Aloha, my name is Stacey Burge.

Growing up in Colorado, my family always had animals—dogs, cats, a few parakeets, and even a horse who spent one summer in our pasture. My love for animals has been part of my DNA for as long as I can remember.

After a long career in administrative and project management, my husband and I left Colorado in 2014 for a slower pace of life on Hawaiʻi Island. Not long after we arrived, a dog named Duke wandered into my yard and, without knowing it, changed the course of my life. Duke was a foster dog with Kohala Animal Rescue and Education Service (KARES), and through helping him get back home, I met Debbie, the founder. Within weeks, I began fostering and volunteering—and discovered a new purpose.

We returned to Colorado briefly in 2016 but stayed in touch with Debbie and the KARES team. When we came back to the island permanently in 2018, I began what I call my second career—helping animals in need. Over time, I went from fostering to organizing spay and neuter clinics, transporting animals for medical care, and assisting anyone who reached out for help. Through it all, I’ve seen the harsh reality of abuse, neglect, and abandonment on the island—and I’ve felt a deep calling to ease that suffering, one animal at a time.

Today, my husband and I live on Hawaiʻi Island with our three rescue dogs—Chappie, Beethoven, and Coco—who remind us every day why this work matters.

That mission is what inspired PawTopia Care—a space where compassion meets education. My goal is to provide clear, trustworthy pet information that helps owners give their animals safer, healthier, and happier lives—without the clutter, ads, or clickbait that make it hard to find what truly matters.

I hope you find the information here helpful and maybe learn a thing or two that makes life with your pets even better.

Mahalo, and as always, wishing you and your pet warm aloha.