Jacklean Kibler Founder • Medical Director

Healing Paws Cat Sanctuary was founded by Jackie Kibler, a retired Veterinary Technician whose lifelong passion for animals became the inspiration for creating a place where every cat can feel safe, loved, and at home.

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jackie relocated to Florida in 1987, where she spent more than three decades building a career in veterinary medicine. In 2023, she and Healing Paws Cat Sanctuary began an exciting new chapter by relocating to Wetumka, Oklahoma, where the sanctuary continues to grow as part of the Heritage Preserve.

Jackie's love for animals began long before her veterinary career. As a child, she was always bringing home any animal she believed needed help, whether it had feathers, fur, or paws. That compassion eventually led to a career spanning more than 30 years as a Veterinary Technician, caring for countless animals and gaining extensive experience in emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, and long-term medical treatment.

After retiring from veterinary medicine, Jackie knew her journey was far from over. In 2013, she founded Healing Paws Cat Sanctuary with the goal of helping community cats through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) while providing a permanent sanctuary for feral cats that could no longer survive in the wild due to illness, injury, disability, or old age.

Since relocating to Oklahoma, the sanctuary's mission has expanded. While feral cats remain close to Jackie's heart, Healing Paws now welcomes and cares for all cats in need, regardless of their background or circumstances. Every cat deserves compassion, quality medical care, and the chance to live a safe, happy life.

 I dreamed up the Heritage Preserve expansion as a way to create something even bigger than a sanctuary—a place where compassion, education, history, nature, and community come together. Today, I'm proud to work alongside my sister and sanctuary partner, Desiree, as together we continue to bring that vision to life, designing many of the spaces and experiences that make Heritage Preserve truly unique. 

Thanks to her extensive veterinary background, Jackie specializes in caring for the cats many others overlook—including newborn kittens, seniors, special-needs cats, those with chronic medical conditions, and animals requiring ongoing rehabilitation. She believes that every life matters and that every cat deserves the opportunity to be loved.

As a proud redhead and a Cancer, Jackie brings her heart into everything she does. Her determination, compassion, and unwavering dedication continue to shape Healing Paws Cat Sanctuary into a place where hope, healing, and second chances come together every day.

Desiree has always believed that helping others—whether people or animals—is simply part of who she is.

Born in Queens, New York, she relocated to Florida in 1983, where she owned and operated her own maintenance business for more than 20 years. In 2015, she moved to Idaho, where she proudly served her community as a Volunteer Firefighter, a role she has since retired from.

In 2020, Desiree returned to Florida to help build the future of Healing Paws Cat Sanctuary. On August 2, 2026, she begins an exciting new chapter by relocating to Oklahoma, where she will continue helping grow the sanctuary and Heritage Preserve alongside her sister and sanctuary partner, Jackie.

As the welcoming face of the sanctuary, Desiree naturally connects with visitors, volunteers, and the community. Her warm personality, compassion, and caring heart help everyone feel at home from the moment they arrive.

While Jackie brings decades of veterinary experience, Desiree has been learning hands-on animal care through daily experience at the sanctuary and under Jackie's guidance. Together, they make a wonderful team—combining medical knowledge, organization, creativity, and compassion to give every animal the care they deserve.

Whether she's greeting visitors, helping care for the animals, organizing projects, or lending ideas for new areas of Heritage Preserve, Desiree's kindness and dedication shine through in everything she does.