Constituent of the Year

Kern County has much to be proud of - especially the people that live here. Chelley Kitzmiller of Tehachapi is one of those people we can all be proud of. Chelley is diligently working to make one of our county's worst statistics much better - that of unnecessary animal killings because of the severe pet overpopulation problem we have in our communities.

Chelley is the founder of Have a Heart Humane Society based in Tehachapi. Chelley and Have a Heart have been providing low-cost spay and neuter clinics since January of 2013. Have a Heart has conducted 10 spay-neuter clinics so far and 2 mini clinics. Funding for the surgeries is provided by private donors or grants that Chelley vigorously applies for. A recent $30,000 donation received will allow Have a Heart to continue holding clinics through 2015.

Chelley is an avid book lover, and an author herself. She and her family operated a book store in Tehacahpi, and now Chelley works full time fostering dogs and cats at her home, running Have a Heart, and continuing to pen new articles, books, and interviews of famous Western actors. It has been great working with Chelley to bring Kern's pet overpopulation problem down, and I commend her for her hard work and diligence. Thank you, Chelley.