A home grown Conifer native, I graduated from Evergreen High School in 1968 and Colorado State University, College of Veterinary medicine in 1975. After college, I came home to Evergreen and joined Tony Anderson at Evergreen Veterinary Service. Years later, Tony sold the practice to me and I continued to work in the Evergreen area for 25 years before selling the practice and going to work with Gary Pallaoro, DVM at Golden Animal Hospital.
After a failed attempt at a blind date in high school, I married Becky 18 years later and we blended our families of 5 children. There is a lot of sentimental attachment to this building because during the years growing up, our kids spent most afternoons at the kennel doing homework and watching me work.In 1995 there was a fire and at the time there were 60 animals in the building. No animals perished in the fire due to the cinderblock construction and a lot of help from the community. People came from out of nowhere late in the night to help rescue the dogs as the firemen released them from a burning building into the smoldering night air. Dog lovers took animals into their cars, homes and hearts. It was just the kind of wonderful outpouring of community support that makes Evergreen so special.
We have so many exciting plans for the kennel, the building and the grounds. After I retire from Veterinary medicine, I am looking forward to working with healthy, happy dogs and cats.
I can’t remember a day without a dog. “Hereboy” was my childhood sidekick. Back in those days, your dog went everywhere with you; there were no leash laws—every neighborhood was a dog park. One night I spent the night with a friend while her parents went out for the evening. “Hereboy” slept on their front porch and when her parents arrived home he would not let them into their own house! Dogs are such great protectors.
My family was very creative with names. The longest was INK, DA-MINK, DA-GOLLY, GA-ZINK, DA-YUMPTY, YAY-YAHOO, TING, TANG, WICKEY-WANG, DA-YUMPTY, YAY-YAHOO. We called him INKY for short.My other childhood love was horses. My dream was to grow up and marry a rancher. Instead I married a veterinarian which was even better. It has been a great 24 years with Doug. We are excited about the future of the kennel. We are working to make the Bergen BARK Inn the best kennel Evergreen has ever known.

One of my favorite memories growing up was driving to the country of North Carolina to pick out my new lab puppy. I went for the chubby one that kept trying to squeeze behind the refrigerator to get to the cat food. I named him Caesar, and he was my best friend. My mom always told me that she would either find me sleeping beside him on his dog bed or swimming with him in our pool. He passed away right before I left for college, and after a year without a dog, I decided I needed my own. Then I needed another. Then another, and then another. I now have 5 dogs and can’t wait to meet my next one! I have always loved dogs, and can’t imagine a life without them. I graduated from Animal Behavior College with a Dog Obedience Training Certification and really enjoy training and understanding the canine behavior.
Managing the Bergen BARK Inn has been one of my favorite jobs by far. I really connect with your pets and understand their likes and dislikes….and which treats they prefer. Even now, you can find me sitting in one of the dogs runs giving them personal one on one time, or hanging out with them in one of our bone shaped swimming pools. Some things never change!
As soon as I moved to Colorado from Iowa, I noticed the canine population outweighed the human population and I knew I found home! Better yet, I have the opportunity to work and play with dogs all day long at The Bergen Bark Inn. I am so grateful to live in Beautiful Evergreen, CO and get so many kisses (from our guests) all the time. ~Kelsey Jo