Bay State Animal Cooperative

A Safe, Loving, No Kill Rescue for our Animals

I founded the Bay State Animal Cooperative, a 501(c)3 animal rescue organization in 2009 and proudly serve as the volunteer President, foster caregiver, treasurer and trapper. As an animal advocate since childhood, I am proud to stand by other passionate volunteers and directors that help mold this organization. I have supported a no-kill philosophy since I can remember and it is the back-bone of my everyday life with animals.

Animal rescue, advocacy, support and welfare has been my destiny and I have actively pursued this passion since the early 1980’s. Though it all began in 1964 a small town in NH where I raised with an array of rodents, rabbits, dogs, reptiles and great “human” family support.

I currently share my home with two dogs, Bailey and Anderson, and my cat, Talia, in addition to several long foster cats. I have two grown independent daughters and a son who all share their lives with adopted cats and dogs.

I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Emmanuel College. I have completed many animal science and veterinary technician courses. In 2017, I passed the Veterinary Technician National Exam and am a Massachusetts Certified Veterinary Technician. Additionally, I have held many roles over the years involving animals including; TNR specialist, executive director of another no-kill rescue group, member of the mass animal coalition, and partner with animal control officers, rescues, businesses and schools to educate and assist with feline rescue and adoption.

As a professional pet sitter and dog walker I feel lucky to be able to share every day with animals while assisting pet owners. The coordination of many past and present part-time professions has allowed me to rescue, care for, adopt and spay/neuter thousands of felines over the past 20 years of my life while experiencing many memories with my friends and family.

Though life is hectic and a bit overwhelming at times, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I am a retired high school Science Department Director with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Masters degree. I taught for 30 years and have had various volunteer experiences throughout that time.

My experience with BSAC has grown by stages. BSAC was the group that I first encountered as a result of kitten visitors in my yard. I needed help and BSAC had suggestions and advice. After a short time, my interest in cats, the attitude of the public towards cats, and how I could help to make the lives of cats and kittens better sent me in a new direction. Educating individuals to help themselves and the cats in their neighborhoods are important to me. BSAC provided the framework for my interests and a way to move forward to provide that help. The goals of the organization are core values that I can support. As a result I became the BSAC shelter manager at a place where myself, and many volunteers would house and care for cats and kittens that were waiting for forever homes.

I am an ardent supporter of animal rights using various internet petition sites, including paid memberships to many animal support groups

My present position at BSAC is vice president. I perform various volunteer functions in the group:

Maintain the pictures and bios on Petfinder of our available cats and kittens

Track of all trapping equipment (including pickup and delivery)

• Perform TNR (trap, neuter, return) in the community and track colony locations
• Provide temporary foster care for many cats and kittens that are transitioning to foster or adoptive homes
• Build and maintain shelters and feeding stations for feral cat colonies
• Transport cats to doctor appointments, spay/neuter
• Post pictures and biographies of our cats in a flyer that is
• distributed to vet offices and clinics and pet stores
• Process adoption applications, when added help is needed

I am the volunteer coordinator with the Bay State Animal Cooperative and could not be happier with my choice of volunteer work. I was first introduced to Bay State approximately 18 years ago when I was looking for a companion for my adult cat. I was introduced to a friendly feral cat named Cinnamon, and while my family thought my cat was too attached to me to share his home, it could not have been a better fit. They were best friends, and Cinnamon is still with me today at 20 years old!

I started out volunteering with fundraising and administration and was happy to expand my services to volunteer coordinator and working with the cats within our adoption center. I am proud to be a member of BSAC not only because of their no-kill philosophy, but also with its dedication to providing valuable resources to reduce animal overpopulation, assisting pet owners who would otherwise have not humane alternative and educating young and old about rescuing and caring for animals. I also attracted to BSAC as the organization takes in special needs and older cats and will care for them until the exact fit if found...as long as it take. There is no better feeling than finding the purrfect forever home for our beloved felines and brightening the lives of their new families.

I currently have three cats, all adopted through BSAC. I am a Realtor with Keller Williams and love the fact that I not only help find homes for people but for cats who, without BSAC, might not benefit from a second chance to be part of a loving family.