Carol works in Leadership and Staff Development for Best Friends Animal Society. She has lived in the Ruby Valley near Sheridan with her husband, horses, dogs, cats, leopard gecko and chickens since 2005. She is excited to be a part of the shelter’s good work to support Southwest Montana’s adoptable pets and their people.
Michael grew up in Butte, Montana, and moved to Dillon in 1999 to attend college, he hasn’t left Beaverhead County since. His love for animals started early, inspired by his mother, who encouraged him to care for nearly any animal he wanted, and supported by his father, who instilled in him a strong work ethic and commitment to community. Michael was active in the Confederates 4-H Club and raised rabbits professionally through sanctioned American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) shows, breeding many different breeds to meet the ARBA standards of perfection. He also served as chair of the Butte-Silver Bow Fair Board for several years.
Michael currently serves as the Senior Director of Student Life at the University of Montana Western. Alongside his professional role, he has always had a special love for dogs and shares his home with four of them—Goose, Sophie, Tilly, and Ragzee. Beyond his work, Michael continues to embrace his passion for animals and community through volunteer efforts and local involvement. He is excited to serve on the board for the Beaverhead Animal Shelter and hopes to make a positive impact on the animals and the shelter.
Tom is a retired Chemical Engineer. He worked with Minerals Technologies Inc for 34 years. Over twenty years ago, he and his family moved back to Dillon. He has been impressed with the turnaround at the shelter. Having been around dogs his entire life, he feels that volunteering with the animal shelter would be a great fit.
Kristen was born and raised in the beautiful Ruby Valley. After graduating from The University of MT Western she continued to work on her parents’ cattle ranch, further pursuing a career in real-estate. She has a never-ending love for all animals and is happy to serve the community and surrounding areas’ pets and other animals
Dr. Megan Igo grew up in rural Montana. She graduated from Montana State University with a bachelor's degree in animal science. She then earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Washington State University. After finishing veterinary school in 2017, she returned to Montana to mixed animal practice. Dr. Igo started her own solo large animal practice in 2021. Southwest Montana Veterinary Service provides in-house and ambulatory equine and livestock medicine and surgery services to Dillon, Montana and the surrounding areas.
Brooke is an attorney specializing in water law. She and her husband settled in the Ruby Valley in 2024 to be closer to family. They share their home with two playful dogs, who often join in on their adventures. Brooke is excited to support the Beaverhead Animal Shelter, where she adopted one of her parents' beloved dogs nearly a decade ago, and is eager to help the shelter in its mission to find loving homes for more animals in southwest Montana.
Dr. Anika Ward is a mixed animal veterinarian with her private practice, Tobacco Root Vet, based right outside of Sheridan, MT. After graduating from vet school in 2017, she worked in several different locations, expanding her skills and knowledge base. Dr. Ward grew up in the Ruby Valley and was eager to move back to the place she calls home.
When not helping people and their animals, Dr. Ward can be found helping on the family ranch, riding her horse, or chasing her hounds through the mountains with her husband. She is thrilled to be a part of the Beaverhead Animal Shelter, as it mirrors what she does on a daily basis-helping animals.
Amanda is a teacher at Parkview Elementary. She and her family live in Melrose on the family’s cattle ranch. She spends her weekends helping out around the ranch and taking care of their family's two dogs. She and her husband have adopted three dogs from shelters, two of which came from the Beaverhead Animal Shelter. Amanda would love to be able to take all of the animals home with her but decided being on the board would be a great way to be a part of helping the animals and all of the wonderful work that is happening at the shelter.
Amber Wagoner-Toyne
Amber Wagoner-Toyne is a dedicated community leader and lifelong animal advocate based in Southwest Montana. With a strong background in management and leadership, and a deep passion for animal welfare, she currently serves as the Executive Director of the Beaverhead Animal Shelter. Under her guidance, the shelter has seen a remarkable revival through infrastructure improvements, operational transparency, and stronger community engagement.
