Our Team

Rochester Rascals is 100% volunteer-run, including our all volunteer Leadership Circle. We have no physical location - all of our animals are in loving foster homes.

  • A woman smiling in sunglasses kneeling outdoors with two Doberman dogs, one wearing a green plaid bandana and the other a red plaid bandana, in a snowy landscape with a large bare tree behind them.

    Veronica Smith

    Leadership Circle, People & Pack Leader

    Veronica and her husband Bill began fostering in 2018, inspired by Veronica’s dad, who adopted a dog that was just moments from euthanasia - saved only because a foster family said yes.

    Wanting to pay that life-saving kindness forward, they opened their home to one dog… and that “one” turned into hundreds saved over years.

    Veronica is our “pack leader,” not just for all of our dogs, but for our people as well.

  • A woman with blonde hair styled in a bun, smiling, holding two small dogs, one brown and white with a blue bandana, and the other gray with a pink collar, inside a room decorated with framed pictures on the wall.

    Lindsay McMullen

    Leadership Circle, Paws & Policy Lead

    “Here for the animals (the humans? well…) I have two doodles, one daughter and zero work-life balance.

    Frankie Rose and Rupert (the doodles) run my house. My daughter runs my heart. Sarcasm is my love language and tattoos are my therapy.

    I helped found Rochester Rascals because apparently “adopt every dog” wasn’t a viable personal strategy. But it is now!”

    Lindsay wrangles the behind-the-scenes chaos; handling everything from organizational details & compliance to the policies that keep the rescue running so that more pets can get the second chances they deserve.

  • Jess Baglio

    Leadership Circle, Whiskers & Welfare Lead

    A lifelong obsession with felines led Jess on many adventures in rescue - working with cats of all sizes from the tiniest bottle-baby kittens weighing under 100g to tigers over 500 lbs! It seems there is no cat too small or too large, too docile or too wild for her to love.

    Jess has followed an exciting career path in animal care - work in veterinary hospitals, a sanctuary for exotic cats, feline behavior consulting, and pet sitting for animals with special medical & behavioral needs. As a volunteer in rescue, she has held leadership and caretaking positions, and particularly loves caring for foster cats with medical challenges.

    With Rochester Rascals, she continues to make a positive impact for Rochester’s kitties in need.

  • A man with short hair and a beard holding a small, curly-haired puppy in front of red curtains.

    Michael Avery

    Leadership Circle, Fur & Finance Lead

    Michael’s love for philanthropy began at an early age, both as a donor and a community organizer, leading a life of service to both people and animals in need.

    He has served with animal rescues in India and in the US, including as Relationship Coordinator for a long-established rescue organization dedicated to saving and rehoming animals in need.

    Michael was a foster kid himself until he found his own furever home. Undoubtedly his own experience fuels his empathy and passion for rescuing others.

    Now retired from two successful careers, Michael combines his lifelong joy for giving with his love of animals as a founding member of Rochester Rascals.

Volunteer

Without you there are no success stories.

Every rescue, every adoption, every life saved begins with someone like you, willing to raise their hand.

Whether you have a few hours a month or a larger role to play, there's a place for you.

​

  • adoption event support

  • transport to/from adoption events & vet appointments

  • transport timely medication and supplies to foster animals

  • community microchip clinics

  • donation pick-up

  • work from home administrative support (registering microchips, maintaining spreadsheets, organizing digital medical records, etc)

  • fundraising and sponsor solicitation

  • become a foster parent to an animal in need! - learn more here

Are you ready to help? We’re excited to hear from you!