Karen lives on five acres in Redmond, Oregon (Central Oregon). Besides her poodles, her 103 year old aunt shares her home. She is a retired educator and currently has her own private practice counseling clientele and a non profit outpatient treatment program for youth at risk and their families.

She is active in her church and as a volunteer in the community. She is not able to spend as much time with her grown children, grandchildren, and great grandkids as she would like, but when they come for a visit, they enjoy playing with the poodles and helping to care for them.