Kim Lytle
Kim's Bio
Kim Lytle is the founder of Petey’s Playground, a nonprofit organization created to help seniors keep and care for their companion animals during times of medical or financial hardship. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Welfare from the University of Minnesota and began her career working with seniors as a Social Service Director in an adult care facility in Minneapolis.
Her professional path has been anything but ordinary, taking her through work in senior care, retail, corrections, animal welfare, and small business ownership, including operating her own health food store in Yarnell. Along the way, Kim remained guided by a belief that life is not linear and that new opportunities emerge when you stay open to experience and committed to the things that matter most.
The Early Years
Kim’s work in animal welfare began in 2000 when she started volunteering with Spokane County Regional Animal Protective Services in Spokane, Washington. There, she gained firsthand experience in rescue, training, networking, and adoption. She went on to develop and lead the FIDO program - Federal Inmate Dog Opportunities - where female federal inmates were taught to obedience train shelter dogs and prepare them for adoption. By the time Kim retired from that work, 40 dogs had been trained and successfully adopted. After moving to Arizona, Kim continued her work with animals as a dog behavior assessor at a local shelter for two years. When she identified an unmet need among seniors in the community - people struggling to keep their beloved pets during illness, hospitalization, or other life challenges - she founded Petey’s Playground. With the help of dedicated volunteers, she secured the organization’s 501(c)(3) status and began building the mission that continues today.
Professional Skills
- Animal rescue and welfare
- Pet adoption coordination
- Crisis support for seniors and pet owners
- Resource center and community service planning
- Event and service coordination
- Nonprofit development and leadership