Welcome to Companion Pets in Crisis
about CPIC
Companion Pets in Crisis (CPiC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Phoenix, Arizona. We provide emergency response services to first responders and Fire Departments in the valley with the intention of keeping pets and their families together in times of crisis.
CPiC is the ONLY boots on the ground type of organization resource to our local Fire Departments and The Red Cross to assist with 9-1-1 and crisis calls involving pets.
Lisa Martin, the founder of CPiC, started our organization in 2015 when she was volunteering for the Phoenix Fire Department as a crisis responder and realized that by providing these important services CPiC offers to our communities, anxiety and stress can be eased for both family and their pets.
Who We Help
CPiC is an Animal Emergency Response Agency who provides on scene emergency support to families and their pets in a crisis situation.
We provide on scene emotional support, pet supplies, food, emergency temporary shelter, after life care, resources and shelter intervention for pets and their family who are affected by residential disasters or tragedy.
Meet The Team
Scott Jaeger
President
Scott Jaeger was born and raised in Southern California, spent four years in the Air Force during the VietNam era and then joined the Fire Department. I spent 26 years, splitting his time between the Tucson Fire Department and Prescott/Central Yavapai Fire District starting as a firefighter and achieving the rank of Battalion Chief. After his Fire Service career Scott went to work for a software company installing and training fire service personnel on record management systems. Along the way Scott earned his BS and MS degrees in education from the University of Arizona. Since retirement Scott became a volunteer junkie working with three fire department Crisis Response Units, Sun Lakes, Chandler and Phoenix, and the Red Cross. Scott has a beautiful wife, four grown children, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren and Louie the dog. He has a heart for service and helping others, Scott also has been on eight short term mission trips beginning in 2010, seven trips to Haiti and one trip to India.
Sheri Goodwin
Vice President
Sheri Goodwin has been an animal advocate for many years. Sheri currently volunteers for Lost Dogs Arizona, Companion Pets in Crisis and fosters for rescues around the valley. Sheri started Animal Lovers of Chandler in 2016, a group dedicated to educating and ensuring pets had collars, ID tags and microchips in the city of Chandler. This ultimately helps keep pets out of the county shelter. Sheri now spends most of her time helping lost pets get back home and networks at-risk pets to find rescues to intake them and find good homes.
Sheri’s passion is helping pets get back home, helping pets find a place with a rescue. When someone is rehoming their pet(s) she tries to intervene to make sure the pet is safe.
Jodie Wright
Secretary
Jodie Wright is an animal lover at heart and has a life long background in animal welfare and advocacy. She was the Humane Education Coordinator at The Arizona Humane Society for 7 years and has volunteered extensively for a host of non profit organizations over the years including Liberty Wildlife, Envision Equine Therapy and Alma Linda Equine Therapy. She graduated from Grand Canyon University in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Biology with an emphasis on Wildlife Management and worked as a Summer Intern for two seasons with the Arizona Game and Fish Department working on Environmental Education programs for kids. She was connected to Companion Pets in Crisis thru her adoption of one of our rescue dogs, a sweet miniature labradoodle named Jasmine. Jodie saw Jasmine's story on social media and volunteered to foster her but instantly fell in love with her. Needless to say, Jasmine now resides with Jodie and her other two rescue dogs and four rescue cats. Jodie's hobbies include horseback riding, hiking, biking and she spends her down time on the beach in Mexico.
Destiny Taylor
Treasurer
Destiny Taylor has a huge heart and passion for animals and animals in need. Her passion started when she was very young by bringing home stray animals.
She started volunteering in rescue and hasn't stopped since. From fostering, evaluating and networking dogs on the elist, transporting, and working with many other rescues, shelters and being an animal advocate.
Destiny worked at Arizona Small Dog Rescue for 10 years. Starting her career as a tick picker then quickly saw the need for reform. She worked many positions while there all the way up to General Manager.
In her time there she created processes, policies, procedures, grew staff, built relationships with other rescues and shelters and vet offices, and helped turn the rescue around. In 2018 Destiny was nominated and awarded as a Top Local Leader by Phoenix Magazine for their annual '40 under 40' awards. Destany’s 5yr old daughter shares the same passion for animals. Her little sidekick is always ready to go help find a missing dog, bottle feed a motherless puppy, or help with any foster dogs or cats. When they aren't helping animals, Destiny enjoys camping, going to the lake, bowling, and spending time with friends and loved ones. Not to mention spending time with her 5 dogs and 2 cats. She’s also owned reptiles, a pig, birds, and much more in her life.
Tony Neely is an Arizona native, born at St. Joseph’s Hospital, in Phoenix Arizona. Tony Graduated from Coronado High in Scottsdale, before enlisting with the USMC from 86’-90’, 3rd LAI Bn. In 1997 Tony was hired on by the Peoria Fire Department where he currently holds the position of Battalion Chief. Tony loves serving his community and country. After 9/11 Tony enlisted with the Army Reserves as a Drill Sargent for 2 years. Tony is married with 3 adult sons. He is a huge animal lover, and advocate for all living creatures.
When Tony isn't on the front lines saving personal property and lives, you will find him enjoying time with his fur kids. Bailey and Ranger (Labs), Maggie (Terrier mix) Ally (the mean cat), and Skitz (the nice cat).
