Meet the RDRNE Team!
Tere Morris, Founder & President
My love of animals began at an early age and developed into a passion throughout my life. I've had the joy of seeing many forgotten, dumped and abused animals blossom into the animal they were meant to be in a loving home.
Opening RDR NE has been a long time coming and truly a labor of love. I've always said there is no "I" in rescue, it's a community of dedicated "We" and that includes the wonderful volunteers I'm blessed to call rescue family. We are all committed in our efforts to save one dog at a time, until they are all homed and there is no need for "rescue”; that will be a truly amazing day!! My personal family also includes my four legged kids, Coco, Butler and Onyx and is completed by my four-legged rescue additions- waiting for their forever homes. Together we DO make a difference in these animal’s lives. xo :)
Karen Miller Herbert, New York & Fundraising Coordinator, Foster Program Coordinator
My name is Karen Herbert I come from a family with a long history in rescue.
I was the VP of the Long Beach Humane Society for many years and was influential in turning our local shelter from high kill to no kill. Eventually, I became the shelter coordinator, my duties included training volunteers on dog handling, feeding, administering medications etc. Most recently I worked with PMAR as a dog handler, transporter, and dealt with day to day issues.
I am honored to have been asked to be the NY coordinator for Ruff Dog Rescue NE. I love all dogs but my heart lies with the bully breeds as I feel they are the most misunderstood and discriminated
against breed.
Kay Rebert, Rescue Administrator
My mother always told me I would need to buy a farm when I grew up. I always loved nature and felt compassion for all living creatures. In my adult life, that farm never became a reality, but that didn't stop me from having a variety of dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, fish, and a pet duck. Now I enjoy the sound of the waterfalls in my garden pond, the birds at my feeders, and the companionship of two dogs to keep me entertained in my retirement. Then along came RDRNE in 2016, when visited with my daughter to adopt two wonderful dogs for her family. That's when I decided to volunteer some of that retirement time to find homes for dogs in need of rescue.
Allison Leonard, Fundraising Coordinator
I live in the country with my husband, mini rescue partner Keaton and our furbabies, Chloe, Peyton, Zoe and Walden (2 pits and 2 cats). I work full time for a convenient store chain doing accounts payable/cash management. I have been involved in volunteering and rescue for a little over 4 years.
I'm a jack of all trades at RDRNE, media assistant, Instagram manager, puppy processor, poop cleaner, puppy driver, home visitor, you name it, I'll do it...maybe.
Dawn Koch, Petstablished Guru
I am a mother of two boys (24 & 17), I work full-time as a manager of a township, I volunteer as treasurer of my church, I am the membership administrator of a gun club, I do photography on the side, But my true passion is dogs, I love every dog I see no matter where I am. I am excited to be a part of Ruff Dog Rescue Northeast and look forward to helping pups find their furever home.
Jasmine Gilson, Applications Processor
I am the mother of a gorgeous, fun loving, fantabulous furbaby Pepsi. My fiance and I welcomed Pepsi into our lives on St.Patrick's eve in 2015 (not a Ruff dog). Now 4, she is my heart. She is the reason I joined RDRNE towards the end of 2016 as an Application Processor.
I've donated, pledged, shared, advocated for many animals in high kill shelters in NYC (and across the country) but I knew I had to do more, needed to do more. Many advocates push to get dogs out of shelters, and then most times the dogs are forgotten. Rescues need help because the animal's journey does not end when leaving the shelter. Having met fabulous people (and adopters!) and becoming part of a family has made finding these animals homes truly rewarding.
Kelly Richter, Applications Processor & Website Manager
My fiancé and I adopted Maverick (fka Heath) through RDRNE in the Spring of 2018. We fell in love immediately with not only our boy, but also the Rescue. Since becoming alumni, we have fostered and helped out with home visits. Currently, I help out by processing applications, managing the website, and adding new dogs to our online databases. My favorite part of rescue is when one of our pups finally gets to go home with an applicant. Happy Tails pictures are the best!
For the last few years, I have been the assistant controller for a modular home manufacturer in Northeast PA. I enjoy going to concerts, exploring nature with my pups, and reading on my porch in the summer. I live in Taylor, PA with my fiancé. We have 2 dogs, Lucy and Maverick, and 2 cats, Shelby and Strogi. We are expecting our first ‘non-furry’ child in July. We are so excited to meet him and start on this new adventure with our little man!
Angie Learn, Applications Processor
My name is Angie Learn! I'm a wife and mother to two wonderful boys and two ruff dogs!! We adopted our first Ruff Dog in March of 2016. Her name is Jade ( Noemi 2015 N pup). Then In March of
2018 we adopted Alex ( Tanner from 2017 T pups) I fell in love with Ms Tere and her love for these dogs! So I started helping with the rescue by doing home visits then moved to doing application processing in early 2019.
Donna Dunn, Media Coordinator
Hi I'm Donna. Born on Long Island, grew up in upstate NY, moved back to LI. I've been an animal lover my whole life. I've been working in the veterinAry field for over five years now. I've been a groomer for over three years. At home I have one dog (adopted from rdrne ) three cats and two leopard geckos. Always wanted to assist a rescue group and excited for this opportunity
Marion Bishop, Kohl's Event Coordinator
I always seem to find myself volunteering for something: girl scouts (former daisy leader and cookie mom for more years than I care to count), alumni associations, parent’s associations for sports…you get the picture. So, while I’ve had plenty of experience with volunteer activities, my work with RDRNE is my first foray into animal rescue.
Now I get to help with a cause near and dear to my heart – our rescue pups. Every dog I have ever had has been from a shelter, and I would not have it any other way! As soon as we bought our house 2 years ago, I started accumulating what my family likes to call my “menagerie”: 3 cats and 2 pups now, all special and happy and loved. I cannot even remember what life was like without them! They keep me hopping, along with my family (fiancé, 2 daughters ages 25 & 22, son age 14, cutest granddaughters ever age 3 &4), and my job as an assistant data analyst. I’m also working out to improve my health, going to tons of rock concerts, and reading lots of fiction whenever I can. It’s a busy life, but a happy one – especially when I know I’ve had a hand in getting a pup his or her forever home!