Over 39,000 animals saved

Stacey retired after many years as an analyst and recruiting professional for a publicly traded fintech company in Southern California. She recently moved to Nevada City and splits her time between there and Lake Tahoe. She grew up in the midwest and began her animal rescue career at seven years of age and has never looked back. While she has rescued countless domestic and wild animals over the course of her life, she is most passionate about dogs. She is a consummate gardener and enjoys hiking, backpacking and camping with her furry friends.

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Stacey is proud to serve on the Sammie's Friends board and is an active volunteer as well walking dogs and helping out wherever needed. 

Olivia was born and raised in Grass Valley. She returned to her hometown after launching her academic and professional journey in the Bay Area. Though she grew up without pets, Olivia discovered her passion for animal welfare in 2020 when she began fostering dogs. Since then, she has fostered 10 dogs and adopted three of her own, becoming an active volunteer and advocate in the dog rescue community.

Professionally, Olivia is an experienced accountant with a degree in Business Management Economics, with an emphasis in Accounting, from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her career has spanned both outsourced accounting and assurance services, working with nonprofit and for-profit organizations alike.

Joyce and her husband, Michael, have been residents of Nevada County since 2012.  In 2020, they lost their “first dog” Dexter, a big fluff of a dog, a 12 year old Samoyed.  To fill that seismic hole in her heart, she found her way to Sammies Friends and began her journey volunteering to walk the dogs.  In 2021, they personally welcomed a new Sammies dog to fill that void in their home, a fantastic mutt puppy, Sunny.  In 2023, Joyce began volunteering at Sammies Nifty Thrift shop as an additional avenue to help all the animals, and the community at large.

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When she speaks about volunteering for Sammies, she tells family, friends and strangers….”It’s good for the soul.”.  She previously volunteered for 10 plus years at the San Francisco / Marin Food bank, where over 1 in 4 Bay Area families were in need of supplemental assistance.

Professionally, Joyce is a scientist, with a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Notre Dame.  Over a 20+yr career in human therapeutics drug development, she has strived to contribute to discovering and bringing medicines to patients with huge unmet need, with a focus in Cardiovascular, Neurologic, Bone, Nephrology and Childhood rare diseases. 

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In her spare time, Joyce enjoys volunteering at Sammies!  When not at Sammies, Joyce and Michael enjoy geeking out over all things scientific, scuba diving, hiking with Sunny, fishing, and enjoying a good cocktail.

She’s proud to join the Sammies Friends Board to help drive the Mission of the organization; at the end of the day, it’s all about the animals.

While living in the Bay Area, a housemate surprised Cheryl with a gift of a purebred American Bulldog puppy which was related to the dog that played “Chance” in the 1993 Disney movie, Homeward Bound.  Cheryl became involved with several breed enthusiasts and the Working American Bulldog Club where she learned copious training tips, showmanship, a basic understanding of canine genetics, and a deep appreciation of working dog breeds.  That little bully-breed puppy grew up to compete in many Irondog events including weight pull, and to win many conformation titles, including Best Female and ABA National Conformation Champion.

In 1998, Cheryl moved to Nevada County with 3 cats & 2 dogs.  Cheryl Berg soon met Cheryl Wicks, who at the time was a volunteer at the Nevada County Animal Shelter and was just beginning her own journey that would eventually lead to the creation of Sammie’s Friends.  Wicks convincingly asked Cheryl if she would consider fostering a pittie mix that was petrified of the concrete floors at the Shelter facility.  That was the beginning of many foster dogs to come, each welcomed with loving arms, trained by the resident pets, and eventually placed in their “forever home”.  Cheryl’s focus changed from high-profile show dogs to advocacy for shelter animals and strays, especially the often-misunderstood bully -breeds.

Cheryl is a REALTOR with an interest in responsible land development and how humans, livestock, pets and wildlife can all co-exist.  She has consulted with several non-profit groups, and their employees, regarding real estate matters.   She negotiates steadfastly for her clients and brings a wealth of administrative, management and entrepreneurial experience to the table.

From the smallest reptile to the quietest cat or the most spirited canine, Cheryl wants them all to have happy and safe homes.  To that end, she is honored to serve on the Board of Directors for Sammie’s Friends, to help the organization continue its important mission, to encourage spay/neuter, and to spread animal-welfare education throughout the community.   

Michelle retired after 30 years as a chemist and splits her time between Grass Valley and the Bay Area.  She is passionate about animal welfare, especially spay/neuter assistance for companion animals and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs for community cats.  Michelle and her husband enjoy outdoor activities and music, and share their home with a few formerly homeless felines.

I have worked in healthcare for many years, but since a very young age I have always had a special place in my heart for animals. Over the years I have had beloved pets with medical issues that have come with expensive medical bills. This is when I decided to start doing private fundraising to help with the cost of medical care for pet owners, this is so very important to me to be able to help out in a time of need. I love spending time outdoors, gardening and volunteering at the shelter spending time with the animals.

Mitzy Klagenberg along with her husband Matt have lived in Nevada County for over 38 years. Mitzy and Matt have been married for 37 years. Currently, they are the proud Fur Parents of 5 dogs: 2 Doxies,1 Chihuahua, and 2 Pitties, along with 2 feral kitties and 9 chickens.

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Mitzy medically retired in 1998 and about that time started volunteering for Sammie’s Friends Animal Shelter. In her early years, she started out answering phones, other office duties, and Foster Mom to many kittens.  She then found herself working outside with Beverly, the dog behaviorist and owner of Sammie’s Pitstop. Mitzy soon added dog walking to her volunteer duties. During this time, she got to know fellow dog walker Joanne Castles. While on one of their many walks, Mitzy brought up the idea of a thrift store to help support Sammie’s Shelter. Now the real adventure began…After both attended seminars about opening thrift stores Sammie’s Nifty Thrift Shop was born in 2013.

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Mitzy has worn many hats at the Thrift Shop as well; manager, processor, pricer, and packer of whole house pickups just to name a few. She is still a very active passionate volunteer who supports the Mission of Sammie’s Friends.

Lois and her husband have lived in Nevada County for 4 years and have been married for 41 years. She is the Property Manager of their Senior Mobile Home Park and rentals in Grass Valley, but animals have always been her passion.

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After losing their 13 year old sibling fur babies within a short time, she found Sammie's. First, starting out as a walker, and now helping out in any way she can.  She has the utmost respect for the Staff at Sammie's. Their compassion and dedication is inspiring.  Lois enjoys time with her grandchildren (and furry grandkids), gardening and of course spending time at Sammie's Friends.