top of page

The Testimony of Angela “Katie” Bonham

Founder | Serenity Paws • Project Recovery • God’s Dogs

I did not set out to build a mission.

I set out simply to survive.

I grew up surrounded by animals — they were my comfort, my safety, and often my only sense of peace. Raised by a single mother of four who depended on welfare, life was not easy. We lived with uncertainty, struggle, and the constant presence of addiction, domestic violence and alcoholism around us. From an early age, I learned what hardship looked like — and what resilience required.

Animals became my refuge.

They didn’t judge.
They didn’t abandon.
They didn’t ask for perfection.

They simply loved.

That love shaped me long before I understood why.

As I grew older, life brought more challenges — my own struggles with addiction, domestic violence, abandonment, grief, and the heavy burdens of shame and regret trying to hold life together while quietly carrying emotional pain and anger that felt overwhelming.

But in some of the darkest seasons, there was always one constant — my dog.

 She was my very own, very first dog from the shelter, Angel. She was perfect.

Angel went through everything with me.

She was there during the nights I cried.
She was there during the uncertainty.
She was there when I felt alone.

She was there when I was abused.

And in one of the most desperate moments of my life, I was offered assistance at a domestic violence shelter. But there was one condition — I could not bring Angel.

I turned it down. Leaving her was not an option.

At that time, she loved me more than I loved myself.  She stayed, when everything else fell apart.

That moment never left me. It shaped everything that came after. Not long after, I adopted another dog, Kobe, who became a fierce protector for both Angel and me — offering a sense of safety and trust I struggled to find anywhere else in my life at that time. Then came the birth of my two boys, and through every uncertain season, those dogs never left our side. They were constant, steady, and faithful when life felt anything but.

Doug love_edited.jpg

Through those experiences, I came to understand something many people never fully grasp — a dog is not just a pet. They are often the only reason someone is still standing. Sometimes they are the last thread holding someone together…their reason for holding on. Yes, it is that serious.

That understanding became my “Why.”

In 2009, I founded Serenity Paws with a passion for pet care. But over time, my experiences — and profound losses — reshaped my purpose. Continued addictions in others took loved ones away, I became a single mother, at times relying on welfare. I experienced the suicide of beloved employees and family members, business upheavals, continued personal struggles and what felt like the biggest loss of all at that time, Angel and then Kobe.  Who would catch the tears? I kept going, hiding my agony- most people never knew the pain I was wrestling with, but through it all, I began to see something clearly:

Every single person we encounter is carrying unseen pain, I was not alone. And, if they are fortunate enough to have a dog they love, I knew they had a friend that understood the assignment….stay, love them -unconditionally…through it all- no judgement.  

In the embrace of dogs, I found comfort again and again — their unconditional love reminding me of the grace we receive from God. My faith strengthened me when I could not strengthen myself. This changes lives.

My personal challenges compelled me to become more than just an employer and a human soul walking on this planet. I felt called to become someone who could see beyond surface struggles — someone who could create an environment of structure, dignity, and genuine support.

I became committed to creating a nurturing, drug-free environment — unrestricted from judgment — advocating for sobriety, responsible pet care, high standards, fair employment, mental health support, and offering healing through the unconditional companionship of dogs.

In 2024, I launched Project Recovery.

Project Recovery expanded the mission — caring for the pets/companions of individuals entering treatment and offering meaningful employment afterward. Because I know firsthand that when someone is trying to rebuild their life; keeping their best friend paired with stability, dignity, and purpose matter.

Even changing one life creates ripple effects that extend to families, communities, and generations.  I am living proof. We are living proof.  You are living proof.

My vision continued to grow into what we now call God’s Dogs — a movement designed to redefine how we support individuals through sobriety, employment, empowerment, and spiritual nurturing — all while protecting the bond between people and the companions who often helped them survive.

This mission is not easy.

We hold individuals accountable.
We provide structure and discipline.
We set standards.

But we also extend grace, compassion, and unconditional support — because we understand pain, and we understand redemption.

I trust in the divine guidance that has led me this far. I believe we are building something far greater than ourselves — an army of people with hearts aligned toward compassion, responsibility, and service.

I have spent much of my life surviving, later strengthened along the way by compassionate individuals who believed in me when I fell short and when resources were scarce, but hope remained strong, and God remains good. All my experiences shaped my commitment to do the same for others.

This work is rooted in faith, compassion, and the belief that our pain and struggles are not wasted. We all stumble and fall short; we are STILL worthy of unconditional love.

It is compassion paired with accountability that transforms pain into purpose and allows us to lift others as we rise.

There is not a single soul on this planet who has not experienced struggles and pain.

And I see you.

This is why I lead. This is why I serve.

This is why I built Serenity Paws, Project Recovery, and God’s Dogs.

I humbly request-  Help me, help them rise. 

The Serenity Prayer


God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.

bottom of page