West Coast Shiba Society
Our Team:
Nicole Doiron
Nicole is a passionate advocate for Shiba Inus and the proud owner of three spirited Shibas: Maveryk, Meekah, and Mia. With a deep love for the breed, Nicole understands the unique challenges and rewards of living with Shibas.
Nicole’s mission with the West Coast Shiba Rescue is to help these intelligent and independent dogs find loving, suitable homes while raising awareness about their care needs. Nicole will drop everything to jump in and help a shiba in need but also plays a key behind-the-scenes role in the WCSS. She keeps operations running smoothly, troubleshoots challenges, and ensures that nothing goes off the rails.
Nicole’s dedication stems from her belief that every Shiba deserves a second chance to thrive in the right environment.
Jenn Sanders
Jenn is a dedicated advocate for Shiba Inus and the proud owner of two spirited Shibas, Brando and Boo, along with a rotating cast of foster dogs (in this photo, it's Leelee). With a background in education, Jenn focuses on helping Shiba owners navigate challenges so they can successfully keep their dogs at home.
Jenn offers guidance through social media outreach, referrals, and one-on-one support, and she’s passionate about preparing foster and adoptive families through education and thoughtful screening. When a Shiba is loose in the community, Jenn has also been hands-on in tracking and trapping efforts, ensuring these dogs find safety. Her work centers on building stronger understanding between Shibas and their people, creating lasting homes and happier dogs.
Kirsten Beger
Kirsten lives in the beautiful Kootenay Rockies region with her spouse, Ryan, where she embraces the outdoor mountain lifestyle. She is a proud and devoted dog mom to Bentley, the sweetest Puggle, and Enzo, a sweet, sassy and spicy Shiba Inu who keep life full of love, tons of laughter, and adventures.
Kirsten has a deep passion for animals, especially dogs! She is a strong believer that every dog deserves a safe, happy, and loving home. Whether it’s long walks, outdoor exploring, or simply quiet moments at home, she finds joy in creating a life where her dogs feel unconditionally loved.
Her compassionate nature and love for animals and people shine through in everything she does.
Amber Muller
Amber is one of the founding members of the West Coast Shiba Society and has shared her life with Shibas for almost twenty years. She lives in Oliver, BC, with her husband Jeff and their two Shibas, Maicey and Piper. Piper came to Amber and Jeff through WCSS’s very first rescue, making her family part of the society’s story from the beginning.
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Amber brings kindness, patience, and a steady presence to WCSS. She is a thoughtful listener who notices the details, offers perspective when it is needed, and can be counted on to quietly step in and help. Her calm, compassionate approach brings an important sense of stability to the team.
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Shannon Doiron
Shannon Doiron lives in Cochrane, Alberta, with her daughter Morgan, their tri-legged pit bull cross Penny, and Redman the Shiba—her heart dog and soulmate from our very first rescue.
Shannon didn’t think she was a “Shiba person” until Redman proved otherwise, and she’s been helping ever since. Her daughters are also involved with the rescue in their own ways, so we joke that she doesn't have a choice.
With a background in not-for-profit work, Shannon brings invaluable experience, especially when it comes to the behind-the-scenes pieces—banking, receipts, and the many details that keep everything running smoothly. More than that, her kindness, reliability, and deep care for both dogs and people make her an essential part of the team.
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What We Stand For:
Our Mission:
The West Coast Shiba Society is dedicated to improving the lives of Shiba Inu dogs in need throughout British Columbia through rescue, rehabilitation, responsible rehoming, and education.
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We provide compassionate, evidence-informed support to Shiba Inus requiring assistance while working to ensure each dog is placed in an appropriate, stable, and lifelong home.
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Through education, community collaboration, and responsible practices, we aim to reduce preventable surrender and improve understanding of the unique needs of the Shiba Inu breed.
Our Vision:
A future where every Shiba is understood, responsibly cared for, and has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and appropriate home.​
Core Values:
Compassion: We treat every dog and every person involved in rescue with respect, empathy, and care.
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Responsible Rescue: We prioritize thoughtful, sustainable decisions that support the long-term welfare of each dog and the organization.
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Individualized Care: We recognize that every Shiba Inu has unique needs and requires an approach based on their health, behaviour, history, and circumstances.
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Education: We promote understanding of the Shiba Inu breed, responsible ownership, and proactive support to help prevent future rescue situations.
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Integrity: We operate with transparency, accountability, and commitment to the charitable purpose of the Society.
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Community: We value the contributions of fosters, volunteers, adopters, donors, and supporters who help us fulfill our mission.
Important Documents:
Contracts:
Our contracts and resources are designed to support clear communication, shared expectations, and the best interests of each Shiba in our care. While our agreements are written in formal legal language because they are important documents, their purpose is not simply to outline requirements—it is to help ensure everyone understands their role in supporting a dog's safety, well-being, and long-term success.
Every Shiba and every situation is unique, and we may occasionally adjust our agreements to address a dog's specific needs or a foster or adopter's circumstances.
The documents provided here represent our standard resources and agreements, including our Foster Contract, Foster Care Guide, Adoption Fees information, and Adoption Contract. Together, these resources reflect the approach we use to support our foster families, adopters, and the Shibas who rely on us.
Society Documents:
Certificate of Incorporation:
The West Coast Shiba Society was officially incorporated under the Societies Act in British Columbia on October 28, 2024. Our incorporation documents and bylaws establish the legal foundation of our organization and provide the framework that guides our operations as we work to support Shiba Inus in need. These documents reflect our commitment to building a responsible, transparent, and sustainable rescue organization.
Annual General Meeting June 2026:
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) documents provide insight into our organization's progress, accountability, and future direction. Our next year end is June 30, 2027.
The Director's Report highlights the work completed over the past year, the Treasurer's Report provides an overview of our financial position, and our Strategic Goals outline the priorities that guide our continued efforts to support Shibas in need and strengthen our rescue community.
As a new society, we are continuing to learn and develop our processes, policies, and reporting practices. We appreciate your understanding as we build a strong foundation for the future of our organization. If you notice any errors, omissions, or areas where additional information would improve our transparency, we welcome your feedback and encourage you to reach out. Your input helps us continue to grow and ensures we are meeting the needs of our Shiba community.