Kelly Byard has loved and advocated for animals her entire life. Growing up in Connecticut, Kelly was nonpartisan in her love of all animals, always sharing her life with at least one dog and one cat. Kelly and her family moved to Greenville, SC. in 2005, and Kelly immediately began following her life’s passion, volunteering with a local animal rescue as soon as she was old enough to drive. She completed her internship at Greenville County Animal Care, becoming a certified veterinary assistant in 2010. It was there Kelly saved her first dog, Chance, a black Lab mix, who was next in line for euthanasia. Following the addition of Chance to her family, Kelly decided it would be best to pursue a career in another field.

While continuing her education, Kelly decided she could still help animals and chose to minor in nonprofit administration. It was through this that she joined Speak for Animals (SFA) as an intern in 2015. After graduating from the University of South Carolina Upstate, she officially joined the board as spay/neuter coordinator, helping with the day to day operation of the organization. She enjoys working with people and their pets, and she passionately believes that, while rescue is vital, she can make the biggest impact on animal’s lives by helping to reduce pet overpopulation.

Kelly currently lives in Greer with her family, including 5 dogs, 3 cats, and various fosters. A chronic Lyme disease sufferer, she tries not to let the illness restrict her activities. Kelly has been vegan for almost 2 years. Outside of animal advocacy, Kelly enjoys an occasional Netflix binge, reading, and spending time with her family and friends.