Tony enjoys spending time hiking, camping, and exploring with his wife and dogs. He loves nature and animals, and does his best everyday protecting both. Tony is looking forward to retiring soon, and plans to spend his time helping animals and their humans, and doing some traveling.
Tony Neely
Lisa Martin
Founder & Exec. Dir.
Lisa Martin's passion to help animals started at an early age. She spent a lifetime volunteering for non-profit animal welfare organizations.
In 2012, after Lisa hung up her stethoscope from nursing and accomplished her dream by becoming a National Registered EMT not realizing what doors it would open.
In 2012, she started volunteering with the Phoenix Fire Department as a Crisis Responder.
In 2013, she was awarded the City of Phoenix Volunteer Impact Award working countless hours serving our Phoenix residents in a crisis.
She soon recognized a critical void in the Emergency Service division between human care and pet care.
Bringing awareness of what happens to pets when their family experiences a life altering crisis which puts their pets at risk of losing their home and sometimes even their family.
This was a great need which was not being met.
In 2015 Companion Pets in Crisis was created to be a resource to our first responders to assist families on scene with pets experiencing an immediate crisis situation.
Living life with her own pack she couldn’t imagine life without them.
When not rescuing animals Lisa enjoys the outdoors, camping, kayaking, hiking, or just chilling with her own rescued pups Rudy, and Sophia.
Kate Klasen - Director
Emergency Preparedness
Kate Klasen, born and raised in Illinois, is a veteran of law enforcement with a career in the Chicagoland area. Now making her home in Arizona, she is the owner of Balanced Paws pet spa. Kate is also certified through Science Dog on canine nutrition and teaches classes on pet foods. Outside of the grooming salon, Kate brought her passions together when she also founded H.E.L.P where she brings in her past experience as a first responder and teaches emergency preparedness skills for people and pets, including Pet Tech CPR/First Aid.
During her tenure with the Police Department, Kate has been a certified EMT, 9-1-1 dispatcher and police officer. Kate had been responsible as a field training officer for dispatchers, and had taught at the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy (SLEA) where she taught first responders CPR/First Aid. Kate also was responsible for teaching defensive tactic topics at her department, and assisted other departments with their training.
H.E.L.P offers human & animal CPR/AED First Aid, Advanced Bleeding and Active shooter training and is an official training center for the Health Safety Institute. H.E.L.P also offers Emergency Preparedness consults & training. Kate is a certified instructor through Health Safety Institute, American Heart Association, AVERT, and Pet Tech. She has also completed training with K9 Medic, USCCA Practical Tactical Medicine Courses and Stop the Bleed.
Kate, since leaving law enforcement, has continued her passion for teaching and serving by providing the lessons learned over decades of training and experience to clients of all backgrounds. She believes wholeheartedly in collaborative learning and hopes to see you in the classroom
Advisory Committee
Sara Steffen
Stephanie Lee Ehrbright
Sara Steffen Grew up in a military family, which required moving every 4 years. Parents got stationed at Luke AFB in 1993, and have been in the Phoenix area since. Graduated from ASU with a Masters in Social Work in 2003, and started working for Glendale Fire Department’s Crisis Response Program as a Crisis Intervention Specialist ever since.
She’s volunteered with other organizations such as The M.I.S.S. Foundation, Wind and Fire MC, and now Companion Pets in Crisis.
In her downtime, Sara enjoys reading, hiking and biking with her family. Sara and her family are currently looking for the next 4 legged member(s) to add to their family.
Stephanie Lee Ehrbright After living in California, Mississippi, Texas and New York, about 15 years ago Stephanie settled down in Arizona to be closer to her family. She is an attorney who has been practicing Criminal Defense and Family law in the Valley ever since. In addition to having her private practice, she represents clients with Serious Mental Illnesses, development disabilities, and other cognitive challenges who have been arrested in the City of Phoenix. Stephanie has always had a love of animals and sees how much these companions mean to clients who are struggling.
During her time off, Stephanie enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, friends, and two rescue dogs Sadie and Annie. Meanwhile, her rescue cat 'The Mayor' rules the roost at home. Stephanie enjoys giving back to her community through volunteer activities such as serving on State Bar committees, coaching High School Mock Trial, helping coworkers through a Peer Support Network, and volunteering on the Pinal County Search and Rescue Posse.
Dr. Lara Sosnow graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. A Phoenix native, she previously worked for over 12 years in the Financial Services Industry after earning her MBA at New York University.
She is happy to be back in the Valley of the Sun following her veterinary dream. At home, Lara has a noisy Plott Hound that keeps her up at night, a cylindrical mixed breed named Olivia, and a ch-ch-ch-chihuahua with lots of personality.
Dr. Lara Sosnow
Dr. Hugh Giffords is a graduate of Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Prior to his veterinary career, Dr. Giffords served as a police officer with the NYPD and as a firefighter with the FDNY.
He is motivated by compassion for those who can’t speak for themselves and is passionate in his belief that our four-legged friends receive the finest medical care possible. He has additional training in Small Animal Medicine from Kansas State University. Jack the Akita is his constant companion.