Second Acts and Second Chances: Welcome!

Pet rescue, fostering, adoption and care are deeply personal to me because I’ve seen firsthand the difference they make—for both animals and the people who love them. Whether you’re here for coaching tips or to support rescue efforts, I hope you’ll join us on this journey to make a difference for pets in need, while you grow professionally along the way.

Me and Midnight, my black Lab/pittie mix, aka "the Princess"

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved animals. Growing up, I eagerly cared for relatives’ dogs: Max, my grandparents’ German shepherd;  his brother Duke, who belonged to my great aunt and uncle; and then there was Pepe (pep-EE), another aunt and uncle’s feisty chihuahua. He was kind of my lookalike thanks to our big, brown eyes and little button noses.

Although I didn’t become an official pet parent until adulthood, my connection to animals only deepened over time. From initially studying pre-veterinary medicine in college (until science and math courses squelched that dream) to fostering pets and reuniting lost strays with their families...helping animals has always been a personal mission.

Me with former coworker, Linda Berardi, taking “Mo” -- who had just licked my face -- to the Portsmouth (VA) Humane Society. We found him roaming a busy street near the Norfolk Naval Shipyard where we coached...we were literally "coaching to the rescue"!

In fact, I often found myself on literal missions: whether walking through my neighborhood, coming back from lunch with coworkers, or running errands, I would stumble across strays and quickly spring into action to bring them to safety.

This website and my YouTube channel are my way of expanding my mission to help rescue pets find forever homes, while using my “second act” executive coaching career in service to this mission.  

The Mission Continues

Coaching…to the Rescue is only the start. You see, my mission came to life even more vividly when I adopted Midnight, a roughly four-year-old, black Lab/pittie mix who unconditionally loved and inspired me for nearly a decade. Midnight wasn’t just a rescue pet—she was my princess and “partner in crime” on countless foster and rescue missions. When she was by my side, her calm, maternal presence often put animals we encountered at ease.

Midnight with “Slim,” a hound-mix we fostered. I love the look on Midnight’s face, which seems to say, “Again?”

As Midnight got older, I nursed her through numerous health challenges—including laryngeal paralysis, arthritis, hip dysplasia, kidney disease...and ultimately, petit mal seizures. I provided (and sometimes made) specialized diets had a ramp built for our back deck, bought supplements and equipment like the hundred-dollar Help ‘em Up Harness, and even purchased in-home laser therapy / massage treatments (I was jealous!).

All to give her the best quality of life until she crossed the Rainbow Bridge on April 1, 2023.

Unfortunately, I know many other pet owners may not have the same resources as their pets age and/or face health challenges.

That’s why I someday hope to establish nonprofit in the future called "M.E.N.D.: Midnight’s Exciting New Dawn." MEND will focus on supporting pets with mobility challenges by providing greater access to resources, equipment, and services to help pet parents support them for as long as possible.

Pet rescue, fostering, adoption and care are deeply personal to me because I’ve seen firsthand the difference they make—for both animals and the people who love them. Whether you’re here for coaching tips or to support rescue efforts, I hope you’ll join me on this journey to make a difference for pets in need, while you grow professionally along the way. And if you’re part of a rescue organization and you’d like me to feature some of the pets needing fostering or adoption in your care, let’s connect.

Together, we can create brighter futures for pets and their families!

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