Kayla Riding, “Working with dogs … I love every part of it!”

Kayla, a graduate of University of Colorado Boulder, has a Bachelor of Environmental Design and Architecture, but her passion is dogs. It was obvious during the interview she truly believes in creating the best outcome for the dogs as well as their new families.

“For me, it’s not just about the dogs, it is also about the people.” Photo by Kayla Riding.

She graduated in 2011, before CAD programs, “I liked architecture, but at the time, the internships available were basically to replicate others’ work.”

Growing up she was always the dog kid, owning all the dog breed books she could get her hands on. “I originally wanted to become a vet but I’m allergic to cats,” she said with a giggle. Continuing, “There are so many options now. Non-profit degrees, animal rescue, animal welfare or becoming a shelter director.” She knew she always wanted to stay with animals, especially rescue dogs. She adopted her first rescue dog, Diego, a pit bull, while going to college and later her second pit bull, Lulu. They were sweethearts and credits to the breed.

After being T-Boned by a drunk driver who ran a red light, leaving her with some temporary memory issues, she needed a break from the hustle and bustle of the big city. A friend of Kayla’s had gotten a job at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (BFAS) and invited her to come visit; “So, I came out and stayed for a week and fell in love with the area.” A year later her apartment lease was up, and she missed working with dogs, “So I packed up Diego and loaded everything in my truck and got a job with BFAS. It was serendipitous, my first day of work in Dog Town was the same date as my accident. It was healing, the date became a better memory.”

Kayla worked in Dog Town for eight years, “I loved every part of it. Socializing dogs to get them ready for adoption. If they weren’t adoptable, we made sure they were taken care of at the Sanctuary.” In 2023 she got a remote position, her team interacts with shelters and rescues from across the nation and helps them attain resources. “That has really been rewarding.”

I have wondered what happens to the displaced animal in disasters. Kayla explained, “We help clear the shelters in the area and bring those to BFAS. It frees up space in the local shelters, so they stay in their communities.”

Kayla set her three-to-five-year plan into action. And then she met Shaun Riding on a blind date. “We met at the Buckskin in 2016, and a year later we were married.” They now have two young girls, Kodi 5 and Quinn 2 1/2, plus their animals. “Everyone assumes I’m the crazy animal person, who brings home all the animals. It’s not me! It’s my husband! And the girls love it.” Apparently, Shaun not only collects critters but has several business ventures with Dale Gauthier. Kayaking the Colorado and KTC’s food truck to name a couple.

Shaun has brought home chickens, three dogs, two mules - which were mutually agreed upon - pigeons and a Ball Python which Kodi wanted for her birthday. He also gave Kayla a horse as a wedding gift.