Meet Barchelle (“Chelly”) Bolger Wathen, a spirited San Diegan who now calls the mountains of Prescott home. Guided by her faith and a heart for service, she shares life with her husband, George, and their two beloved rescue dogs, Shayla and Tayen.

With a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a distinguished career as a senior paralegal for the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, Chelly now serves as a State/NACOG Ombudsman Specialist and co-owner of Wathen Custom Woodcrafts. Her lifelong love for animals also shines through her dedicated volunteer work with dog rescues.

Chelly’s passion for storytelling has blossomed into a series of inspiring books featuring her shepherd/wolfdog, Shayla. Inspired  by God, these stories chronicle Shayla’s incredible journey from a Ukrainian orphanage to a forever home in America—a path filled with divine grace and the gift of friendship. When she’s not writing, Chelly embraces the outdoors by kayaking, ziplining, or hiking local trails. For Chelly, every moment is a blessing, especially with Shayla.