Amy Ingstad, a Las Vegas native, has loved animals since childhood, but dogs have always held a special place in her heart. She knew her future would involve working with animals, even if she wasn’t sure how at first. Over the years, that passion grew into a calling, especially for pit bulls, a breed she’s deeply devoted to.
Her first love is animals, and her 2nd love is volunteering. Amy’s start at Hearts Alive Village as a volunteer and pit bull foster began with a chance encounter at Henderson Animal Shelter in 2015 where a new friend and HAV supporter introduced her to the world of animal rescue. She was a devoted volunteer and foster of 9 pit bulls, which is a breed that she has a soft spot for. In 2024, she decided to take a huge leap of faith and quit her office job to pursue her passion for dogs and animal rescue. Up until that point, she was a volunteer for HAV, Street Dogz, as well as a frequent visitor and volunteer for Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. Her happy place is hiking or kayaking, or anything to do with nature. She loves taking her dogs on adventures, and is a proud mom to three rescue pit bulls, two of them being HAV dogs.
Pit bull advocacy is close to Amy’s heart, and she’s determined to be a voice against breed bans in the city. When she officially joined the Hearts Alive Village team in 2024, she stepped into the role of Hybrid Foster Coordinator, blending her experience as a foster, volunteer, and her hospitality background to create real impact. Through this work, she has helped lead a life-changing program that has already saved more than 40 lives and counting.
