BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SHELLY MARANO
Chairwoman & Executive Director
Shelly is the widow of Arizona Department of Public Safety Officer Christopher Marano. Her desire to protect and serve began in 2007, where she became a Correctional Officer with the Arizona Department of Corrections, she then became a K9 handler for a private organization, and now works with a local company that raises and trains K9 prospects. She is combining her vision, goals, and dreams of supporting law enforcement and canine units by helping in ways others didn’t think of, and together with the support of the community, these will become a reality.
SUSAN WILKINSON
Assistant Executive Director
With an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice and Sue's love for animals, she recently found her way to K-911 Paws Foundation. Unable to become a law enforcement officer, she was seeking a way to serve our community. Her dedication to supporting our men and women in blue and our military is a strength to our organization. She has also been an event coordinator for over 30 years which has been a huge asset to the foundation.
LAURIE JAGIELO
Secretary
Laurie is a program manager the the Space and Defense Industry. As a young child that looked up to her uncle as a State Trooper, she always wanted to be around the working K9's. Laurie grew very close to a local K9; K9 Grant and vowed, as a child, that "when she grew up, she would find a way to help other K9's just like him". That dream became a reality in 2018, when she linked arms with Tucson's K9 unit. She now likes to call herself "The Tucson K9 Dealer", as she provides the K9's with goodies, toys, and equipment every year. Laurie also has a Belgian Malinois she has been having training done with for Search & Rescue.
SAVANNA HARRIS
Treasurer
Savanna is the oldest surviving child of the Arizona Department of Public Safety Officer Christopher Marano. As a young woman that looked up to her father, she wants to follow in his footsteps as an LEO and become a K-9 Officer. She served as a Sergeant of her local Police Explorer Program. She currently works as a dog trainer as she approaches the age to apply for the local police departments. She has her own Belgian Malinois-Kyra who Savanna has been working as a dual purpose canine training to assist in her future career.
JUSTIN ELLISON
Member at Large
Starting his career in 2006, Justin became a Detention Officer for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. In 2008 he was accepted into the Joplin Police Department, where he worked as a Patrol Officer until his return to Arizona in 2016. As of 2017, Justin has been assigned to the Prescott Valley Police Department where he became a K-9 handler in 2018 and was assigned his partner K-9 Kato.
TONY WELLS
Member at Large
Anthony (Tony) Wells has been a Police Officer with the Scottsdale Police Department since 2007. He was assigned to patrol from 2007 until 2013, when he joined the K9 Unit and is currently still assigned. Tony was fortunate enough to have his first certified service K9- Austin, donated in memory of 99.9 KEZ radio personnel- Bill Austin from the Beth & Bill Show. K9 Austin retired in 2020 and was replaced with K9 Logan; another generously donated K9.