Our Team
Kim Heise
Shelter Director
Kim has been involved with the Animal Protection Center from its very beginning. As part of a core group of individuals who were committed to serving the pets and communities of Southeastern Massachusetts, she worked to get the organization from the initial idea stage to the thriving resource it is now. Prior to the start of the Animal Protection Center in 2009, Kim held nearly every position possible at the MSPCA Metro South location until its closing. Throughout her career in animal welfare, she has enjoyed seeing transformations in individual animals as they go from being scared in new surroundings to flourishing in loving homes. She also enjoys the creative problem solving needed to help as many people and their pets as possible. Kim is lucky enough to share her home with four cats (Jack, Annie, Brody, and Clarabelle). In her free time, Kim loves the beach, horses and spending time with her family.
Katie
Shelter Manager
In addition to her work here at the Animal Protection Center, Katie is currently studying Pre-Veterinary Medicine. She enjoys building relationships with the animals in our care so that she can work to make the best matches possible with potential adopters. When not at the shelter or school, Katie can be found riding her two Belgian draft horses Duke and Sandra, hiking with her Boston Terrier/Corgi mix Layne or spending time with cats Brady, Milo, Beckham, Hutch, and Lucy.
Miranda
Animal Care Supervisor
Miranda’s love for animals has brought her to the Animal Protection Center where she is passionate about helping pets in need. A career in animal care has always been a dream of hers as she loves working with the animals and getting to know each of their own unique stories and personalities. Her goal is to provide each animal with comfort and love during their time at the shelter. In her free time, Miranda loves to spend time with friends and family and enjoys binge watching her favorite shows with her beloved cats. She is a proud owner of her three kitties Hazel, Fendi, and APCSM alum, Goose!
Corinne
Development Coordinator
Corinne holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Bridgewater State University. She began her journey with the APCSM as a volunteer and later took on the roles of Animal Care & Adoptions Counselor and Shelter Veterinary Technician. During that time, she also became involved with the Pet Pantry, a program dedicated to feeding pets in need within our community. Her work with the Pantry sparked a passion for fundraising, which she brings to her current role as Development Coordinator.
At home, Corinne enjoys the company of her black cat, Bear; her beloved pitbull, Coan (pictured here), crossed the Rainbow Bridge in August 2025. In her free time, she loves being outdoors and spending time with friends and family.
Karen
Volunteer Coordinator
Karen is the Volunteer Coordinator at APCSM, she is dedicated to recruiting, training, and supporting our incredible team of volunteers and a deep commitment to animal welfare. Her love of animals comes from her parents, they always took in strays and always found room for "just one more". Karen is excited to make a positive impact on our shelter community and to help more animals find their forever homes. Currently, she is training to become a certified dog trainer further enhancing her ability to improve the lives of the animals. Her two sons, James and Michael are grown and out of the house. Along with her husband John she shares her home with her 4 pups, 2 cats, a cockatiel, and multiple fish. In her free time, she visits multiple institutions with her 10-year Pitbull Maximus who is a Certified First Responder Therapy Dog.
Jennifer
Event Coordinator
Jennifer is a passionate animal welfare advocate who joined the Animal Protection Center after volunteering at both APCSM and her town’s local shelter, as well as Aruban Cunucu rescues. She especially enjoys spending time with the dogs and taking them out for car rides and the occasional pup cup to give them a break from shelter life.
As Event Coordinator, Jennifer is excited to help grow the shelter’s fundraising efforts and strengthen connections within the community. She looks forward to working on fun, dog-friendly events like Paws in the Park and Dogtoberfest that bring people and their pets together in support of the shelter’s mission.
At home, Jennifer shares her life with her husband, her two teenage boys, three Aruban Cunucus- Tito, Cece, and Drake, and a bearded dragon named Yoshi. She loves spending time with her family, enjoying summer days at the beach, traveling together (especially to Bermuda), and cheering on her boys as a proud baseball mom.
Dr. Dinan, DVM
Veterinarian
A Native New Englander from coastal Connecticut, Dr. Dinan’s life has followed the path of a true lover of animal health and welfare.
Dr. Dinan graduated from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008 followed by an internship in small animal emergency and specialty practice at the Aurora and Berwyn Animal Hospitals in Illinois. She then began the long and difficult path to becoming certified in Veterinary Acupuncture through the prestigious Chi Institute. Not stopping there, she also became a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP) through the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine in 2015. Since that time, she has been honing her skills in these specialties as well as small animal general practice. Her professional interests include pain management, rehabilitation to help mobility, geriatric medicine, musculoskeletal & neurologic disease, immunology, and dentistry. Her coolest veterinary-related excursion was a trip to the Martin Buser Iditarod School in Big Lake, Alaska to learn pain relief modalities and rehabilitation techniques with sled dogs. She even learned to “mush” her own sled dog team!
Dr. Dinan spends her non-veterinary time with her husband, son, daughter, a Corgi named Gizmo, a Frenchie mix named Brutus the Buckeye, and two Guinea pigs. They are National Park junkies with the goal of seeing them all. (Yellowstone and all of Utah so far…) For personal fun, she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, scuba diving, biking, skiing, sewing, and reading.
Cyra
Animal Care and Adoption Counselor
Cyra’s lifelong passion for animal care is what brought her to the Animal Protection Center. Ever since she was a little girl she was insistent that animals are just as important as people, and her time here has only strengthened that belief. After a school career in animal science she found her way into the shelter world and has since fallen in love with helping her community and caring for animals in need. At home she’s joined by her whole world- her two cats, Nathan and Casper. Her perfect day will always end cuddled on the couch with her boys, relaxing and getting ready to come into work tomorrow.
Mak
Animal Care and Adoption Counselor
Mak is a kindhearted and driven person with a deep passion for both people and animals. She first got involved with the APCSM through her college work-study job, and it quickly became more than just a way to earn credits. The experience sparked something in her, and she loved it so much that she decided to stay into the summer. Currently Mak is pursuing a higher education and career in the medical field, hoping to become a pediatric nurse in her future. Mak is committed to making a meaningful impact through patient care while continuing to surround herself with the animals she loves. At home, she’s a proud pet parent to two cats who she absolutely adores. In her free time, you can find Mak out hiking, spending time with friends, painting, baking, or even reading a good book. No matter what's she's doing though she always brings a smile and a positive attitude with her!
Jace
Animal Care and Adoption Counselor
Jace has been surrounded by animals for as long as she can remember, growing up with a wide range of companions including dogs, cats, rats, and horses. This lifelong connection helped shape her deep respect and love for animals of all kinds. She had schooling in Animal Science with a focus on Canine Science, gaining hands on knowledge about animal behavior and care. Jace has always had a strong passion for helping animals and making a positive difference in their lives. At the Animal Protection Center, she brings that passion to work every day. At home she cares for her two cats Ghost and Fox.
Emily
Animal Care and Adoption Counselor
Board of Directors
Secretary
Amy White
Treasurer
Spencer Henderson
Members of the Board
Chuck Givonetti
Meg Murray
Carl Abramson
Joseph Grimaldi