Meet the Foster Team! The foster team is your primary contact with Dallas Pets Alive. If you are ever unsure of who to email just email foster@dallaspetsalive.org and someone from the team will get back to you.
Meet the Foster Team! The foster team is your primary contact with Dallas Pets Alive. If you are ever unsure of who to email just email foster@dallaspetsalive.org and someone from the team will get back to you.
Hello! I have been with DPA since January 2018. I "foster failed" my first foster, Stella, and have since fostered 70+ dogs and cats, and adopted 4 more dogs and 2 kittens. I live in North Dallas with my husband and our 4 dogs and 2 cats, plus whatever fosters we have at the time. You can usually find me at DPA's Adoption Container or snuggling my pets!
Jackie Babb
Canine Assistant Director - Intake
Jackie joined DPA as a foster for both dogs and cats in mid-2023. She’s volunteered on the foster team and, most recently, as a beloved Adoption Counselor. Though she recently moved back home to Florida, we’re thrilled to have her continuing her work with us from afar. Jackie is the proud mom of two DPA alumni: Tootles the cat and Pascal the pup. Her kindness, passion, and ability to connect animals with their families are second to none.
Ashton Koenen
Canine Assistant Director - In Program
Ashton has been a foster with DPA since December 2022 and has volunteered as our GoodPup admin since we launched the training program. She’s a powerhouse high-volume foster who is always stepping up for animals in need. Ashton is also a proud mom to three DPA alumni: Sammie, Lenny, and Jewels. Her enthusiasm, dedication, and deep understanding of fostering make her an invaluable addition to the team!
Sarah Plagens
Feline Assistant Director - In Program
Hi! I'm Sarah and I've been wearing many hats on the Foster Team since 2023, though I've been doing rescue pet photography off and on since 2015! I live in North Dallas with my old-as-dirt three-legged rescue cat Whitaker and have fostered over a dozen kittens with DPA. I'm a biomedical engineer by day and a videogame nerd by night, and I spend half my weekends photographing DPA foster kitties for their adoption profiles. In my free time I'm usually starting creative projects that may never be finished, or just chilling on the couch with my cat.
Hi there! My name is Macie and I am an external intake coordinator volunteer. I have been with DPA since May 2023 and have loved every minute of it. I live in south central Texas with my husband, daughter, and two labs. Some of my favorite things to do are find a new bookstore, scrapbook, and explore the hill country!"
Hi! I'm Kayla and I am currently the Supplies Coordinator. I have also been a foster with Dallas Pets Alive! since March of 2023. I am the proud dog-mom of two, Cooper and Winston; while they are not DPA dogs, they are rescues. When not volunteering for DPA you can find me at the gym, tending to my plants, playing kickball or in my kitchen baking.
Jenna Fischer
Foster App Lead and Dogs Matter Admin
Hello! I have been virtually volunteering for Dallas Pets Alive since March 2021. I started off as a Foster Profile Admin, and have since transitioned to the Foster Application Vetter Lead AND Dogs Matter Admin roles. I live in San Angelo, Texas, and really got into rescue when I was just 13 years old. I have fostered over 115+ animals ever since! When I am not volunteering for DPA, you can usually find me reading, watching a hockey game (Go Stars!), or losing at bar trivia.
Olivia Mount
Foster Team Inbox Coordinator
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Amy Browning
Foster App Vetter and External Intake Coordinator
Hey there! I’m Amy Browning, and I volunteer with Dallas Pets Alive as a foster application vetter and external intake coordinator. I also jump in to help at in-person events whenever I can. I’ve been with DPA since 2022 and love being part of this amazing team!
I live in Downtown Dallas with my husband and our two cats, Seamus and Turnip. Before moving into my current role in educational technology, I spent many years as an educator.
When I’m not volunteering, you can usually find me playing tennis, binge-watching shows, or spending time with family!
Rachel McNeely
Foster Application Vetter and Temporary Foster Coordinator
Hi! I’m Rachel and I am a Foster Application Vetter and Temporary Foster Coordinator. I started virtually volunteering with Dallas Pets Alive! in September of 2024 as a Vetter. Shortly after, I looked into other ways I could help out and started the Temp Foster Coordinator role in November 2024 and love every minute of it!
I am from Cleveland, Ohio and currently foster for a local rescue! I knew I wanted to use my extra time helping animals any way I could virtually, however locally, I couldn’t find many options. I am extremely happy that I found Dallas Pets Alive! and have enjoyed being a part of this team!
