Once you’ve been to Jeannette Baker’s house, you have no trouble picturing her younger days working with a variety of wildlife species at the world-renowned Berlin Zoo. A number of her former German colleagues make regular pilgrimages to visit her in Wyoming and wander the wild places of the American West, or simply meet the newest animals in the household. One of the dogs who lives with her, Silas, actually belongs to a German friend who bought a vacation home in the nearby foothills of Idaho’s Caribou Range.

Silas was adopted from Lucky’s Place, where Jeannette has worked since 2010, as was her own dog Toni, a former kennel fighter who languished for months without interest from people looking for the perfect dog. After Toni went home with Jeannette, however, her cantankerous attitude flipped 180 degrees, and she became the household protector of “babies”—any smaller creatures, regardless of age. For example, Teddy the Pomeranian with his assortment of health challenges, who arrived as an adult and out-stayed any number of actual kittens and puppies brought home for the extra care they couldn’t get at the shelter. Teddy was a long-time office dog, too, keeping tabs on staff and whatever little animals wandered through on journeys to new homes.

Jeannette might sound like a dog person, with at least 3 canines in her car at any given time, but her cat world is even more abundant, with a plethora of 'special needs' individuals and their special gifts. She doesn't discriminate against small rodents, reptiles, or rabbits either. All have graced her home at one time, with an elderly sugar glider and a health-challenged bearded dragon among her favorite memories. Though her family remains in Germany, Jeannette earned her U.S. citizenship in 2022 with the support of her shelter director. In truth, however, her real home is simply Where the Animals Are.