Our Team

I guess I’m the founder of this rescue? Prior to the inception of Alleycats & Aristocats in January 2022 I briefly served on the board for another Cleveland rescue. My vision for A&A was to bring like-minded passionate cat lovers together in Medina County to help homeless community cats. I wasn’t always a crazy cat lady. I’ve always loved and kept many animals as pets throughout my life. But I did not become heavily involved in cat rescue until the beginning of the pandemic. It became my passion project during a time when I really needed something to give me purpose. I fell in love with cat rescue and I fell fast. I started fostering and doing TNR work and it just grew from there. I am addicted to creating happy endings for cats; especially the ones that have been through some crap, the ones that don’t trust you yet but you can see something in their eyes. They are longing for love. I do a little bit of everything within the rescue as Chief Cat Wrangler. But really, I am nothing without the amazing people that serve on this board with me. Each of us plays a very significant role in making this rescue successful. I am thankful every day for all the people that make this rescue a success, for both the people and the cats.

I have been with A&A since the beginning. I met our founder in 2020 when she was fostering for another local rescue group. I adopted one of her fosters and eventually started volunteering for the group as well. When Jen started A&A, I followed her over and she quickly convinced me to join the board and start fostering.

Getting updates from the adoptive families is one of my favorite parts of rescue. It’s so rewarding to see your former fosters in their forever homes, bringing joy to their families – especially the cats that started out “spicy.” These are the kitties that took extra time and work to help them blossom into sweet furry family members.

I have 3 cats of my own: a sassy foster fail, one with a neurological disorder & chronic health issues and a chatty cuddle bug. They are all special in their own way and I’m honored they chose me to be their momma.

I met Jen in the summer of 2023 when I wanted to rescue a cat. My goal was to adopt a hard to adopt cat. In searching Petfinder I had found an adult cat I wanted to meet. Before we went to meet the cat, I asked Jen if he had a cat friend in the rescue as I thought it was better to adopt in pairs so the cat would have a friend. Jen was overjoyed as this cat did have a friend who was also very shy. We scheduled an appointment and went into Cats Off The Square. I knew before even meeting this cat he was coming home with me. The bigger issue was if the other shy black cat would come home too. We couldn’t even get close to this guy. Jen convinced me to give him a try and we took two adult Thai house cats home. These two very shy adult cats have turned into the most loving, quirky, momma boys, when this happened, I knew I could never repay the rescue for saving these momma boys who have changed my life and that is how my involvement began.

I started off cleaning one night a week and loved spending time with all the cats and kittens. When events started happening, I started volunteering more with other events. I was eventually approached to assist with some accounting and records. I bring over 35 years of tax and accounting experience to the Treasurer role. I have experience with small non-profits and corporations of all sizes.

My latest endeavor is fostering and/or foster failing. I have two beautiful shy souls I am working with who are also turning into lovable babies that will enrich any family’s lives. They just need a chance.

My passion has always been for adult animals especially the ones no one seems to want. I know firsthand what some love and TLC can do for an animal and an owner.

I first started with A&A when they started taking cats from my TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) partner and me. It was a connection worth nurturing, and I found myself getting more involved as time went on. I started doing TNR as a young teenager and volunteered with several rescues, then struck out on my own as an independent rescuer. Though I did a lot of other aspects of rescue in the past, my true passion lies with feral and stray cats. In mid-2023 I finally gave up my independent status and joined as their TNR coordinator.

I have two cats, one old (Poofball) and one young (Kingsley), and live with a third cat, a dog, and a guinea pig. I have a degree in Animal Science, work in Veterinary Medicine, and am working on becoming Fear Free certified which can be helpful when working with feral cats.

My favorite part is getting the shy/traumatized cats to come out of their shell and trust again. I prefer working with adult cats, especially when there’s nowhere else for them to go. Seeing the cats that previously struggled and now thrive is amazing. I’m excited for the future and all of the cats that will benefit under this collaboration. I’m honored to be invited to be a part of A&A.

