty, and Beast; two cats – Chloe and Anastasia; and a white-cap pionus named Precious.

  Stacie Dabolt – Supervisor
"I was born in El Paso, Texas. I have lived in Phoenix for 40 years. I went to college on a basketball scholarship. After college I wanted to be a basketball coach at the college level. My first job working toward that goal was at a sporting goods store. That led into managing a competitive swimming store, which led into owning the same store. I was a small business owner for 10 years. I was approaching 40 and started questioning what I was doing with my life! I decided to make a life change and do my second passion in life--working with animals.

I worked in management at Petsmart for a year. I then had an opportunity to work as a hospital director for a private veterinarian. I saw that there was a job opportunity with the Arizona Humane Society and applied and was hired. I started as a supervisor for animal care and admissions. I knew at that time I had found my career. Once I became familiar with our field operations, I knew what my passion was: animal cruelty! I worked as an investigator for two years. I then was promoted to field operations supervisor. I am currently supervising over both the ambulance calls and all the investigations. I am truly blessed to be doing this and getting paid for it. I can’t imagine doing anything else!"

 Marisa McHugh - Investigator
"I grew up in Michigan but went to college in San Diego. With no real plan after leaving, I called my mother to ask for her advice. She said, why didn’t I look into joining the armed forces? The very next day I went down to the recruitment office for the American Coast Guard and signed up straight away.

I was eventually assigned to a ship that patrolled the West Coast from San Diego all the way up to Alaska, but mainly I was stationed in Seattle. I love the sea, but unfortunately I suffer from terrible seasickness. With the main part of the job being based at sea, I quickly realized that the Coast Guard was never going to be for me. To make matters worse, I worked in the machine room on the ship, which was hot and stuffy. It would have been unbearable had I not met my future husband, who also worked down there.

We both worked for the Coast Guard for four years, until we decided to leave. My husband then got a new job, which meant moving first to Maine and then, shortly after, to Michigan.  Whilst living in Michigan, I started to volunteer at an animal shelter. I realized how much I loved this. We then moved to Phoenix, and I found out about the Arizona Humane Society. I got in touch and started volunteering here. Then a post opened up in investigations and I went for it."

 A.J. Meadows – Investigator
"People are always shocked when I say this, but before working as an investigator for the Arizona Humane Society I spent 20 years as a housewife. I have three children – a 23-year-old daughter, who is now in the Navy; another daughter, who is in her late teens; and my youngest is my son, who is 12.

However, my early days weren’t always that tame. Before I settled down I lived in Jerome, which is a small mining town perched on a hillside in central Arizona. When I lived in Jerome, during the 1970’s it was known as 'the wickedest town in the West.' Throughout this time I made jewelry to pay my way, and I spent most of my free time listening to music. I guess you could say I was a bit of a hippy.

Five years ago, with my kids beginning to grow up, I realized I needed to find something that I loved. I started as a volunteer at the Arizona Humane Society and quickly realized that this was it. An opening came up as an investigator, and I jumped at the opportunity."

 Marlynn Barkley – Investigator
I never really had a clear career plan and always joke that I have done a bit of everything. I have been a bartender, a travel agent and a property agent. I worked for the holiday company Club Med, which I loved because it enabled me to travel, and then I got a job selling cars.

I always loved animals. I grew up with them as a child and always had my own as an adult. Then, about six years ago, one of my animals became really sick with cancer. After she passed away I was devastated and it was then that I realized I wanted to work with animals. I put myself through vet tech school and then came to work at the Arizona Humane Society. I started in adoptions and then moved into admissions. Eventually I worked my way into field operations."

 Laura Hackett – EAMT
"I grew up in Stanford, Conn. I always loved animals, and as a kid I spent my summers at a nature camp, where I learned all about wildlife, animal habitats, and how to look after the sick and injured. My first paid job as a teen was in wildlife rehabilitation at a local shelter. I would help take care of injured local wildlife, including hawks, bald eagles, skunks, opossums, racoons,  etc. I learned how to administer first aid and would sometimes foster abandoned babies.

I went to Hamilton College in upstate New York for four years. I got my bachelor's degree in biology and a minor in theater. I spent my junior year in Australia studying marine biology, which was a blast.
I met my future husband at college, and we later moved to Arizona to pursue our graduate degrees. It was shortly after moving to Phoenix that I started volunteering on the weekends at our South Mountain facility, helping to walk dogs. When a dispatch position opened up, I went for it and got it and I did that for a year before getting out into the field. It was once in the field that I realized this was what I wanted to do."