In addition to her nonprofit work, Amber has over 28 years of experience as a professional horse and mule trainer. She operates Wagoner Training LLC part-time, offering riding lessons, camps, clinics, and breeding AQHA horses. She is also a rancher and co-owner of Toyne Angus, where she and her family raise high-quality registered Black Angus cattle.
Amber’s unique blend of experience in agriculture, animal training, and shelter leadership gives her a comprehensive perspective on responsible animal stewardship, rural resilience, and grassroots advocacy. Known for her hands-on leadership and tireless commitment, she is passionate about building strong community partnerships, empowering local voices, and ensuring that every animal—whether on the ranch or in the shelter—receives the care it deserves.
adminlead@beaverheadshelter.com
Christi Guinard was raised on a small farm in southwest Montana, where her love for animals took root early and has remained a driving force throughout her life. With a deep commitment to both human and animal welfare, Christi has spent years actively advocating for the voiceless and vulnerable.
Her volunteer work includes hands-on time with wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organizations, as well as involvement in feral cat and kitten rescue and rehoming programs. Christi also dedicated eight years to working with a Utah-based children’s adoption program, helping to place older children with behavioral challenges into loving, supportive homes.
Christi holds a BS in Criminal Justice and will be returning to school this fall to pursue her MS in Forensic Psychology. Her long-term goal is to support victims of crime as they navigate the justice system, continuing her lifelong mission of compassion and advocacy.
A firm believer that “a life is a life, no matter how small,” (Dr. Seuss), Christi champions the health, safety, and happiness of every living being she encounters. Her dedication to making the world a better place — for both animals and people — inspires everyone around her.
animalcare@beaverheadshelter.com
Maire is the Animal Care Lead at Beaverhead Animal Shelter, where she brings compassion, hands-on experience, and a deep understanding of animal behavior to every animal she works with. With a lifelong love for animals and over two decades of horse experience, Maire has dedicated her career to helping animals heal, grow, and find loving homes.
She holds a bachelor's degree in Natural Horsemanship and has been riding horses for 23 years, teaching lessons for the past 14. After taking a year off following high school to explore her passion for horse training, she discovered a calling that continues to shape her work today—even as life has guided her into broader animal rescue efforts.
Maire grew up surrounded by rescue dogs, each with their own story and challenges. From shy and unsocialized to energetic and misunderstood, she has always had a soft spot for animals in need of patience and second chances. That same spirit extends to her rescue horse, whom she’s rehabilitated over the last 10 years after she was found abandoned and neglected.
Whether it’s leading care efforts at the shelter or offering a calm, steady hand to animals learning to trust again, Maire brings heart, skill, and dedication to everything she does.
My name is Madison; I am the shelter manager at the Beaverhead Animal Shelter in Dillon Montana. As the shelter manager I am expected to keep the shelter stocked with supplies and see that important tasks are being done by staff as well as by volunteers.
I started working at the Beaverhead Animal Shelter in January when our Executive Director and longtime friend, Amber Wagoner called me and asked if I could come in and help out a few times a week. My only stipulation was that I was able to bring my five-year-old son to work with me. Since then, being a part of the shelter has been an amazing experience for both me and my son. He enjoys the smaller aspects of the job, like petting kittens and throwing the ball for the dogs. I enjoy learning about the more in-depth aspects of a shelter animal’s journey — such as the vaccines they receive, the reasons behind those vaccinations, and how they progress over time.
I have always been passionate about animals, as a young child my mom would always have some sort of baby animal around the house that she was saving, whether it was a baby mouse or a bum calf. I grew up working cattle with both of my parents, but my father was who I learned my stockmanship from. As I grew up I participated in 4-H, showing horses, steers and heifers. Rodeo was also a huge part of my life; from a very young age I participated in rodeos. I started when I was three and never stopped. Rodeoing took me to college at the University of Montana Western where I got a degree in Secondary Education as well as a degree in History. After college I taught for three years and realized that teaching was not my dream.
I am very thankful for the employment I have at the shelter and the amazing people I have gotten to meet through working there.