I met Jen the summer of 2023 when I asked A & A to help with medical. Many members of my family are nurses and I originally started off as a Nursing Assistant. Quickly, my love for animals took over. I worked at the Medina SPCA for almost 9 years as Foster Coordinator, Lead Medical, and Kennel. When I stopped in to meet the team at Alleycats & Aristocats / Cats off the Square, I felt very welcomed and I couldn’t help but stay. I enjoy fostering neonatal kittens as well as critical care medical cases. I now serve as the Medical Coordinator for the rescue.

I met Jennifer in 2022 when I adopted my first Suphalak, now known as Binx. I have been fostering for a number of rescues since 2014, and always have a pack of dogs and cats in the house due to consistent foster fails. I joined Alleycats & Aristocats in 2023 to help support their incredible rescue efforts and handle any legal issues as they arise. Running a 501(c)(3) isn’t easy, and I’m so impressed by Jennifer’s and the whole team’s amazing work to build such a successful organization. I’m honored to become part of this incredible group.

Brian is Jennifer’s husband, and has been a cat lover his whole life. Being lovers of cats, Brian and Jennifer both knew there was a need for adoption paired with TNR efforts in the Medina county area. Brian’s main contributions are Fostering/caregiving at home, transporting cats & supplies and working on events. He likes being supportive of others and is always ready to lend a hand wherever needed. Brian encourages others to become a Foster home for cats, to volunteer at special events and pick up a shift to help care for our adoptable cats at Cats Off the Square, our brick and mortar cat cafe. Brian believes the experience of volunteering is gratifying and extremely rewarding. Donations are a big help too but people are really the key to running a great rescue organization.

I joined A&A in Fall of 2022 when I came upon Cats On The Square in Medina after a hiatus from about twenty years of rescue. Everyone was so friendly and I had just recently semi-retired, so what better time to get back into volunteering. I began cleaning one night per week and quickly found myself wanting to get more involved as events came up and the number of kittens/cats came into the rescue. My previous experience with rescue was that of volunteer coordinator, operations manager, account payable/receivable and medical assisting. Also worked at a low-cost spay/neuter clinic for cats and dogs; that was quite an interesting job!

Eventually I landed as Volunteer Coordinator. My mission is to find like-minded volunteers willing to care for the cats 365 days per year and to help with many other aspects like transportation, special events, grant writing, assist with medical, intake, tending to social media and marketing.

I’ve had cats throughout my life and presently have two cats; Raven and Scooter which I adopted from the Wayne County Humane Society six years ago. I cannot even imagine my life without them even with their quirky personalities and antics. My photo above is me and my Gurley Girl; she was soul mate for fifteen years. Never had a cat like her and I miss her so much, although Raven and Scooter are trying their hardest to take that spot in my heart.

Surprisingly, I grew up as a “dog person.” It was not until college, when my best friend adopted a cat that I realized I was actually a “cat person.” After meeting her cat, I adopted my very first cat from a local rescue, Colby. I slowly turned my entire family into a cat loving family. My parents have adopted two cats, my mother in law and my sister have all adopted cats because of Colby. We now have two cats (Colby & Gouda) and we are even fostering another to join the family soon!

After college, I knew I wanted to be involved with cats in some way. I got in touch with the team at A&A and knew this was the right place for me that allowed me to follow my passion for rescue. Serving as the records officer, allows me to align my organization skills with my love for cats. I oversee the team that organizes medical records, intakes and sending out records after adoptions. I would say my favorite part is being able to work with an amazing team and meeting so many wonderful people.

Like most of our wonderful volunteers, it all started when I walked into Cats Off The Square one day in late 2023 to “just visit the kitties”. On my way out that day, I had started to talk to Jen about the rescue. We quickly connected and I knew I wanted to be a part of the team. I mentioned to Jen I had a small background in event planning for another rescue a few years prior. I expressed to her that event planning is one of my passions and asked if Alleycats & Aristocats could use an extra hand with events and she said yes!

Since then, I have worked with the team to put on multiple events throughout the year. From coming up with creative, new ideas to bringing back successful events from the past! I enjoy to create events that are “outside of the box” (even though the cats would prefer them to be “inside” the box) and make people curious. I love being able to show our amazing organization to new faces, especially those that are local and have yet to experience our rescue!

I also help work on our social media and create graphics to help promote our cause. Social media has become such a large part of any person’s/business’s success. It’s important to help improve the reach of our rescue. The further we reach, the more cats and kittens we can work towards saving!

