I’m pretty sure my journey into rescue started before I was born. As long as I can remember, I wanted to save all the dogs I saw, because I always felt so good and peaceful when a pup was around. I drove my parents crazy with the constant begging and pleading for a dog. In 8th grade, all the students had to pick a charity to volunteer with, and, I chose an animal rescue, of course. That’s when the campaign for what would be a second pup became much more serious and targeted, complete with letter writing campaigns.

As a child, I never had dogs because my mom was allergic to them. I always knew as soon as I graduated from college and moved into my own place I was going to adopt. Shortly after moving out I started looking at the local animal shelter for an animal to adopt, but I hadn’t clicked with one just yet. I was following an animal rescue foundation in Aruba on Instagram for the past few years, so I started to look more into their mission and adoptable dogs.

My family says that I always wanted to rescue and save animals. I don't really remember that. I remember the incident with the caterpillar when I was seven or eight. We were traveling somewhere in the car and I had Butch, the caterpillar, with me. Butch got away from me and I made my dad pull over. Dad had to take out the back seat to find him. Apparently, while we were pulled over on the side of the road, a police officer stopped by and asked what was going on. Again, I don't remember that.