Kayla Mayes

Kayla Mayes is the executive director of Big Paws of the Ozark. Kayla began her journey with Big Paws as a foster, and she quickly discovered how naturally her background in clinical social work translated into animal welfare. She brings trauma-informed, systems-level thinking to rescue work that helps bridge the fields of human services and animal care.

Deeply passionate about the human–animal bond, she views rescue work as a natural extension of social work: strengthening families, supporting communities, and giving every dog a chance at belonging. It’s no surprise her friends lovingly call her the “social worker for dogs.”

Since stepping into leadership in 2020, Kayla has guided Big Paws from a small volunteer-driven rescue to the largest foster-based organization in NWA, now operating out of its first purchased building and employing four full-time staff and four dog trainers.

Whether she’s designing programs, supporting fosters, or meeting a scared dog right where they are, Kayla’s vision remains the same: to build a community where both pets and people feel seen, supported, and safe.