Sonja Bott

Founder & President

Sonja Bott is the heart and driving force behind the Camrose Area Animal Rescue Society (CAARS). As one of the founding members, Sonja helped build CAARS from a small dream shared by three determined women into a thriving community rescue that has helped over 500 animals since opening in 2020. Her passion for animal welfare runs deep — guided by compassion, ethics, and a belief that every animal deserves a safe, loving home. Sonja works tirelessly to coordinate rescue operations, support fosters, and ensure that each animal receives the care and attention they need to heal and thrive. Beyond her leadership role, Sonja is also a dedicated advocate for responsible pet ownership, community education, and the importance of spay/neuter programs. She believes in collaboration and kindness — both within the rescue and the wider community — to create lasting change for animals in need. When she’s not managing rescue work, Sonja enjoys spending time with her family, including her son Dylan, her daughter Sofia-Faye, and the many rescue animals that often find their way into her home and heart. Her favorite part of running CAARS? Seeing the transformation — from fear to trust, from broken to whole — and knowing that every life saved is a step closer to a more compassionate world.

Amanda Stryd

Vice President/ Communication Coordinator

Karen Dahlin

Co-Founder

Hi! I'm Karen and I'm a co-founder of CAARS. I also created the logo and wrote our motto "Every animal deserves a chance at life and a loving home." I have always loved animals and currently have two rescue dogs. Due to a family emergency abroad I had to leave the rescue but I am so proud of it's continuing success.

Amanda Breanne

Treasurer/Secretary

Angela Penn

General Manager

Breanne Herbert

Dog Foster Coordinator

Hello! I'm Breanne. I am a local trainer who likes to spend time with my dogs every day. I have an 8 year old German Shepherd mix and we compete locally in nosework trials! My big passion is to bring higher standards to the largely unregulated world of animal rescue. I am big on transparency, honesty and setting homes (and their pets!) up for success! I have seen the nightmares that come from unethical rescue, some personally myself, and some as stories heard from others. I have learned that when we let ourselves get complacent, it is the animals that suffer. And that just won't do. You will see me providing honest writeups of my fosters, talking at adoption events to interested parties about the needs of our dogs, and providing support to our already-adopted animals (our "alumni"!)

Wiggle Wag Grooming - Leduc AB

Rescue Groomer

Cassandra Shannon

Social Media Coordinator

Kaylin Herbert

Cat foster home coordinator