When I’m not volunteering, I am working part time as a Medical Assistant in an Urgent Care and I’m a full time Mom to 2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 hamsters, a turtle and I can’t forget, 5 kids :) I also love to read a good romcom when/if there’s ever a quiet moment in my home!
Savannah Gibson
Kitten Season Scout Leader
Savannah has been fostering with Dallas Pets Alive since COVID made her work-from-home in 2019, with a focus on kittens and neonates. She has recently pivoted to an operational role with DPA as a Kitten Scout Leader for Kitten Season, and helps run the cat operations at QuakeCon with DPA. She is a co-parent to DPA Alumni Tortellini, and has two 7-year old cats of her own at her home in The Colony. When she's not dealing with cat shenanigans, you'll find her dancing around Dallas, reading, or playing tabletop games with friends.
Nashla Kalifa
Kitten Scout Leader
Hi, I'm Nashla! I've been a foster with Dallas Pets Alive since October 2023 and proudly serve as a kitten scout leader since kitten season 2025. I live in Dallas with my three rescue cats—Tiny, Savannah, and Mocha—and my rescue dog, Ellie. I’ve been fostering cats and kittens since 2011.
When I'm not volunteering, you can find me cooking a delicious vegan meal, curled up with a good book, or tending to my garden. My newest hobby is crocheting—I can’t wait to start making cute hats for kittens.
I'm honored to be part of the DPA family and dedicated to helping these furry friends find their forever homes.
Milly Fierro
Foster Profile Admin
My name is Milly and I have been volunteering with DPA since early 2024! I have been an animal lover all my life, and became very involved in rescue when I found my precious Mia in 2017. She had been abandoned on the streets, and it opened my eyes to the world of rescue. I have worked with different organizations in Texas throughout the years and also enjoy going to Mexico to volunteer at spay and neuter campaigns. I really love being out in nature and going to the beach!
Emily Falise
Adoption Guru
Hello! I started volunteering with DPA in the beginning of 2025 but was introduced to the organization in 2023, when my fiance and I adopted Dottie. We then "foster failed" our other DPA alum, Nash, in 2024! I moved down from North Carolina after graduating college and currently live in the HEB area of the metroplex. My favorite activity is snuggling up with both dogs and reading a book!
P.S. - My picture is from Dottie's prized moment of winning the "group costume contest" at the DPA Container for Halloween :)
Nina Smith
Welcoming Committee
My name is Nina and I am a boy mom! I started volunteering with DPA in May 2025. My favorite color is pink and I love candy corn. I have one pup named Jynx who is 2 yrs old, a kitten named Ivy who is 1 yrs old, 3 beardies (Bowser, Godzilla, and Goldie), and two leopard gecko (Pikachu and Venomous Batman (we couldn't agree on venom vs Batman so I gave him both).
Carrie Eberhard
Foster Cat Team Volunteer
Hi, I'm Carrie! I live in Dallas with my two cats - Whiskey and Mojito - who I rescued in 2019 while living in Kansas City. I have been fostering with DPA since April 2025. By day I work in consulting for the electric utility industry... and working from home lets me get in plenty of foster kitty snuggles. Outside of DPA, you can find me at the gym, mixing up a cocktail, or volunteering with a few organizations in the mental health and suicide prevention space.
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Katie Angel
Foster Relations Specialist
I am currently in college getting my radiology degree while working at a doggy daycare. I have my amazing foster fail named Jack who comes with me on all my outdoor adventures—hiking, paddle boarding, or anything else in the sun. Life’s just better with a dog around!
Courtney Drury
Foster Application Vetter
Hello! My name is Courtney and I volunteer as a foster application vetter with Dallas Pets Alive. I currently live in Michigan working at a veterinary office. Previously, I had worked at an animal rescue and I could not bear to be away from the rescue world, that is when I found DPA. It is rewarding to play a part in animals getting new homes! When not volunteering or working, I spend my time pet sitting and playing trombone.
Bre Hoffman
Welcoming Committee
Hi, I'm Bre. My son and I own a cat rescue in Illinois where we currently have 7 cats available for adoption and 4 of our own. I also own 2 dogs and my son has 1. Currently I'm in school to become a vet tech so as you can imagine, my life is all about animals :)
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