'Animals are the best judge of character': Loved ones remember devoted member of local rescue community after sudden passing
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – A 26-year-old volunteer at Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Commission (MADACC) died suddenly on June 1, leaving the city's animal rescue community shocked and stunned.
Mikayla Anderson, known lovingly as "KK" or "Kayla" to those closest to her, is survived by her mother, Laura; her father, Keith; and her sisters, Tasha and Anna.
Her family says they are still waiting to learn more about the cause of her death, but they believe it was accidental. Tasha and Anna Anderson said they rushed to their sister’s apartment once they knew something was wrong.
“It just felt like you’re dreaming, and it’s like the bad part of your nightmare where you are about to wake up,” Anna Anderson said.
“It was really overwhelming. It was kind of unbelievable. I would not wish that on anybody,” Tasha Anderson said.
“I talked to the EMT, and he was amazing, and he just said, ‘Your daughter died tonight.’ Then we came home, and I can’t even remember that night, truly. I just remember crying,” Laura Anderson said.
Her family says Mikayla Anderson was known for her deep love of animals, and her compassion touched everyone around her. She volunteered at MADACC as a dog walker, a foster parent, and a field trip companion.
“She would constantly just be walking dogs, and if not her dogs, and if not Mikayla's Traveling Pet Services dogs, MADACC dogs," said Roman Hoffmann, Mikayla's boyfriend. “There was never an end to the amount of dogs she could help in this world.”
“Just the other day, someone was asking for a dog-sitter, and I started to type in the name of her pet-sitting business and I realized I couldn’t,” said Kate Hartlund, the community engagement coordinator at MADACC. “She’s just someone I would have trusted with anything and everything in my life.”
Outside of her love for dogs, the Anderson family says Mikayla was an incredible gift of joy, love, laughter, and resilience.
“All her adventures are nearly endless. All her fishing, she should have been a pro-fisherman, really. You’ll see it on some of the posterboards that we have of her fishing adventures,” Keith Anderson said.
The Anderson family says the outpouring of support since Mikayla’s death reflects her love for others, whether they walked on two legs or four paws.
A visitation and service are planned for Saturday, June 13. A reception will follow at Riley’s Bar + Burger, where dogs will be welcome. Additional obituary information is available here.
Donations made to a GoFundMe in Mikayla's honor will help cover final costs and funeral expenses, as well as lifelong medical care for her senior dogs.