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Our Team
Who We Are
Best Friends Dog Rescue was established in 2001. We are a private non-profit, no-kill facility that receives no government funding. We are supported solely by private donations. Rescuing puppies/dogs that are abandoned, mistreated or unwanted. We are a licensed adoption agency that adopt 100% of our rescues to loving homes. All of our dogs are veterinary checked, vaccinated and spayed/neutered. We target low income areas in our community, offering spay and neuter assistance. Please contact us if you can volunteer, foster or donate.
Meet Our Team
Laurie Deese
Owner/CEO & Transport Coordinator
Best Friends Dog Rescue was founded in 2001 by Laurie out of her love for animals, and the rising number of strays on the streets.
Tim Housman
COO & Foster
Tim has been a foster for Best Friends Dog Rescue for 7+ years. Tim houses many dogs for Best Friends, and specializes in rehabilitating "shy" dogs. Tim also has a dog training business called Hidden Lake k-9 Training, where all funds and fees go towards helping Best Friends' cause.
Mary Rykard
Transport Driver
Mary is our Transport Driver to many of our transport locations, her duty is making sure fur babies get to where they're going safely.
Samantha Rykard
Transport Assistant
Shalon and Brian McLaughlin
Fosters & Volunteers
Shalon and Brian are medial professionals by day, and fur foster parents by night. They have been fostering for Best Friends Dog Rescue for 5+ years.
"While fostering can be very rewarding, it definitely can pull at your heartstrings. We have adopted a few of our fosters, but nothing brings us greater joy than seeing our foster babies get adopted, and thriving with their forever family. Each dog deserves a second chance at a great life!"
- Shalon and Brian
Maria Trujillo and Samantha Contreras
Volunteers & Fosters
Maria has a house cleaning business and Samantha is a college graduate with a degree in Integrated Health Science, working as rehab tech, and training to enter the Air Force.
Amy Richardson
Volunteer/Foster