I have always loved dogs! I have been actively rescuing dogs since 1978 when I began with all- breed rescue. I chose to specialize in Keeshond Rescue in honor of Beau, my first Keeshond. In the 1980s, I became the Keeshond Rescue coordinator on rescue lists that were distributed to animal shelters and veterinarians in the Southern California area. As I expanded my Keeshond rescue efforts to cover animal shelters throughout the vast Southern California area, I vowed to make a difference for the many adoptable dogs that faced euthanasia for lack of shelter space or the need for medical care or behavior training. I networked with other breed rescue groups to save as many dogs as possible and served as assistant director at the Friends for Pets Foundation shelter. In return, the Weimaraner/Golden Retriever rescue organization allowed me to board many of my Keeshond rescue dogs in their kennel, making it possible for me to expand my desperately needed Keeshond Rescue efforts.

My Southern California Keeshond Rescue reached out to a wider area. I built a volunteer network, along with a wider audience, via the Internet, Petfinder, and Southern California Keeshond Rescue's own website, Foreverkees.org. The Keeshond rescue dogs were happy to move from the rescue kennel to comfortable volunteer foster homes, where they have the opportunity to interact with family members, dogs and other animals in the household. With volunteer resources in Las Vegas, NV, I was able to expand rescue efforts to include Las Vegas. Committed to ensure bright futures for all needy Southern California Keeshonden, SCKR was granted 501(c)(3) status as a public benefit charity in April 2003. 

I moved to Texas in 2005 due to my husband's job transfer, but my commitment to needy Southern California Keeshonden didn't stop--I continue to coordinate SCKR's rescue program long distance from Texas. I manage a dedicated network of volunteers who help us rescue Keeshonden from animal shelters and from families who are unable to keep them due to compelling family circumstances. SCKR fosters the dogs in loving homes where they provide each dog with medical care, good manners lessons, rehabilitation from illness or abuse, and the care needed for each dog's emotional and physical well-being. SCKR never turns our back on a Keeshond in need of rescue; when space is short, SCKR arranges to board new dogs temporarily in boarding facilities to keep them safe when their lives depend on rescue. We provide a safety net for the dogs for their lifetimes, we stay in touch with forever families, and we take them back if their families can no longer care for them.

My motto remains the same: "Saving one Keeshond won't change the world...but surely, the world will change for that one Keeshond!"