I’m Alycia, and I currently serve as the foster coordinator for Alleycats & Aristocats. My journey with the rescue started when I began fostering cats after I lost my soul cat, Mexican Pizza. I wanted to fill the void in my heart by helping as many cats as I could, and fostering gave me a way to heal while making a difference. With my background as a veterinary technician, I was able to bring additional skills to the table, which led me to join the medical team when Jen learned about my experience.

As I became more involved, I realized I wanted to do even more, so I took on the role of foster coordinator. Now, I have the privilege of supporting both the cats and the amazing foster families who open their homes to them. I love being part of this rescue, where every day I get to help make a positive impact in the lives of the cats and the people who care for them.

Whether it’s coordinating fosters, offering guidance, or supporting the medical team, I’m proud to play a role in helping these cats find their forever homes.

During my 40+ year career in healthcare, I worked at the bedside as a registered nurse, then I moved into leadership, and the last several years were in the C-Suite of some very large health systems. My choice for nursing and later, leadership, was a “calling” for me because I wanted to help people, I wanted to make a difference! Then, in late 2020, I was blessed with being able to retire. I have thoroughly enjoyed this new life journey but, if you know me, you would not be surprised that in late
2023, I started to become restless. I found myself yearning not for things to do to keep me busy but for doing purposeful things that gave me that sense of “making a difference” and giving back for all the blessings I’ve had in my life!

I have done my share of caring for animals including horses, dogs, wild rabbits and of course cats, both our own as well as many who were strays, feral, or just dumped at our door. With all those experiences, it was always the cats – forgotten, discarded, or so wild they would never know the touch or connection with a human, that pulled on my heartstrings.

My joining Alleycats & Aristocats was “by happenstance” but the journey has been no accident. In fact I
believe for me, it was divine intervention. In February of 2024 while scrolling through Facebook, I saw an Alleycats post seeking volunteers. I immediately applied and joined the team of this amazing shelter. Since that day, I have fully engaged by caring for the cats, interacting with visitors, participating in the events/ fundraisers, and assisting wherever needed. In August, I accepted the position of Adoption Coordinator and I am LOVING the role – I am again “making a difference” but this time it is with our feline friends. Whether it is working with adopters, providing them support and education as they meet their new cat, or enjoying the moment the cat leaves for their purrfect fur-ever home —I know that again I am “making a difference”, one cat at a time!

I adopted from A&A in 2022 and decided to give back by volunteering at a couple events. I soon learned how amazing the team was and wanted to get more involved in their mission to make a substantial impact on as many kitties’ lives as possible. I see where the term “crazy cat lady” comes from, as it can become addicting quickly. I soon worked my way up into more of a leadership role, by helping facilitate fosters, adoptions, and social media.

In 2023, my family received military orders to relocate, so I had to follow them and move to Hawaii. After getting involved with a number of different rescue groups on the island, no one quite compared to A&A, so I decided to come back and now volunteer 100% remotely. I assist in supporting the adoption process, by playing a role in helping find all of our cats’ quality homes as efficiently and effectively as possible. A&A holds a very special place in my heart, not only because of the cats, but also because of our team. Volunteering for this organization has provided me with so many invaluable experiences, and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who is passionate about cat welfare.

In the summer of 2023, I began volunteering with Alleycats & Aristocats, serving as the Adoption Posting Coordinator alongside Larisa. My background in digital asset management and multimedia creation complements her volunteer efforts, enabling her to manage efficiently and present information that supports the adoption process. Volunteering with Alleycats & Aristocats has been a profound source of strength and renewal in my journey of becoming disabled at 27. As I faced the unexpected challenges of my new reality, the organization provided me with a meaningful outlet and a vibrant community that embraced me. Immersing myself in the care and advocacy for animals reignited a deep sense of purpose and joy that I had feared was lost. The connections I’ve made and the tangible impact I’ve been able to contribute have rekindled a vigor for life that transcends my disability, proving that even in the face of adversity, one can find profound fulfillment and strength through service to others. At home, my husband and I live with five of our own cats, including one with special needs. This personal experience fuels my passion and enriches my understanding of feline care and behavior, providing me firsthand insight into the challenges and joys of living with cats, including those with unique requirements.