Our Team
Kimberly Paws
I’m Kimberly, a lifelong Otero County local with a passion for both dogs and reptiles. With more than 15 years of experience in dog training and a lifetime of hands-on reptile care, I’ve built Otero K9 Snake Safety to bridge the gap between people, pets, and the desert environment we all share.
My work combines humane rattlesnake removal, canine avoidance training, and community education, with the goal of keeping families, pets, and wildlife safe. I am continually learning and expanding my skills so I can provide the most effective, science-based, and compassionate services possible.
Whether I’m helping a dog learn life-saving avoidance skills, guiding a classroom through a snake education program, or gently relocating a rattlesnake back into its habitat, my mission is the same: to promote safety, respect, and coexistence in the desert I’ve always called home.
Gopher Snake, Kingsnake, Western Diamondback and Prairie Rattlesnake
While Otero K9 Snake Safety is led by me, Kimberly, I couldn’t do this work without my reptile partners. These snakes play a vital role in helping dogs learn life-saving avoidance skills in a safe, controlled environment. Together, we form a unique team dedicated to safety, education, and coexistence. Our Rattlesnakes are the stars of the avoidance training, providing authentic sound, scent and presence that dogs need to recognize and respect. Miss Mojo the desert king gives dogs the chance to see and respond to the natural movement of a live snake without any barriers in the way. While completely non-venomous and safe, the kingsnake adds a powerful layer of realism to avoidance training, helping dogs make stronger associations in real-world scenarios.